Merits and demerits of ceramic and porcelain floor tiles

Tile is an important building material known for its durability, moisture resistance and low maintenance requirements. It is often used in flooring of kitchens and bathrooms but can also be used in a wide variety of applications, such as in making countertops, backsplashes and decorative wall coverings. The most common types of tile are porcelain and ceramic. Each offers distinct benefits and drawbacks that should be considered before making a purchase decision.

Ceramic tiles are made from natural clay, sand and water. These materials are molded to form square or rectangular tiles and then baked in a kiln to remove most of the moisture. Porcelain floor tiles are made from denser type of clay than used in the manufacture of ceramic tiles. These porcelain tiles are also baked at a very high temperature for a longer period which makes the tiles impervious to water reducing the water absorption rate as low as 0.5 %.

Ceramic and porcelain tend to have different overall colorings and appearances.Although ceramic may be glazed to create different surface colors or designs, porcelain is usually left unglazed. White chips in the glaze can be highly visible on ceramic tiles, whereas chips in porcelain are not as noticeable because these tiles are the same color throughout.

Ceramic tiles are best suited for indoors use as they have high moisture content which makes them susceptible to freezing or thawing. This may result in the developing of cracks inside the tiles. Porcelain floor tile can be used both for indoor sand outdoor flooring options as they have very low moisture content and are not susceptible to crack due to freezing.

Porcelain floor tiles although being more expensive than the ceramic tiles are more long lasting as well which ultimately benefits the users. Porcelain is also less porous, making it easier to clean and less likely to stain. Stained ceramic may require replacement due to the difficulty of removing stains from porous tiles.

Porcelain floor tiles can withstand high levels of traffic and increased levels of wear and tear which makes them more durable than the ceramic tiles. Ceramic is likely to chip or crack if objects are dropped on it, and the tiles are not expected to hold up for as long as porcelain units. Ceramic should not be used in most commercial applications, while porcelain can be used in light-or medium-duty commercial projects in addition to residential.

Porcelain is very hard and durable, which can be a problem during installation. Its dense nature makes it difficult to cut, especially when special shapes or rounded edges are needed. However ceramic tiles can be easily installed as it requires fewer special tools. It is also better to use ceramic when working in an oddly shaped area that requires a large number of special cuts.