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.
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.
Porcelain tiles
This process makes them dense, less porous and stronger than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles for floors are ideal in high traffic areas as they are resistant to chipping, scratching and stains.
Porcelain floor tile is hard and dense enough that it can even be used outdoors, though it's mostly recommended for mild climates. Porcelain is even more heat-resistant than other types of ceramic, and it's also less likely to chip or crack over time.
Most Durable Porcelain Tile Flooring
These porcelain tile choices boast impressive resistance to foot traffic, scratches, water spills, and flooding, as well as ultraviolet light from the sun. (You can expect the other colors of these products to perform similarly.)
Porcelain is the hardest, followed by ceramic and then glass tile. Never use a carbide-tipped drill bit for porcelain tiles; instead, use a diamond drill bit.
Porcelain tiles are very strong and can take the weight of heavy furniture and cars during strength tests – they last decades! There's no need to worry about your porcelain floor tiles cracking or breaking during everyday use, they won't! They will even withstand shocks like heavy objects falling on them.
Density & Durability
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.
Large format tiles are also easier to maintain than smaller tiles. With fewer grout lines to clean, it's easier to keep these tiles looking their best. Additionally, large format tiles are less likely to chip or crack than smaller tiles.
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.
Known for their unprecedented strength, durability, affordability, and longevity, porcelain floor tiles are one of our most recommended kitchen, living, and bathroom floor tile options! Porcelain floor tiles are made from dense clay fired at high temperatures and available in many beautiful options like stone and wood.
The clay used for porcelain tile is more refined and much denser. It is also fired at a higher temperature under greater pressure. The result is a more robust, strong, durable, and water-resistant tile than ordinary ceramic tile.
As a rule, floor tile is typically 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick.
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.
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.
According to ANSI A137. 1, tile shall have an average breaking strength of equal to or greater than 250 lbf for pressed floor, porcelain, quarry and mosaic tiles, and 125 lbf for glazed wall tiles.
Large tiles can't flex over raised areas or dips in the subfloor like smaller tiles can. If the substrate is not perfectly level, using large tiles can result in lippage, which is when the edge of one tile is higher than an adjacent tile.
Generally, hairline cracks in the concrete will not present an issue to the tile floor above; however, cracks wider than 1/8 inch will eventually transfer to the tile, it notes. This is known as reflective cracking, and it can be easily prevented by adding a crack isolation membrane during installation.
Lateral movement describes the event when the subfloor and floor finish expand and contract at different rates which can cause tiles to crack. This is typically caused by environmental reasons such temperate and pressure changes, construction 'settling' or moisture penetration to the subfloor.
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.
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.
Porcelain tiles have a fine-grained finish that is smoother than the finish on ceramic tiles. So, if the finish is slightly bumpy or coarse when you touch it, you're dealing with non-porcelain (ceramic) tile. If the tiles are already glazed, flip them over and look at the unglazed underside.
per square foot. There are no restrictions for interior walls, but some suggest that maximum weight should not exceed 15 lbs. per square foot. Larger and heavier tiles will require anchoring with mechanical fasteners.
Polished concrete floors are very durable and with proper maintenance will last you a lifetime. Tiles are also durable but they're a little more fragile in comparison to concrete. If you drop something heavy on a tiled floor, it's likely to crack and chip.
Adding another layer of tiles on top of the original tiles will double the weight on the wall or floor, which may lead to damage to the wall or floor. This is typically more of a problem for walls than floors. Standard sized lightweight tiles should be OK, but large heavy wall tiles should be avoided.