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.
A porcelain tile should feel denser than a similar ceramic one and have consistent color throughout the tile. A water penetration test is the best way to tell the difference. If a tile soaked in water absorbs five percent or less of the water, it is most likely porcelain.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are generally more uniform and will have a totally soft/smooth finish. If there are repeating patterns, it is most likely a man-made tile. Marble is known for its veining pattern and will have natural color variations as well as gloss on the surface.
Porcelain tiles or ceramic tiles are porcelain or ceramic tiles commonly used to cover floors and walls, with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5 percent. The clay used to build porcelain tiles is generally denser. They can either be glazed or unglazed.
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.
Compared to other flooring materials, such as hardwood flooring, natural stone, or vinyl tile, porcelain tile can be less comfortable underfoot due to its hardness. It's colder to walk on, especially in the winter.
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.
Although polished porcelain tiles look like they have a mirror finish, it's the way they are polished to get this shine that causes optical hazing. They are polished using very hard grinding stones which open very small pores on the surface in the process.
Just as with unglazed porcelain tiles, glazed porcelain has four basic glaze finishes: gloss, matte, lappato & textured, of which there are several different types. Tiles with a lappato glaze have a higher shine than matte tiles, but a gentler finish than a gloss tile.
Even with the most modern, state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, no two porcelain tiles are identical. As they are baked in the kiln, there is a slight amount of shrinking and warping. It's generally not noticeable to the eye, but with large installations – and large-format tiles – it may make a difference.
Look for chips in the glaze to identify ceramic tile.
This is a sure sign that the tile is ceramic. Porcelain tiles are sometimes, but not always, glazed. Most high-quality porcelain tiles will have a consistent color that goes through the top, body, and bottom of the tile.
Coloured Porcelain Tiles
The black and white and many shades of beige and grey are now flanked in the Refin range by colourful and monochromatic tiles or tiles characterised by decorative graphic patterns in lighter or darker hues of red, green and blue.
Because of the nature of the porcelain tile body, ie very low water absorption rate and dense body, an adhesive with far stronger bonding characteristics than an unmodified conventional (standard setting) cementitious adhesive is required to install these tiles.
For most types of tile, including porcelain and ceramic, you only need one key ingredient: A DIY mixture of warm water and dish soap will do the trick. Follow these steps to clean tiles: Spray the water and dish soap solution on the tile surface. Wipe the area with a damp microfiber towel or cloth.
Remove Stains from Glazed Porcelain Tiles
You can use a commercial product safe for glazed porcelain tiles or use white vinegar. Use a warm-water wash with vinegar at half strength to remove the stain completely. Mop the area and allow it to sit for ten minutes, and then rinse with a clean warm water bath.
While vinegar is safe to use on laminate, vinyl, porcelain, and ceramic tile, it is best to use it sparingly since the acid in the vinegar can dissolve the finish on your floor. Therefore, when you are using it on tiled floors, you want to make sure you cut it with water or rinse it completely with water.
Porcelain tiles are one of the most practically designed tiles that are not strong but aesthetically perfect. They do not chip easily and the cases of such damage, if any, are very rare and most can be avoided with extra care.
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.
It can improve your house's appearance, make your floor more resistant to spills, and even make cleaning easier. When done right, it also increases your home's value!
Porcelain tiles are denser than ceramic, and therefore less porous. Meaning they're harder, therefore more durable and absorb less water. This makes them more suited to high footfall areas which will see heavy use.
Water resistance
However, glazed ceramic is only designed to inhibit moisture from being absorbed. Regardless of how ceramic is glazed, it will always be far more absorbent than porcelain. Choose porcelain for tile showers, or opt for ceramic tile for walls and porcelain tile for the flooring.
While it's true that porcelain tiles are a premium outdoor flooring option, they represent a sound long-term investment. They're non-slip and hardwearing. Outdoor porcelain tiles are scratch-resistant and easy to keep clean. They won't stain and they come in a broad range of style options.