Porcelain tile is typically more expensive than ceramic and other popular flooring materials. Because of its hardness and durability, it wears so well that the tile may last for decades, which makes it a great value. But, there may be a significantly higher cash outlay at the time of installation.
Starting with the good, the trusty porcelain tile is an excellent flooring choice. It is highly durable and resistant to most heavy impact stresses, making it suitable for high-traffic areas, much more so than the standard ceramic tile.
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.
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.
Because of its finish and through body composition the same may not be visible, but it does happen. However, modern porcelain tiles do not crack easily, it must be a particularly unusual circumstance under which a porcelain tile cracks.
Cons to consider:
Although porcelain tile is extremely durable, it does occasionally chip, particularly around the edges. This may not be noticeable with through-body composition, but it is a concern. Porcelain tile is typically more expensive than ceramic and other popular flooring materials.
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.
Porcelain is more expensive to manufacture than ceramic tile, resulting in higher retail prices. Porcelain tiles begin at about $3 per square foot, running to $35 per square foot.
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.
#1 Porcelain Uses Rare Ingredients
Just as it was in ancient China, true porcelain can only be made with kaolin. While it can be found all over the world, large deposits are hard to come by. This special clay is what gives porcelain its white color—the purer the kaolin, the whiter the porcelain.
It comes in various styles, colors, and sizes and can be used to create stunning designs. Porcelain tile is typically mid-range in price, costing an average of $12–$40 per square foot.
Porcelain tiles by themselves cost, on average, between $2 and $30 per square foot. Hiring a professional to install the tiles for you can cost $9 to $50 per square foot, including the tiles.
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.
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. Tile is easy to maintain and water-resistant.
The PEI rating, or Porcelain Enamel Institute rating, is one of the most important factors to consider when considering various porcelain tile grades for your project. This rating tells you the resistance of a tile to wear due to abrasion and determines its suitability for different uses.
Ceramic tile is graded from 1 to 5, with 5 being the longest wearing tiles. Grade 1 tiles are the weakest, with the best application as wall tiles.
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.
Low Maintenance:
Porcelain tiles look great, they're tough, and they are simple to maintain. They don't require any special sealing to keep out water as some other tiles do. Porcelain tile floors are simple to clean and water wipes right off them without causing any real damage.
As with anything in your home that gets a lot of wear, porcelain tiles can lose that initial shine and shimmer if they are not maintained correctly. This can manifest in a few ways. Dirty grout is a common issue that can develop over time, quickly detracting from the beauty of your porcelain tiles.
Porcelain is more costly than ceramic, but more affordable than natural stone. While its durability can be beneficial, it can also make the tile trickier to install.
Porcelain is highly resistant to heat and is totally unimpacted by sunlight. The heat resistance of quartz isn't as strong. Even though keeping a hot pan on a quartz surface will not ruin its surface instantly, quartz can discolor or warp with time.
The most expensive flooring in the world is named "Pietra Firma Luxtouch Tiles" and as we said, it costs $1,000,000 per square meter! Every square meter of this tile is inlaid with more than 1000 diamonds, 2400 pieces of mother of pearl, 400 pieces of abalone shell, 500 pieces of black onyx.
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.
Porcelain floor tile has sand added to the clay mixture and is made with heat and pressure to produce a tile that's harder, denser and less porous than regular ceramic tile. It's a good choice for high-traffic areas, kitchens and bathrooms. It's tough enough to be used outdoors in any climate.
Porcelain tiles require minimal maintenance. They can generally be cleaned with clean water and/or a neutral pH cleaner. If using a detergent we recommend rinsing with clean water and wiping dry to prevent film formation. Spilled liquids, especially those high in acid, may stain the tile if not removed promptly.