Ceramic vs Porcelain Tile: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to the world of tile, there are two main categories that often get confused. These two categories are porcelain and ceramic tiles. At first glance, the two may seem similar, but upon further inspection, there’s definitely a winning option in each unique design situation. If you’re wondering if you should use porcelain versus ceramic in your project, you’ve come to the right place!
Let’s start with the basics.
What is Ceramic Tile?
Ceramic tile is one of the older styles on the market. It is made from the most natural ingredients on earth: clay. With a clay base, it then gets mixed with other items like sand, feldspar, quartz, and water. Then, it gets baked to become a solid tile.
What is Porcelain Tile?
Porcelain tile is actually a type of ceramic tile. It is a more dense, finer clay that gets fired at far higher temperatures than that of traditional ceramic. As a result of this process, porcelain tile comes out as a durable, hardened option.
What are the Differences Between Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles?
When it comes to porcelain vs. ceramic tiles, there are many differences, regardless of how similar the shapes may be. Each of these tile categories have their own unique pros and cons. Let’s talk about those in more depth to help you differentiate between the two and decide which is the best choice for you.
Porcelain Tile: Pros
The pros for porcelain tile seem nearly endless. From their ability to be super durable to their low maintenance.
To get a better grip of all the pros out there, let’s run through them.
Highly Durable
Thanks to the way it is produced, porcelain tile is a highly durable option. It can handle high traffic areas from living room and kitchen floors to hotel lobbies. This makes porcelain tile flooring a perfect option for a myriad of spaces.
Stain Resistant
The next pro on the list is that porcelain tile is stain-resistant. This comes from its impervious nature and the inability for stains to penetrate the body of the tile. Simply clean the spill as soon as it happens, and you’re good to go!
Indoor / Outdoor Use
With porcelain tile (even polished porcelain tile), comes use-versatility. You can use this format of tile in both indoor and outdoor spaces. This is because porcelain does not absorb water easily, making it the ideal tile to endure the elements.
Low Maintenance
If you hate high maintenance homewares, then porcelain is a great option for you. Cleaning it is incredibly easy! Simply wash down your backsplash or sweep and mop your floors to keep them in pristine condition.
Through-Body Options
Another benefit of porcelain tile is that it is through-bodied. This means that porcelain tile has the same uniformity all the way through from end to end. If the tile chips, it won’t be as noticeable since below there is another layer identical to the one on top. This works in favor of patterned porcelain tile, since you never have to concern yourself with unsightly chipping that needs replacing!
Ceramic Tile: Pros
Now that we’ve covered the pros of porcelain tile, let’s talk about the benefits of ceramic tile!
Unglazed Options
Ceramic tile is made from clay and has an earthy feel to it. Using one of the unglazed options will give any space a natural look. This showcases the tile’s texture and can breathe a little life into any design.
Design Versatility
The sheer volume of design options of ceramic tile is a massive benefit alone. No matter what shape or color you’d like for your space, it is likely that there will be ceramic options. From mosaics to elongated hexagons, ceramic tiles give you choices.
Now let’s talk about the cons of porcelain and ceramic tiles.
Porcelain Tile: Cons
Longer Installation
Since porcelain tends to be dense, it is more difficult to cut than something like ceramic. Special tools and a careful eye are both required to make precise cuts. As a result, you will want to enlist the help of a professional installer, which raises the price.
Ceramic Tile: Cons
Possible Sealer Requirements
Sometimes pros will come with the cons, and that is the case for unglazed ceramic tile. When a ceramic tile is not glazed, the installer needs to apply a proper glaze to it in order to make sure it’s a little bit harder for liquids to penetrate it. This can increase the timeline as well as the upkeep fees.
As you can see, there is no one tile that is best to use in the debate between ceramic and porcelain. It all comes down to your budget, area of design, and preferences!
