Grade 1 tiles are the weakest, with the best application as wall tiles. Grade 2 tiles are best used in areas where there is light traffic, such as residential bathrooms. Grade 3 tiles can withstand slightly heavier traffic, and is the most common choice for residential applications.
Porcelain tiles typically have a higher level of scratch resistance than ceramic tiles, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. A-grade porcelain tile and B-grade porcelain tile may offer different levels of scratch resistance, so it is important to compare the two before making your final decision.
Yes, a higher quality tile is usually more expensive. But it could have a high quality appearance, higher quality production standards, or a higher durability rating.
Grade: Use Grade 1 or 2 tiles for floors. Grade 3 tiles are suitable only for walls. PEI Wear Rating: Use floor tiles with a PEI wear rating of III, IV or IV+. C.O.F.: Use tiles that provide good traction (COF greater than or equal to 0.60).
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.
Check the slip resistance: If you're using porcelain tile in a bathroom or kitchen, choosing porcelain tiles with a high slip resistance rating is essential to prevent accidents. Porcelain floor tiles with an R rating of 10 are the most slip-resistant.
In an overall decision as to which tile is the best, one can surely go with the branded tiles. Some of the quick benefits of selecting branded tiles include: Customers can avail of a wide range of patterns, designs, and hues. The tiles available are best in terms of quality with uniform consistency and appearance.
Man-made materials such as ceramic and porcelain tiles are generally much more cost effective than natural products, with ceramic tiles often being the most economical choice of the two thanks to their lighter density and weight.
Tile Thickness
The vast majority of porcelain tiles are 6mm to 10mm thick and a tile in this range will serve most purposes. Wall tiles typically range from 6 to 10mm thick.
Think of porcelain as a higher quality ceramic. They're both made of the same material, but porcelain is much stronger. Porcelain tile also gives manufacturers more design flexibility. Ceramic and porcelain are both highly customizable, but porcelain can mimic unique materials (like natural stone) that ceramic can't.
Grade 4. For most commercial installations, Grade 4 tile is recommended. It is intended for heavy traffic, and is often found in restaurants, shops, offices, and other spaces that need a durable, easy-care floor tile.
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 Tiles
Of all the tile types available, porcelain is the strongest, beating wood and even cement, so it's easy to see why so many households choose it.
Another important reason why you should order extra tiles beforehand is that there are chances that once you have finally chosen a tile and have started the work, it is possible that you don't find the exact color or the same tile in stock. Hence it is always advisable to order some extra.
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.
Typically, it's advised to add 10% more tiles to your order, but in rooms with complex shapes like bathrooms with hidden boxes or shower alcoves, it's better to allow for 15% wastage.
While all ceramic tiles are essentially made of the same ingredients, the quality and color of those ingredients can make a dramatic difference in the price. For example, to make a tile with a pure white body requires white clay, which is much harder to find than the red or beige clay found in most tiles.
However, porcelain tiles can be somewhat more brittle than standard ceramic tiles, and they have some of the same drawbacks as ceramic tile, including their heavyweight, coldness, and hardness underfoot.
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.
However, there are a number of factors that can affect the price of porcelain tiles such as the manufacturer, the country of origin, the depth/quality of the printing process, etc. But the thing that affects tile pricing the most is the design.