Porcelain Countertops in North Charleston, SC
If you want a counter that is not stone, we can template, cut and set porcelain slabs in your North Charleston kitchen or bath.
- Quotes in writing
- 8 areas covered
Thinking about porcelain for your North Charleston kitchen? Our team takes the measurements at your house, has the slab shaped to your cabinets, and sets it in place. Here's what porcelain is, how it stacks up against granite and quartz, and what the City of North Charleston asks for once a job touches the plumbing.
Porcelain next to granite and quartz
The porcelain we fit is not stone. Per a Department of Commerce notice in the Federal Register, ceramic tile is a blend of minerals, clay among them, fired until the raw materials fuse together. That same notice counts porcelain tile as ceramic tile, along with slabs and panels larger than 1 square meter, which is 11 square feet.
A hazard alert from OSHA and NIOSH names marble and granite as natural stone, and NIOSH says engineered stone also goes by the name quartz. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So if you are weighing porcelain against granite or quartz, you are choosing between a fired ceramic and a stone, and we can quote you both.
Why spills sit on top
The Census Bureau's Schedule B trade list sets a tight bar for porcelain. To count, the ware must have a fired white body, unless it has been colored, and soak up no more than 0.5 percent of its own weight in water. That low number is the reason we suggest it for busy kitchen counters and for bathroom vanity tops that get splashed every morning.
Where your slab gets cut
OSHA lists ceramics among the things made with crystalline silica, a common mineral in the earth's crust. It warns that making ceramic products or stone countertops puts workers in silica dust, made of bits at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand. The OSHA and NIOSH alert tells installers to do as much work as they can under controlled shop conditions instead of at the house.
We plan your cuts with that in mind and will tell you which steps, if any, have to happen in your kitchen.
Plumbing permits in North Charleston
Swapping a counter is one thing. Moving a sink is another. The City of North Charleston runs a plumbing permit, and its page says no work can be done until that permit is issued. The application needs a contract or proposal that lays out the scope of work, with the cost of materials and labor. If the job reaches the sewer line, the city says you need an extra permit from the sewer district as well.
We'll tell you at the measure whether your plans cross any of those lines.
Reading your quote
You get a written price from us after we measure, not before. What moves it is the slab you pick, how many feet of counter we cover, the edge profile, and the number of cutouts for a sink or stove.
A clear quote names the porcelain by brand and color, gives the slab thickness, and comes with a sketch that marks each seam and cutout. It should also say who takes out and hauls off the old tops, and who unhooks and reconnects the faucet and range. If something's missing, ask and we'll add it.
Still choosing? We also fit quartzite, marble, soapstone, solid surface, butcher block and concrete.
Questions about porcelain countertops in North Charleston
How long does a North Charleston plumbing permit last?
The city's plumbing permit page says permits are good for 6 months. If no inspection takes place within that time, the permit expires and the holder has to start over.
Do the outlets by my new counter need anything special?
The City of North Charleston's electrical permit page says countertop outlets must be GFCI protected. The CPSC describes a GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter, as a device in your wiring or a power cord that protects you from severe shocks.
My neighborhood has an HOA. Does that matter?
It can. On its electrical permit page, the city lists a letter of approval from your homeowners association, if you have one, among the papers to upload for a permit. Check with your HOA early so the paperwork doesn't hold up the job.
I rent my house. Can I still get new counters?
You'll need your landlord on board. The city's electrical permit page lists landlord consent among the documents it wants with a permit application.
How is porcelain different from stoneware?
The Census Bureau's Schedule B puts the line at water. Stoneware takes in no more than 3 percent of its weight in water. Earthenware, which has clay in its fired body, takes in more than 3 percent.
What should I use to wipe porcelain after raw chicken?
FoodSafety.gov says to wash countertops with hot, soapy water, most of all after raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs have been on them. It also says not to thaw or marinate food on the counter.
Can you take out my old tile counters first?
We can. Pulling out old tile or laminate and setting porcelain in its place is part of our countertop replacement work, and while we're there we can add a backsplash, facing the strip of wall just above the counter with tile or stone.
A corner of my porcelain top chipped. What now?
Send us a clear photo, or have us stop by. We'll say whether a countertop repair makes sense or the piece needs replacing.
Book a porcelain measure
Call us, or fill in the quote form with your ZIP code and the rooms you have in mind. We'll come out, show you porcelain colors and edges, and send a written quote. For everything else we fit, see the North Charleston Countertops home page.
Ready to talk about your countertop job?
Call us or send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.