Porcelain Tile vs. Ceramic Tile

When building a new home or looking to remodel your current, the finishing options are seemingly endless.  In hard surfaces alone there are many options.

The 55+ homes for active seniors from Leisure Villas has several to choose from: hardwood, engineered wood, laminate planking and porcelain tile to name some.

Although all are great products, it’s often confusing to know what to choose from.  Depending on your preferences and lifestyle, For many people, nothing beats the timeless look of tile.

Although porcelain tile and ceramic tile are similar in some ways, there are a few differences that may make you choose one over the other.

Picking The Perfect Tile

How it’s made:

Both ceramic and porcelain tile are made with clay.

Although similar, both technically can be considered ceramic (because they are made from clay as opposed to stone.)  The difference is in the mixture. The clay used to produce porcelain tile is much denser than the clay mixture used to make ceramic tile.

Ceramic tile is usually an earthy red color when done baking.  You usually will only see this if the tile is chipped or cracked in some way because after it has baked it is then typically painted with a smooth finished glaze (a kind of paint that is baked onto the tile in a high heat kiln).

Porcelain tile is more of a white color when finished, though you won’t necessarily see this if it is cracked or chipped.  This is because the color of porcelain tile is throughout the tile instead of just on top.  It can be glazed, but more often than not, it’s seen without a glaze.

Difference in durability and uses

Durability in wet, high use, exterior and commercial areas:

The mixture of clay in addition to the baking time involved in making porcelain tile lends towards a tile that is denser than ceramic tile.  Because of this, it is less porous than ceramic.

According to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) C373 porcelain tile has a water absorption rate of less than 0.5 percent and ceramic tile (or any other kind of tile) has an absorption rate of 0.5 percent or more.

In simpler terms, porcelain tile does not absorb as much moister as other tiles.  This makes it ideal for commercial uses as well as wet areas of the home.  Areas such as: bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, entryways and kitchens, or in areas that have high foot traffic.

It also is better able to perform in outdoor placement.  Ceramic tile tends to absorb enough water that if temperatures freeze, cracking and damage occur easier than they would in porcelain tiles.

Ease of use:

If you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, porcelain tile may not be your best option.

Because of its density, it is much harder to cut and shape.  Ceramic tile is much more user friendly and can easily be cut and shaped into whatever pattern you are trying to achieve.

Porcelain tile on the other hand can easily crack or break if it isn’t cut just so.  If possible, when using porcelain, let a professional take care of cuts and installation.