While porcelain is resistant to scratches, etching and stains, these surfaces are not damage proof. Take care to avoid exposing porcelain to permanent inks or dyes, as these might not be removable.
Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic, but they make it from a more cultivated clay and bake it at higher temperatures. This makes it a tough scratch-resistant flooring choice. Unglazed porcelain is the best when it comes to scratch resistance.
Porcelain is a durable material, but it's relatively soft as far as tiles go. This means it's susceptible to cracks or chips, and they're often eyesores. Luckily, it's possible to hide the damage with a bit of touch-up glaze. Here's how to fix cracked and chipped tiles.
While porcelain tile boasts exceptional durability, there are few products and techniques you should take pains to avoid: Never use a product containing ammonia or bleach (or any type of acid-based cleanser); these can alter the tile color and/or stain the grout. Never use oil-based detergents or wax cleaners.
More specifically, porcelain tiles are what is often referred to as “moisture proof.” As you might imagine, this means that they are impervious to moisture, which means that they aren't likely to get easily damaged simply by being in bathrooms or even wet rooms.
Porcelain tiles tend to be harder, more resilient and more stain-resistant than ceramic tiles. They are one of the easiest types of tile to maintain but their surface can eventually be eroded by the regular use of corrosive chemicals such as ammonia, bleach or acids that can also damage the grout and loosen the tiles.
On the other hand, porcelain tile is virtually impervious to moisture as it hardly has any pores available for moisture to infiltrate.
Hard, dense, and solid, porcelain is resistant to most heavy stresses and can even be used in commercial environments. Be aware, though, that the hardness of porcelain can make it slightly more brittle than standard tiles, which means they can be more susceptible to cracking.
Porcelain tiles can easily be chipped by wet saws, so tile installers have developed strategies to avoid this. Even though a wet saw with a variable blade is ideal, a regular depth saw can help prevent porcelain from chipping. Chips can be avoided by taking your time and using a fresh blade.
Heavy impacts, such as dropping a dense object, can cause tile floor cracking. If a sharp blow is the culprit, the damage might appear more like a chip. Kitchen tiles are especially at risk because pots, pans, glassware and other heavy items are commonplace.
The standard strength test for porcelain dinnerware should yield an impact strength of about 0.36 foot-pounds of force. The flexural strength for these materials is about 60-70 megapascals (MPa), about 8700-10,200 pounds per square inch (psi), at best, with earlier examples being significantly weaker.
The truth is that porcelains are not fragile. The reason we think they are fragile is that many of the items we have known that are crafted from porcelain, like cups and dolls, are very breakable.
Pros to consider: Porcelain tile is highly durable. Because it is extremely hard and dense, this tile resists wear, scratching, chipping, and cracking.
Porcelain tile has a 60+ year life expectancy, so you definitely get your money's worth. It's perfect for walls, floors and indoor/outdoor installations. Rated for high-traffic areas, you won't have to worry about your porcelain floor degrading over time.
Sprinkle on a layer of baking soda to fix light scratches.
Buff it in with a wet sponge for about three minutes. Rinse the spot clean to see how much of the scratch is left. If there is a little more, repeat the process.
In the case of less durable materials such as porcelain, fiberglass, wood and glass, these materials will eventually break down and erode if exposed to drastic temperature shifts over long periods of time. These usually will manifest as cracks, material stripping or warping.
Although porcelain tiles offer exceptional durability, there are few products and techniques you should avoid at all costs. Never use a product that contains harmful chemicals such as ammonia or bleach (or any type of acid-based cleanser). These type of chemicals can alter the colour of the tiles and/or the grout.
Porcelain tile has the same color throughout the material. A broken or chipped piece of unglazed porcelain will have a uniform color throughout its thickness. Ceramic tile often has a glazed surface coloring, so chips may reveal a different color underneath. The finish of porcelain is smoother than that of ceramic.
Porcelain clays are denser and thus less porous than ceramic clays. This makes porcelain tile harder and more impervious to moisture than ceramic tile. Due to its through-body composition, it is considered more durable and better suited for heavy usage than ceramic tile.
The surface of porcelain and ceramic tile do not require sealing, however, it's important to note that even though your porcelain or ceramic tile does not need to be sealed, the grout used during installation will need to be sealed and maintained.
1. Lower quality materials: The tiles may be made from lower quality materials, which can affect their durability and longevity. 2. Mass production: The tiles may be produced on a large scale, which can lower the cost per unit.
Because it is fabricated in high heat over 2000° F, porcelain can easily hold its own against hot kitchen or bathroom environments. Its surface is resistant to damage after exposure or contact with hot pans and pots and won't burn, smoke, or emit harmful substances.
Cost of Porcelain vs. Ceramic. While both ceramic and porcelain are less expensive than most renovation materials, their price differences are due to their density differences. Porcelain tiles are therefore more expensive than ceramic tiles.