How To Choose The Right Tiles For Your Home

People mostly use the terms ‘porcelain’ and ‘ceramic’ tiles vice-versa, but there are a few differences. Depending on how you plan to use your space, porcelain or ceramic tiles may suit you better. Here’s how they differ and where they are best used.

Porcelain tiles are dense, durable ceramic tile that does not easily absorb water or other liquids. Both tiles are manufactured similarly using baked clays, so it is primarily the strength and density of the tiles that separates the two.

Ceramic tiles are generally more delicate, they work better in indoor places that are not likely to get damaged, such as kitchen backsplashes. Porcelain tiles are less absorbent, and so they are suitable for outdoor use and high traffic areas. Porcelain tiles tend to be more expensive than ceramic tiles but are more useful in a wider variety of applications.

Let's Compare

Type of Tiles	Ceramic Tiles	Porcelain Tiles
Made of	Red, brown or white porous clay. Less refined and purified.	White clay. More refined and purified.
Pros	Less expensive, easier to cut for DIY projects.	Less absorbent, hence more stain-resistant.
Cons	More susceptible to chipping and cracking in cold weather. More porous and less stain-resistant.	Expensive, brittle, too hard to cut without the help of experts.
Uses	Interior walls and floors	Floors and exterior walls.
Cost	Less expensive	More expensive
Colour	Baked onto the top only	Runs through the whole tile
Used in exterior	No	Yes
Ease for DIYers	Easier to cut	May require an expert to cut
Maintenance	Ceramic tiles can be easily cleaned with a sponge.	Porcelain tiles can be easily cleaned with a mop or a sponge.

Appearance

Porcelain tiles can be made to look like marble.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles can be any colour and even made to look like other materials, such as wood or natural stone. However, the design on a porcelain tile is more likely to withstand damage, as porcelain tile design goes throughout the entire tile. Designs on ceramic tiles are merely "printed" on top and then covered with a glass-based glaze. This means that a chip on a ceramic tile is much more noticeable than a chip on a porcelain tile.

Clays Used in Ceramic Tiles vs Porcelain Tiles

Ceramic tiles are made with red, brown, or white clay, while porcelain tiles are almost exclusively made with refined and purified white clay. The clays used in porcelain tend to have few impurities than clays used in ceramic tiles and have more kaolin (China clay) and feldspar (plagioclase). This ultimately results in a denser and more durable tile.

Usage

Ceramic tiles are appropriate for areas that will not be subjected to heavy use or harsh conditions. Art mosaics, walls, kitchen backsplashes, and countertops that will only be lightly used or have glass overlays are all areas that can use ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles should almost always stay indoors, as typical weather conditions — hot, cold, or rain — can cause ceramic tiles to become weak and crack. Like granite, ceramic is porous, meaning ceramic tiles may absorb liquid spills that could cause staining.

Because porcelain tiles are much more durable and stain resistant, they can be used inside or outside for walls or countertops and even in high traffic areas as flooring. However, not all porcelain tiles are the same, meaning it is important to purchase the right kind of porcelain tiles. For example, only some porcelain tiles are that are manufactured for outdoor use.

While porcelain tiles have long been a more stain resistant alternative to porous surfaces, they are not as durable or as stain resistant as some modern surfaces, such as quartz and Corian. However, they are more affordable and can even be made to look like natural stone.

Durability

Porcelain tiles are much more durable than ceramic tiles. In particular, they are less likely to absorb water than ceramic tiles are. This makes porcelain tiles more immune to rain, ice, or liquids which might cause stains or other damage.

All ceramic tiles are subjected to a water absorption test during their manufacturing process. Baked tiles are weighed before they are placed in water for up to 24 hours and then are weighed again after they are removed from water. Those tiles which weigh less than 0.5% more after being submerged are considered dense enough to be classified as porcelain. Tiles that weigh 0.5% more or greater — i.e., those tiles that absorbed more water — are considered ceramic.

Installation

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles can be very delicate to handle during installation. Ceramic is not very thick, meaning it can be easy to cut in a DIY project, but may also easily (and noticeably) chip. Porcelain tile, meanwhile, is so hard that it may be brittle and prone to cracking when handled with unskilled hands.

If the tile you choose is soft and you'd like to avoid damage from grout sand, it is a recommended to use un-sanded grout with small (less than 1/8 inch) spaces between tiles. Once installed, both tiles should function relatively well if the right class of tile has been used in the right place. Installation of either tile, however, will almost certainly require a professional.