Comparison Between Porcelain Tile vs. Ceramic Tile

Admin · 1 Comparison Between Porcelain Tile vs. Ceramic Tile Tue Jun 09, 2020 1:05 pm

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Porcelain vs. ceramic tile: Is this a war between two different types of materials or is it simply a war of words? For consumers, the terms porcelain and ceramic are often used interchangeably as if they were the same thing. And this is understandable since ceramic and <a href="https://www.overlandceramics.com/product" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">premium porcelain tile</a> are used for the same applications, are installed the same way, and have largely the same merits and drawbacks as a flooring or wall surface material. At the same time, tile shop salespeople often claim a world of difference between the two, probably to justify porcelain's cachet and its higher prices. Is there really a difference between porcelain and ceramic tile? Porcelain and ceramic tile are both are part of the larger category of tiles that can generally be called ceramics—a category that includes all rigid tiles shaped from natural earthen clays and hardened by heat. In the <a href="https://www.overlandceramics.com/case" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modern tile industry</a>, however, porcelain tiles occupy their own category, assigned there because they meet certain specifications. Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: Major DifferencesAccording to the industry group that decides whether a tile is porcelain or ceramic, everything boils down to whether the tile can meet a set of highly controlled water absorption criteria. Both ceramic tile and porcelain tile usually receive a surface glazing that makes them hard to distinguish from one another. Porcelain tile has a water absorption rate of 0.5 percent or lower as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) section C373. To test this, the fired tile is first weighed, then it is boiled for five hours and left to sit in water for 24 hours. Then it is weighed again. If the tile weighs less than half of one-percent more as a result of water-absorbing into its surface, it is considered porcelain. To achieve this density, a special kaolin clay mixture is used, which is finer and purer than most ceramic clay. It usually contains notable levels of quartz and feldspar mixed in. Porcelain tiles are fired at temperatures ranging from 2,200 to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. To the consumer, it generally suffices to say that porcelain is a dense, fine-grained, smooth tile that is more impervious to water than ordinary ceramic tile. Porcelain TilePorcelain tile virtually always receives a surface glazing treatment—a coating of liquified glass material—while some forms of ceramic tile are left unglazed. As a rule porcelain tile is more impervious than ceramic tile and is thus subject to less water infiltration. Ceramic TileTile defined as ceramic uses a coarser clay with a smaller ratio of fine kaolin clay, and it generally lacks some of the additives used in porcelain clay. Ceramic tile is fired at lower temperatures, generally no more than 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit. Ceramic tile can be slightly more prone to water infiltration than is porcelain tile, though these differences are fairly minimal if the <a href="https://www.overlandceramics.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ceramic tile manufacturer</a> is glazed. AppearanceCeramic tile and porcelain both are often manufactured with a glazed surface coating, and at a glance, they may be indistinguishable. Porcelain TileOne recent innovation with porcelain tile is the ability to manufacture them to resemble different materials. While ceramic tile generally has solid color and pattern, porcelain tiles are available that are remarkably good at mimicking natural stone such as marble or even wood grains. This makes porcelain tile an excellent choice where you want the look of wood without wood's susceptibility to water damage. Ceramic TileMost ceramic tile that is not categorized as porcelain is a solid color, and simulations of wood grains or natural stone are not common with basic ceramic tile. Best for Appearance: Porcelain TileOverland porcelain tile has the edge when it comes to appearance, for the simple reason that it is available in more colors, patterns, and surface finishes, including tiles that resemble wood grains and natural stone. Water and Heat ResistanceBoth ceramic and porcelain have very good resistance to heat and are sometimes used on countertops. Porcelain TilePorcelain tile is denser, heavier, and more impervious to water, and thus is a better choice than ceramic tile for outdoor locations, although outdoor use is recommended only in mild climates. Porcelain tile has excellent resistance to heat, making it a good choice for countertop surfaces. Ceramic TileCeramic tile is somewhat more susceptible to moisture infiltration, though the differences are minimal if the tile is glazed. Ceramic tile has excellent heat resistance, making it a good choice for countertops. Best for Water and Heat Resistance: Porcelain TilePorcelain has slightly better water resistance, making it possible to use it in outdoor locations in regions with mild climates. Ceramic tile is generally not recommended for outdoor locations in any environment. Care and CleaningPorcelain TilePorcelain tile is very easy to clean up by damp-mopping with a mild water-soap solution. The cementitious grout filling the joints between tiles needs to be periodically sealed to guard against stains and mildew. Ceramic TileCeramic tile has the same care and cleaning needs as ceramic tile—routine damp-mopping and period sealing of grout joints. Durability and MaintenancePorcelain TilePorcelain clays are denser and thus less porous than ceramic clays. This makes porcelain tile harder and more impervious to moisture than ceramic tile. Due to its through-body composition, it is considered more durable and better suited for heavy usage than ceramic tile. Chip a porcelain tile, and the color continues all the way through; as a result, the damage is nearly invisible. Porcelain is an easy material to maintain, requiring only period sealing of the grout lines. Ceramic TileChip a ceramic tile and you find a different color underneath the top glaze, which means that chips are likely to be quite visible. The clays used for ceramic tile are less dense than porcelain clays, which means ceramic tiles are somewhat more prone to cracking and breaking. Unglazed ceramic tiles may also need to have sealers applied to the entire tile, not just the grout lines. Best for Durability and Maintenance: Porcelain TileAs a harder material that has solid color throughout, china porcelain tiles are stronger and more durable, and chips are less likely to be visible. InstallationBoth forms of tile are installed using similar methods. Tiles are adhered to an underlayment of cement board using a mortar-based thin-set adhesive. Once the tiles are set, the joints between tiles are filled with mortar-based grout, which is sealed against moisture once it dries. There are slight differences in how ceramic tile and porcelain tile are handled, based on their differing densities. Porcelain TilePorcelain tile is more brittle and may require the experienced hand of an experienced tile-setter to cut properly. A wet tile saw is the recommended tool for cutting porcelain, while an inexpensive snap cutter generally works fine with ceramic tile. Ceramic TileWhile ceramic tile is less dense than porcelain tile and thus less durable, it is also a far easier material for do-it-yourselfer homeowners to cut manually, by wet tile saw, or with a snap tile cutter. Best for Installation: Ceramic TileAlthough techniques are very similar, ceramic tile is slightly easier to install, since it is a softer material that is easier to cut. CostPorcelain TilePorcelain is more expensive to manufacture than ceramic tile, resulting in higher retail prices. Porcelain tiles begin at about $3 per square foot, running to $35 per square foot. Ceramic TileWith all other factors equal, ceramic tile is cheaper than porcelain tile. Ceramic tile tends to run about 60 to 70 percent of the cost of porcelain tile, on average. Ceramics can be purchased for as little as $.50 per square foot or as much as $35 per square foot. Best for Cost: Ceramic TileAs a general category, ceramic tile is less expensive than most porcelain tiles. But there is a surprisingly large range of prices for both types of tiles. Note that the very highest quality designer tiles tend to cost roughly the same for ceramic and porcelain. LifespanBoth ceramic and porcelain tiles are very durable building materials, provided they are well cared for. Porcelain TilePorcelain tile is a harder substance and wears better than ceramic tile, but its hardness can also make it more susceptible to cracking under structural shifting in a building. Ceramic TileBy some estimates, a ceramic tile floor can last from 75 to 100 years if the grout is maintained properly and sealed regularly. While it theoretically is softer and doesn't wear as long as porcelain tile, it also tends to resist cracking due to structure shifting somewhat better than does porcelain tile.

Comparison Between Porcelain Tile vs. Ceramic Tile

1 Comparison Between Porcelain Tile vs. Ceramic Tile Tue Jun 09, 2020 1:05 pm

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