Before getting into the benefits and drawbacks of porcelain tile it makes sense to go over what it actually is.
Disadvantages of porcelain tile flooring.
Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles are both excellent tile flooring options but you need to consider the benefits and drawbacks of both to help you select the best option for your own needs.
Porcelain tile is made from clay and other natural materials blended together and fired in a furnace.
Ceramic tile cost.
Cleaning porcelain tile is a breeze.
These tiles have a distinct look and are ideal for areas where moisture is a concern.
Here s more on the pros cons and costs.
In high traffic areas porcelain floor tile is an excellent choice and will out perform other tiles in both long term appearance and durability.
Some porcelain floor tile is made to look like stone and while it might hold up just as well it will cost less.
Porcelain is somewhat harder with a rating ranging from 3 to 5 pie.
The pei scale is used to give a measure of how hard a tile flooring is.
Porcelain porcelain tiles also come from the clay family but manufacturers use feldspar and other minerals in the mixture.
Choosing between ceramic or porcelain tiles can mean prioritizing durability water resistance and the tiles overall appearance.
Depending on the traffic and level of risk for the floor in your home choose a value that suits the situation.
Ceramic tile being softer has a hardness value that ranges between 3 and 4.
Plain ceramic tile is all you need for residential uses.
Porcelain tile achieves this by using clays with finer particles fired at a higher temperature which creates a harder less porous surface than can be achieved by standard ceramic tiles this inherent versatility gives ceramic tile the ability to provide a number of benefits as a flooring such as durability and design flexibility.
When evaluating the pros and cons of porcelain tile and ceramic tile consider your taste in decor your budget and the needs of the rooms to be decorated.
It s a flooring solution made from very dense clay that s fired at higher temperatures than standard ceramic tile flooring is.
It s fired at a higher temperature than ceramic tile and needs to meet strict requirements to be classified as porcelain.
Porcelain is designed for say airports says dave gobis executive director of the ceramic tile education foundation.