PORCELAIN vs CERAMIC

Ceramic Tiles, made from thin layers of clay, are favoured for their wide assortment of color, and variability. Ceramic tiles are customarily glazed and are ideal for both wall and floor applications.

These tiles are synthetic. You can find ceramic tiles in your bathrooms, shower floors, kitchens and laundry rooms. They can be used for both your floor and walls. A ceramic tile requires very little to almost no maintenance, they’re stain resistant, and do not require refinishing which is why ceramic tiles are popular flooring options for home renovations.

Ceramic tiles are offered in various finishes.  Tile Solutions carries polishes ceramic tiles and unpolished ceramic tiles.

Unpolished tiles are generally grounded and blended to a fine powder, which are later mixed with water and pressed together. The pressed clay body is then dried; after the tiles are dried, for a polished ceramic tile, the tile is coated with a coloured glaze which is then permanently fused to the surface of the tile by firing it in kilns to form the finished product and a very different look from that of unglazed tiles.

Porcelain tiles, compared to ceramic tiles, are made from a finer, more dense clay, which results in a harder body, and is also fired at higher temperature, which causes the tiles to have greater durability and stain resistance. Porcelain one of the highest rated tile materials  in regards of aesthetics as the tile is available in a number of shades, shapes, patterns, texture, sizes and designs. Finding the perfect porcelain tile for your kitchen or bathroom can easily change the look and style of any home area. You can choose from natural/polished or glazed porcelain tile varieties. If you are planning on replacing your bathroom tiles or kitchen tiles, there are several factors to think of when buying porcelain tiles.

• Resistance to Wear and Tear– Porcelain tile can be used anywhere in the homes because of the tile’s beautiful aesthetics, however over time  you can expect some wear and tear to the tile. On other hand, porcelain has a high breaking strength than other flooring and maintains the appearance much longer than other floors, as it is extremely harder and non-porous too. Choosing porcelain tiles for your new floor is great because of its hard wearing material and it can resist to stains, scratches, fading and chipping.

• Low Maintenance– Porcelain tile is much easier to maintain, than natural stone tiles as it repels stains and doesn’t require any sealing for water resistance. Spills can be cleaned up easily usually with water and a bit of detergent (if needed) from impervious surface, where it can also resistant to harsher cleaning agents. Porcelain floor tiles looks great for years and needs  very little maintenance.
• Holds up in High- Traffic Areas– Porcelain floor tiles are ideal for high foot traffic areas of your home. They will outperform other flooring types, such as natural stone tiles and hardwood floors,  in terms of appearance and durability.
• Available in many styles–  Choices are limitless when it comes to porcelain tiles.  Many porcelain tiles are designed to mimic other flooring materials, such as granite, slate, marble, wood or limestone.
• Durability– One of the main advantages of porcelain tile is its durability. It is much denser than standard ceramic tile as it is fired at higher temperatures and made from more refined clay. In most cases when porcelain tiles are get installed properly, it lasts for life time with best durability.
• Moisture– Porcelain tiles is less prone to moisture absorbing as it is so dense and especially good in colder climates that can direct to freezing, where your tiles will not crack easily. This is great for Canadians, as we experience all types of weather throughout the year.
• Cleaning– Another best advantage with porcelain tile floor is that, very easy to clean and maintenance. It is non- porous in material and it gets protected from bacteria. These porcelain tiles are essentially stain- proof and highly resistant to slipping. The tile can also be installed both inside and outside.

See more about Tile Maintenance; Install Tile Backpslash.