The benchtop is the centrepiece of a modern kitchen — and in Australia, what benchtops are made from has just changed forever. Uptiles’ Porceluxe large-format porcelain slabs give Brisbane kitchens the look of natural stone with none of the silica risk, backed by a Strathpine showroom where you can see full slabs in person, seven days a week.
The engineered stone ban — what replaced it
Australia banned the manufacture, supply and installation of engineered stone benchtops from 1 July 2024, and banned imports of engineered stone from 1 January 2025. The reason is worker safety: cutting engineered stone releases crystalline silica dust, which causes silicosis, a serious and irreversible lung disease.
Porcelain and sintered stone are explicitly exempt from the ban. That is where Porceluxe comes in: large-format porcelain slabs up to 3200 x 1600 mm, in 6 mm, 12 mm and 20 mm thicknesses, delivering the premium benchtop look as the silica-free alternative. Australian kitchens have not gone backwards — they have moved to a better material.
Why porcelain performs
- Heat resistant — a hot pan straight from the cooktop will not scorch or mark it.
- Scratch resistant — porcelain is harder than almost anything in your kitchen (we still recommend a chopping board, for your knives’ sake).
- UV stable — colours will not fade, which opens the door to outdoor kitchens.
- Stain resistant — non-porous, so wine, oil and coffee wipe away. No sealing, ever.
Where porcelain slabs shine
- Kitchen benchtops and waterfall island ends
- Full-slab splashbacks that run unbroken from bench to rangehood
- Bathroom and laundry vanities
- Outdoor kitchens and barbecue areas
Browse the Porceluxe range
Explore the slab collections online, then see them full size in the showroom:
Porcelain benchtop questions, answered
What replaced engineered stone benchtops in Australia?
Porcelain and sintered stone. Both are explicitly exempt from the engineered stone ban, and both deliver the sleek, sealed surface homeowners loved about engineered stone — without the crystalline silica hazard. Our Porceluxe porcelain slabs are the range Brisbane builders and fabricators are turning to.
Do porcelain benchtops chip?
Porcelain is extremely hard, and day-to-day knocks will not trouble it. Like any premium surface, exposed edges rely on good fabrication — an experienced fabricator will mitre and finish edges properly, and in the rare event of a chip it can usually be repaired in place.
Can porcelain benchtops take hot pans?
Yes. Porcelain slabs are fired at over a thousand degrees, so a hot pan from the stove will not burn, scorch or discolour the surface — one of porcelain’s clearest advantages over engineered stone and laminate.
Can porcelain benchtops be used outdoors?
Absolutely. Porcelain is UV stable and weatherproof, so the same slab you choose for the kitchen can top the outdoor barbecue bench — a favourite for covered alfresco areas across Brisbane.
Planning a kitchen? Design your room online with our free visualiser, then come and see full-size Porceluxe slabs at Uptiles, 104 Gympie Road, Strathpine — open seven days — or call (07) 3881 0116.