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.
Porcelain tiles are considerably harder to cut than ceramic. This is readily apparent if you ever go to cut them or drill through them. 3. They are denser and you can often tell from just holding a porcelain tile that it feels heavier than a ceramic of identical size.
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.
Porcelain comes from a refined clay which is fired at very high temperatures of approximately 1,200–1,450°C. The result is an extremely hard, shiny material often white and translucent in appearance.
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.
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.
The three main types of porcelain are true, or hard-paste, porcelain; artificial, or soft-paste, porcelain; and bone china. Porcelain was first made in China—in a primitive form during the Tang dynasty (618–907) and in the form best known in the West during the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368).
Though definitions vary, porcelain can be divided into three main categories: hard-paste, soft-paste, and bone china. The categories differ by the composition of the body and the firing conditions.
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.
A high-quality porcelain is often thicker – ⅜” to ½” thick in many cases, making it more durable. And whether a porcelain tile is glazed or not, steps are often taken to ensure a superior finish. This is why good quality porcelain can so closely resemble natural stone or even wood.
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.
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.
Pottery is opaque; light does shine through a piece of porcelain. Pottery breaks in a line. Porcelain is thinner, lighter and more stain-resistant. If you hold a pottery plate in one hand and a porcelain plate in the other, you will find the porcelain is colder and the pottery is heavier.
But while porcelain tiles are non-absorbent and stain resistant, the grout that surrounds the tile may not be. Cement based grout is a porous product that can absorb water and stain. We therefore advise that all cement based grout joints are protected using a dedicated grout sealer.
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 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.
The toughest porcelain tile available on the market, Grade 5 tiles are used in areas that receive very high foot traffic and are prone to a lot of wear and tear. They are popular for installation in schools, hospitals, grocery stores, and industrial buildings. Grade 5 tiles can hold up to harsh chemicals as well.
While “porcelain” and “ceramic” are often used interchangeably, each term refers to a different material when describing wall, floor, bathroom, and kitchen tiles. Porcelain is made of finer clay, absorbs less water, and is usually more expensive than ceramic.
In general, porcelain tiles can be categorized into 4 main body types: Homogeneous, Full coloured-body, Speckled-body & Double loading, and Off-white body.
Pottery is typically made from natural clay, which is mixed with a few organic materials and water. On the other hand, porcelain is made from a mixture of clay, kaolin, silica, quartz, feldspar, and other materials. Kaolin is the key component in porcelain, giving it its tight structure and low porosity.
Glazed porcelain tiles tend to be thinner and less dense compared to unglazed porcelain tiles. The durability of glazed porcelain tiles is influenced by the quality of the glaze applied. A lighter glaze, fired at higher temperatures, results in increased density.
Best for Cost: Ceramic Tile
As a general category, ceramic tile is less expensive than most porcelain tiles. But there is a surprisingly large range of prices for both types of tiles. Note that the very highest quality designer tiles tend to cost roughly the same for ceramic and porcelain.
What is the most durable floor tile? The most durable flooring is granite, a natural stone. However, glazed porcelain flooring tiles are a great, low maintenance option too as they don't require annual sealing to upkeep their finish, this often means they are more budget friendly too.
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.