Known as the most durable type of tile on the market, porcelain is harder, denser, tougher, and less porous than ceramic tile. It also has a very low absorption rate, meaning it's virtually impervious to water damage, even after prolonged exposure.
There are many different materials on the market, but the pros recommend natural stone and porcelain for bathroom and kitchen countertops. Natural stone won't show chips or imperfections as clearly, explains Angelica Baeza of Arizona Tile, one of the state's leading showrooms, but it does require regular sealing.
In this charming kitchen, our Carrara Polished porcelain tile was used for all of the countertops creating harmony and making the AREA appear larger. Thin porcelain slabs are ideal for this sort of installation, as the seam at the corner with the cabinets is small and virtually unnoticeable.
Durability: The density of porcelain tile makes it more durable than ceramic tile while being less subject to wear and tear. This makes it more suitable for commercial use as well as in the home. Water Resistance: Porcelain tile is almost impervious to water compared to ceramic tile.
Porcelain, while extremely durable once installed, is very fragile during the fabricating process and can easily be chipped or cracked, which also makes finding an experienced fabricator highly important.”
Quartz takes first place in terms of durability. Made of crushed quartz stone mixed with polymers and resin, this artificially engineered stone countertop is an extremely durable surface that resembles natural stone.
A porcelain countertop can handle hot pans and pots placed on its surface. The porcelain won't smoke, burn, or emit any harmful substance. As mentioned earlier, porcelain is one of the strongest ceramic tiles. The surface strength is achieved through the firing process.
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.
The major difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile is how it's made. Both tiles are made from a clay mixture that's fired in a kiln, but porcelain tile is made from more refined clay and it's fired at higher temperatures. This makes it denser and more durable than ceramic tile.
Kitchen Countertops
Ceramic tile is impervious to heat and water, and when properly glazed, it won't stain. Proper sealant helps ensure grout won't discolor or stain, and large-format tiles cover a lot of area with minimal grout lines. Still most popular out west, ceramic tile is a solid option worth a second look.
Tile countertops
Tile countertops were hugely popular in the '70s and '80s. Now they're making a comeback, albeit in more modern, minimally styled installations. Even if you have tile that's been there since before you were born, you can make it look good.
Porcelain Countertop Price
The average price of porcelain slabs including installation is between $55 to $120 per square foot. Meanwhile, the average price of granite and quartz countertops including installation is around $45 to $200 per square foot and $75 to $150 per square foot, respectively.
If your tile countertop is seriously dated, paint or decals may not be enough to help it. But you still don't have to rip it out and replace it. Instead, use self-leveling concrete to cover the entire surface and create a smooth, modern look for your countertop.
Porcelain withstands heat well and is unaffected by direct sunlight, while quartz surfaces can warp or become discolored over time. Both materials are slip-resistant, which makes them good options for flooring. Quartz, however, is best used indoors while many porcelain tiles can be used inside or outdoors.
If the laminate surface and its lower substrate are in good condition, you can apply ceramic or porcelain tile directly on top of the laminate. In fact, a laminate countertop in good condition is nearly the ideal surface for tiling: flat, smooth, and level.
Disadvantages of porcelain tile flooring
- being durable, porcelain tiles are also hard to cut or to drill. They require special and stronger tools to be cut into any desired shaped. - they are harder to fix onto mortar, they need extra pressure to be forced into place.
When it comes to flooring materials, porcelain tiles are one of the easiest to maintain. Vitrified porcelain tiles and smooth glazed-surface tiles are the easiest to clean, but with proper care, unglazed and textured porcelain tiles can be maintained without any difficulty.
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.
Ceramic and porcelain tile floors can be notoriously slippery. The very feature that makes tile easy to clean—its smooth, non-porous nature—also means that it is slippery underfoot. Add extra tile glazing, water, and dress shoes, and a rush to get to work can mean a trip to the emergency room instead.
The surface of most ceramic and porcelain tile does not need to be sealed, although some require a light application of a penetrating sealer to fill the micro pores on the surface of the tile. However, the grout joint between the tiles is usually very porous and generally made of a cement-based material.
The clays used for ceramic tile are less dense than porcelain clays, which means ceramic tiles are somewhat more prone to cracking and breaking.
However, porcelain is cheaper than granite, marble and quartz. And the good news is that once installed, your maintenance cost is very low. As you can see, a high-quality porcelain countertop is a versatile and durable product that gives you high performance and isn't difficult to install.
Caring for porcelain countertops takes virtually no extra work and no special cleaning products. It never has to be sealed, and most of the time can even just be cleaned with paper towels and some clear water. For stains that require a bit more attention we recommend a neutral cleaner like Fila Neutral Cleaner.
Granite is considered among one of the hardest choices in natural stone, with a Moh's hardness rating of about 6-6.5. On the other hand, porcelain made from hard-baked kaolinite clay, ranks at an estimated 7-8, which makes it slightly harder. Both are resistant to cracks, chips, and scratches, as well as heat.