Porcelain Versus Ceramic Tile Flooring

Porcelain tile is often believed to be the same as ceramic tile flooring. The truth is that they are very similar but have important differences that set the two apart.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles are typically made from white clay, sand, and feldspar. This causes porcelain to be harder and more dense than ceramic tiles. What is nice about porcelain is that they are more water resistant, more stain resistant, and more hardwearing but also more expensive.

Ceramic Tiles

On the other hand, ceramic tiles are typically made from red, brown, or white clay. This causes ceramic to be softer and less dense than porcelain tiles. What is nice about ceramic is that they are easier to cut and cheaper but also more prone to stains and water damage.

Deciding Between the Two

When deciding on which to use, porcelain is better used in areas with higher moisture levels and more wearing. When choosing porcelain, there is an option between through-body porcelain tiles and glazed porcelain tiles.

Through-body porcelain tiles have no glaze on them and have the same design and color all throughout the tile, while glazed tiles have a painted glaze on top. When deciding between the two, through-body tiles are better suited for heavy-traffic areas due to chips and dents being more noticeable in glazed tiles as the color underneath shows.
Porcelain tiles can create a nice, polished image. Furthermore, porcelain tile is especially good to use on exterior designs.

On the other hand, ceramic is better used in areas with little moisture and less wearing. They create a nice look when on a budget, although the color is only on the glaze and is often different underneath. Ceramic is not suitable to use on exterior designs but can excel on interior designs.