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.
The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating comprises numbers ranging from 1 to 5, with Grade 1 being the least durable and Grade 5 being the toughest. For your porcelain floors, you would need at least a Grade 2 tile to maintain the look of your living space.
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.
PEI 4: 1500+ revolutions Moderate to heavy traffic. All residential applications as well as medium commercial and light institutional. PEI 5: 12000 revolutions Heavy to extra heavy traffic.
Grade. Grade is the numerical ranking that reflects tile quality. Grade 1: Highest quality. Recommended for walls or floors. Grade 2: Similar to Grade 1, but with slight imperfections.
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.
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.
PEI 5 rated tiles are suitable for areas required to endure heavy foot traffic, abrasive dirt and moisture, and where safety and maximum performance are required. Tiles with this PEI rating are often found in shopping centres, public buildings, leisure centres, airports, and swimming pools.
V4 = Substantial Variation
Random color and/or texture differ from tile to tile, so that one tile may have totally different colors and/or texture from that on other tiles.
"PEI" is the abbreviation for Porcelain Enamel Institute. A PEI Rating is given to a tile product based the hardness of its glaze. This hardness is determined by the manufacturer using a standardized test. The results of this test will determine the proper usage of a product.
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. Mosaics and decorative wall products also range from 6 to 10mm thick to make combining them easier.
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.
If you want to use tile in a commercial environment, or in a high traffic location, porcelain tile is likely the better option. This highly dense material is much more difficult to break, and it will withstand heavy use over time well. Porcelain tile can even stand up to heavy furniture better than ceramic tile can.
One of the things to consider before buying tiles especially Porcelain tiles is its design, colour and size. A good Porcelain tile assures a colour consistency throughout its design and with its long-lasting property the choice of design and colour should perfectly compliment your personality.
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.
The most obvious difference in the two is the finish. Lower quality porcelain may have a flaws in the glazing or glazing that does not cover fully. The most common flaw looks like tiny pinholes.
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.
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.
Most groundwaters, including well water in PEI are generally considered to be relatively hard.
Ceramic or porcelain tile with a PEI rating of 3 or 4 will withstand moderate foot traffic, even if you or your guests decide to leave their shoes on in the house. You don't need to invest in a thick, heavy tile for the living room, but one with a moderate rating should do nicely.
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.
PEI Rating 5 Tiles represents the highest PEI score, which means that tiles with such a rating are resistant to visible wear with very high amounts of traffic. These can be used in heavy commercial areas like Shopping Malls and Airports.
Bone china is less brittle than other porcelain products not comprised of bone ash. Both bone china and porcelain are vitreous. China becomes vitreous when heated at a temperature that allows the clay and feldspar or bone ash to bind together as one product.