Tiles come in different types, sizes, colors, and patterns. Ceramic and porcelain are two of the mos
Difference between Ceramic tiles and Porcelain tiles
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Tiles come in different types, sizes, colors, and patterns. Ceramic and porcelain are two of the most popular tile types. You might be planning to get tiles for your kitchen, living room, bathroom, or commercial space.
No matter whether it’s for residential space or commercial space, there are so many types of tiles to choose from. Some popular tile types include ceramic, porcelain, mosaic, granite, parquet, vitrified, marble, and glass tiles.
Before selecting any tile, there are certain factors you need to keep in mind. Consider factors like tile’s grading, water absorption, tile’s application, etc.
In this post, we will talk about ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles. People often get confused between these two.
Ceramic tiles are made with a mixture of clays and other natural minerals like sand, water, and quartz. This is the most popular type of tile in the market. Ceramic tiles are used in houses, restaurants, bathrooms, offices, shops, and more.
The ingredients used in the making of ceramic tiles are natural. Among different minerals used in the making of ceramic tiles, clay is the important one. Besides clay, other items used in the process are sand, feldspar, quartz, and water. All these ingredients are mixed and grounded up in a ball mill.
What sets apart ceramic tiles from other tiles is they are inexpensive, easy to clean, easy to maintain, and easy to install.
Porcelain tile is the type of ceramic tile. However, porcelain tiles are a lot different from the standard ceramic tiles. First of all, they are made using very specific clay, with finely-ground sand and feldspar added to the mixture.
If you are looking for tile that is durable and less porous to water, then porcelain tiles are for you. Although it is a type of ceramic tile, it lasts long as compared to standard ceramic tiles.
Like ceramic tiles, clay is the primary ingredient in porcelain tiles as well. It is made using a very specific clay, with finely ground sand and feldspar added to the mixture. Then, it is fired at a very high temperature.
Here are the pros of ceramic tiles:
One of the main benefits of ceramic tiles is they are water resistant. If you are planning to install flooring that holds up well to moisture, consider ceramic tiles. Due to high water resistancy, ceramic tiles are used in swimming pools as well as rooms with hot tubs.
Cost is another advantage with ceramic tiles. If you are tight on budget, you should definitely consider installing ceramic tiles. If we compare standard ceramic tiles with porcelain tiles, cost becomes a major difference. With ceramic tile, you will be spending less money buying as well as installing.
A wide variety of design options is another plus point of ceramic tiles. You will find ceramic tiles in a wide range of colors, patterns, and sizes. You can pick the one that is right for your residential or commercial space.
Here are the cons of ceramic tiles:
If we compare standard ceramic tiles with porcelain tiles, the standard ceramic tile is definitely less durable. This means it can crack and break quite easily, which reduces its life span.
Temperature is another issue with ceramic tiles. In the winter, ceramic tiles get so chillier to walk on. On the flip side, in summer, the tiles will be warmer than usual.
Here are the pros of porcelain tiles:
Durability is the main advantage of porcelain tiles. If you are looking for a tile that is durable and strong enough, consider porcelain. Unlike standard ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles are less prone to cracks and scratches.
As porcelain tiles are more durable as compared to regular ceramic tiles, they have a longer lifespan. Porcelain tiles will keep it protected from cracks & scratches, and thus improve the lifespan.
Another good thing about porcelain tiles is they are easy to maintain. As these tiles are highly durable, they don’t crack or damage easily. To keep them in a good shape, washing them regularly & cleaning up the grout would be enough.
Here are the cons of porcelain tiles:
Porcelain tiles are more expensive to purchase as well as to install. High cost of installation is the major drawback of porcelain tiles. As porcelain tiles are tough, it requires more work. This is what makes it quite expensive to install. Not just costly, it is time consuming as well.
Weight is the advantage and disadvantage as well. If your room isn’t built with large floor beams, it can be risky to install porcelain tiles. Hence, before installing, make sure to know whether your floor can handle the weight.
To give a better idea about the pros and cons of ceramic and porcelain tiles, check out the points of differences mentioned below:
Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are made with clay. The difference is porcelain tile is made with more refined clay and it is fired at a very high temperature. Ceramic tiles are made with red, brown, or white clay. Talking about porcelain tiles, they are made with white clay, sand, and feldspar. Also, porcelain tiles are fired at a higher temperature.
The main point of difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles is durability. If we compare both the types of tiles, porcelain tiles are more durable than ceramic tiles. Although porcelain is the type of ceramic tile, there are several differences in the manufacturing processes of ceramic and porcelain tiles. This is what makes porcelain tiles more durable than ceramic tiles.
Talking about the manufacturing process, both tiles are made with a clay mixture. The only difference is porcelain tile is made from more refined clay and is fired at a higher temperature.
Another thing which sets apart ceramic tiles from porcelain tiles is water resistance level. Porcelain tiles are more water resistant as compared to ceramic tiles. Depending on whether the tile is low density, high density, vitreous, or non-vitreous, water absorption level differs. Low-density or non-vitreous tiles have water absorption levels of more than 7%, while high-density or vitreous tiles have water absorption levels of between 0.5% and 3%.
As standard ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles are made differently, both are used for different applications. Regular ceramic tiles are used for walls, floors, home interiors, commercial interior walls, and low foot traffic areas. Talking about porcelain tiles, they are used for floors, walls, commercial properties, and areas with high moisture.
One of the major differences between ceramic and porcelain tiles is the pricing. Though ceramic and porcelain both are made with clay, the process is quite different. Porcelain tiles cost more compared to ceramic tiles. If you are tight on budget, ceramic is the right choice.
Here, we have walked you through the difference between ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles. There are a lot of factors to consider when selecting between ceramic and porcelain. To help you figure out which one is right for you, here we have shared pros & cons of ceramic and porcelain tiles and points of differences between the two.
Difference between Ceramic tiles and Porcelain tiles
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