Flooring options have never been more plentiful than they are today. New innovations in tile producing technologies have given new life to porcelain and ceramic floor tiles. From large format porcelain tiles to rustic ceramic tiles, low maintenance and durability accompany each style.
The Difference Between Ceramic and Porcelain
Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles share many characteristics. Both are durable and often up to commercial grade in hardness and strength. Both offer ease of cleaning and care, and are available in wide variety of styles, colors and finishes. So what’s the difference between them?
Ceramic tiles are clay bodied tiles with a glaze baked on the surface. This glaze may contain a pattern, be a solid color, or have a mottled or marbled appearance. Because of this glaze, the color of the tile will not go all the way through the clay body. Meaning, that if this tile were to be chipped or cracked, the clay body underneath would show through.
Ceramic tiles can be further broken down into wall or floor tiles. Ceramic floor tiles tend to be thicker than wall tiles, and have a more durable, slip resistant glaze. While ceramic floor tiles can used on walls, it is inadvisable to use wall tiles on the floor.
Porcelain tiles are what’s known as a through body material. This means that the color and patterning of the material goes straight through the clay body. This type of manufacturing makes a harder, more durable tile, and in the event that something was to chip a tile, it would be more difficult to discern the chip, as the color of the tile would not change.
Porcelain floor tiles are often more able to mimic natural stone in both color and texture than ceramic tiles. Because the colors are mixed directly into before forming them, it can create a more natural variation, more like the variation found in nature, than the type applied by a glaze. Porcelain tiles are also available in more modern designs, as their durability allows them to be etched for designs, or created in large format tiles.
Styles and Use
Both porcelain and ceramic floor tiles can be used to cover any surface where tile is typically laid. This can allow for many different styles to be created. Try placing a matte finish porcelain tile on the floor of a bathroom, and a polished porcelain of the same color on the walls and shower. This will serve the purpose of making the room seem larger, by creating an unbroken line between floor and wall. By using 12” tiles, or larger, to achieve this will help lend a more modern feel to the room. To create a more transitional look with the same space enhancing effect, try using a larger ceramic tile on the floors, and a smaller version of the same tile on the walls.
Rustic ceramic tiles of varying sizes can be laid in a pattern to create a mudroom floor, while large fabric inspired porcelain tiles can produce a modern living room floor. Kitchen floors will especially benefit from having a low maintenance and easy to clean material laid under foot.
Both materials can be washed with any type of tile cleanser, and while these materials are non-porous, and therefore stain resistant, it is recommended to seal polished porcelains prior to grouting. Otherwise, these floors need little care to keep them looking good for years to come.
Installation of both ceramic and porcelain tiles is fairly straight forward, and is often less expensive than the installation of natural stone. Visit tile showrooms to see some of the wonderful choices available today.
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