Buying a ceramic dining table: 7 things to check

Buying a ceramic dining table is a choice for years. The top copes with heat, scratches, stains and sunlight, but it is heavy and sensitive to a hard knock on the edge. These seven points tell you what to check before you order.

Quick guide

Want a top for heavy daily use: choose ceramic.
Will the table stand by a busy walkway where things bump the edge: give it space around it or consider wood.
Unsure about the colour: order samples first and look at them in your own light.

How a ceramic top is made

Ceramic is sintered at extremely high temperature. The result is a hard, non-porous top that absorbs less than 0.1% water. That is why stains do not soak in and why the top withstands frost and sun.

1. Thickness: 12 or 20 mm

A ceramic table top is 12 mm or 20 mm thick. The thin top gives a slim profile; the thicker one looks sturdier.

2. Colour: 29 colours, seen in your own light

Ceramic comes in 29 colours, from light marble look to dark stone look. A marble look gives the appearance of marble without its sensitivity to stains. Order material samples before you choose; they are refunded when you return them.

3. The edge is the sensitive point

The surface resists scratches, heat and stains. The weak spot is a hard point load on the edge: a heavy pan falling on the corner can chip it. Keep that in mind when you choose the spot, and with small children and their toys.

4. Base: steel or stainless steel

Steel is welded in the workshop in Maasbree, the Netherlands, and powder-coated in a fine texture, 3 to 5 times thicker than wet paint. Choose from 10 standard colours. Drawback: powder coating is a paint layer that can be damaged by a heavy impact.
Stainless steel is grade 304 (18/8), brushed and naturally corrosion-resistant. Fingerprints show, but wipe off easily.

The difference is aesthetic; functionally they are equal. See the steel bases and the stainless steel bases.

5. Size and position

A ceramic table is heavy; you choose a spot and it stays there. Allow 700 to 750 mm of table length per person and at least 800 mm of free space around it. The standard table height is 760 mm. Choose a rectangle, round, oval or Danish oval top; you set the size to the millimetre.

6. Indoors or outdoors

Ceramic is frost-resistant (EN ISO 10545-12) and UV-resistant, so the same top can stand outside. For outdoor use a steel base gets an extra primer coat under the powder coating. See the ceramic garden tables.

7. Delivery, guarantee and returns

Delivery within 4 weeks, or at a lower rate within 8 weeks. Collection from Maasbree is also possible.
A 2-year guarantee on construction and finish.
Made-to-measure products are excluded from the right of withdrawal. Measure carefully and look at samples first.

Ready to choose? Browse the ceramic dining tables or configure your table in 3D and see the price straight away.

Frequently asked questions

What should you look for in a ceramic dining table?

The thickness (12 or 20 mm), the colour in your own light, the edge as the sensitive point, the base, the size and whether it should also stand outdoors.

Is ceramic better than marble?

For daily use, yes: ceramic is non-porous and stain-resistant. A marble look gives the appearance of marble without that worry.

Can a ceramic dining table stand outdoors?

Yes. Ceramic is frost-resistant and does not fade in sunlight. A steel base gets an extra primer coat for outdoor use.

Can I return a made-to-measure ceramic table?

No. Made-to-measure products are excluded from the right of withdrawal. Look at samples first or visit the showroom in Maasbree.