Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most chosen options to find the perfect tile for your home. Since they are confused as bearing similar qualities, it is hard not to accept them as identical. However, they aren’t. Knowing their differences would enable you to determine which one is better suited to your needs. In this guide, we’ll discuss the main differences between ceramic and porcelain tiles, including the process of manufacturing, durability, maintenance, costs, and best uses
What Are Ceramic Tiles?
Ceramic tiles are made of clay, water, and other inorganic materials. They go through fire in a kiln, and this is what makes them hard. Other glazing processes occur to other ceramic tiles and therefore give an impulse shine to the tile. The ultimate known perception of ceramic tiles is that they are cheap, durable, and versatile. They come in different colours, sizes, and designs, and so it is held as one of the first to be used in many areas of the house walls and floors.
Best Uses of Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are best used for low to medium-traffic home areas. These include bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. Its performance is excellent for spaces exposed to occasional water, such as bathrooms or kitchens. Ceramic tiles from Face-Impex are perfect for using backsplashes or countertops. One reason ceramic tiles are wonderful is that they can be maintained and cleaned very easily, which makes them an excellent choice for DIY projects.
Advantages of Ceramic Tiles
Cost: These tiles cost less than porcelain tiles. They are a good option if the budget is tight for homeowners.
Ease to Install: Ceramic tiles are softer compared to slab porcelain tiles, thus easier to cut and install in a building. Some DIYers can take care of installing a tile using basic equipment such as a tile cutter.
Wide Range of Designs: Ceramic tiles come in different colours, shapes, and sizes, so you can achieve the desired looks for any area you want to decorate at home.
Low Maintenance: Ceramic tiles are simple to clean, and resistant to stains, though may require more frequent sealing than slab porcelain tiles.
Disadvantages of Ceramic Tiles
Durability: Though ceramic tiles are resilient, they are not as hard or wear-resistant as slab porcelain tiles. This makes them more vulnerable to chipping or cracking at the high-traffic points.
Porosity: Ceramic tiles are extremely porous compared to porcelain. They absorb moisture more easily. Therefore, if your floors or walls are subject to moisture, such tiles are vulnerable to stains and damage.
Not recommended for anything outdoors or where moisture will be too excessive, these don’t fare well in such cases.
What Are Porcelain Tiles?
These are ceramic tiles, but because they are made of a more dense, higher-quality clay, fired at much hotter temperatures. Porcelain tiles are thus much tougher and less absorbent than ceramic tiles; not to mention resistant to water and stains. The two types of porcelain tiles are glazed and through-body. Glazed porcelain from
Face-Impex has a surface coating, whereas through-body has the same colour and texture throughout the tile – it’s a lot more durable and greater at camouflaging chip and scratch marks.
Best Uses for Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles from Face-Impex are fit for high-traffic areas, bathrooms, and kitchens, as they are more dense and less porous than ceramic tiles, making them ideal for wet environments. Porcelain can be used on floors, walls, backsplashes, and outdoor zones, such as patios or balconies.
Advantages of Porcelain Tiles
Durability: Slab porcelain tiles are much stronger and tougher than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles may be used in both commercial spaces and homes because they can support heavy foot traffic.
Water Resistance: Porcelain tends to be more water-resistant and less porous than ceramic. Such makes it ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, or other wet areas.
Outdoor Use: Because slab porcelain tiles are water-resistant and can take temperature shifts, they make an excellent choice for outdoor use. The tile isn’t affected adversely by rain or snow and will never lose durability with freezing temperatures.
Low Maintenance: Porcelain tiles are very low in maintenance and do not need cleaning like a ceramic tile does. That’s because a porcelain tile surface is less porous, so it will not be as prone to staining or moisture seepage.
The fact that slab porcelain from Face-Impex tiles comes in a wide size range makes them very suitable for designers and house owners to work with. For small spaces that need a modern feel, 800 x 1600mm or 800 x 1830mm tiles create a nice balance that does not overwhelm the space. Larger spaces benefit from sizes such as 1200 x 1800mm or the fantastic 1600 x 3200mm, creating a bold, expansive feel.
In a commercial setup that is a hotel lobby or an entrance to an office slab in sizes 1200 x 2400mm and 800 x 3000mm deliver functionality while standing out for aesthetics.
Disadvantages of Porcelain Tiles
Costlier: Porcelain is costlier than any other ceramic tile as the manufacturing process is more complex and takes higher-quality materials, increasing the cost.
Installation Problem: These are very dense tiles, harder to cut, and their installation may sometimes be very challenging; some professional help may be required for the tiles to be correctly installed.
Brittle: Porcelain tiles may be even more prone to brittleness than ceramic tiles. This means they may develop cracks under pressure, although proper installation can help minimize this.
Differences Between Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles
Manufacturing Process: Ceramic tiles are made from a mixture of clay, water, and other materials and are fired at lower temperatures. Porcelain, on the other hand, is made from finer and denser clay and baked at much higher temperatures. This makes porcelain tiles harder and more durable as compared to ceramics.
Water Resistance: The other significant difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles in terms of water resistance is porosity. Porcelain tiles have lower porosity and, therefore, are more resistant to water. Ceramic tiles are porous; hence, they easily absorb water, which may subsequently result in stains or damage in wet environments.
Durability: Porcelain tiles are much more durable than ceramic ones. They are denser and don’t easily crack or chip, especially under heavy foot traffic. Ceramic tiles, though still good in durability, tend to be more susceptible to cracking and wear and tear over time.
Cost: Ceramic tiles are cheaper compared to porcelain tiles. Ceramic tiles are much more appropriate for budget-bound individuals since they are cheap and mainly suitable for small projects. Porcelain tiles may be pricey, but they yield better –durability in the long run.
Ease of Installation: Ceramic tiles are easier to cut than porcelain tiles. DIYers find it easier to work with ceramic tiles because they are softer in composition.
How to Select and Use Tiles Appropriately at Home and in the Office
Choosing the right tile for your house can easily become frustrating, it even leads to a standoff between alternatives that include ceramic and porcelain tiles because of factors such as the budget, the location of installation and the longevity of the tiles.
If you are in the market for tiles for a basic installation in places that receive light and medium foot traffic, 10mm ceramic tiles are easy, cost-effective and a good solution. They are great for use in places that do not get wet, like living rooms and bedrooms, and are perfect for home improvement projects.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a tile that is going to get lots of foot traffic as well as moisture and outside weather, porcelain tiles are the way to go. Although the prices are high, they include prolonged usefulness, resistance to water, and artistic range.
Think about your specifications such as how the room is meant to be used, how much traffic it will be exposed to and how much moisture will be present to select the most appropriate tile for your way of living.
This essay aims to discuss the use of different tile types: ceramic and porcelain in households.
Final Words
In some cases, both ceramic and porcelain tiles from Face-Impex are advantageous as both have their disadvantages. If you are still confused as to which types of tiles to use, consider the layout and the interiors of your house. If an inexpensive and hassle-free flooring material is what you are looking for, ceramic tiles are the best alternative. On the other hand, if immersion in water staining indoors or out is likely in a high-traffic area, porcelain tiles would be more appropriate.