May 20, 2021 | Updated: June 17, 2021
Browsing through pages of interior design magazines or online images, the proliferation of pristine, decorative surfaces catches the eye.
Chances are they are either ceramic or porcelain; but what’s the difference? Where is one recommended over the other? How should they be maintained?
If you are interested in finding out the difference between ceramic tiles VS porcelain tiles, we’ve put together a simple but definitive guide to clear up all your doubts.
When we conjure up a mental image of the décor that best represents bygone eras then chances are we think of materials that helped shape these interiors. The Victorians and their penchant for wood; the Art Deco fascination with chrome and glass; the 1950s delight in brightly coloured laminates.
Nowadays we think about ceramic or porcelain as the materials that are shaping and sculpting 21st Century interiors. Not just for flooring but wall cladding, decorative pieces and elements of furniture. As a material. fired clay expresses our concern with sustainable building materials and our attraction to contemporary finishes that provide opportunities hitherto unimaginable.
Marmol Carrara Blanco 45X120 (Available online & in-store)
Carrara Blanco Brillo 59.5X59 (Available online & in-store)
The scope of this article
This article considers ceramic and porcelain as building products and decorative cladding and flooring materials. Clearly both porcelain and ceramic have other uses, such as crafting decorative objects and utensils, it’s their construction properties however that interest us here. Although the very properties that make them so astonishingly versatile and ethereal for one use also inform the other.
To all intents and purposes, porcelain and ceramic are the same material with different manufacturing processes that nevertheless make one or the other more appropriate. The root of the word ceramic comes from the ancient Greek word for fired clay, today that still describes both materials. If water is added to clay it becomes plastic and malleable, apply really high temperatures and the clay becomes hardened. The differences between the various types of ceramic and porcelain are a function of the types of clay and additives used in their manufacture, the pressure under which they are moulded together with what heat they are fired and whether they are glazed or not. In terms of performance, a ceramic material with water absorption of less than 0.5% is classified as porcelain.
NOT EVERYONE KNOWS
To understand just how resistant ceramic is as a material, bear in mind that the undercarriage of the space shuttle was clad in ceramics to help it withstand its descent to earth through the atmosphere.
Perhaps the best and easiest way to explore the differences between porcelain and ceramic is to look at their applications in construction. Both materials have indoor and outdoor uses and can roughly be organised into flooring and wall cladding headings.
Image White 40X80 (Available online & in-store)
Image White 44.3X44.3 (Available online & in-store)
Indic 45X120 (Available online & in-store)
Indic 80X80 (Available online & in-store)
It makes sense that a flooring material is more resistant than a wall cladding material. In that sense, porcelain is the Rolls Royce of flooring because its composition, its manufacture and its finish are specifically suited to keeping floors dry, wearing well and being easy to maintain. These qualities make porcelain a material equally suited to outdoor use as well as indoor use. However, there are some issues with porcelain that should be taken into consideration before opting for a porcelain floor.
In summary here are the pros and cons regarding porcelain floor tiles:
Butan Acero 45X120 (Available in-store)
Butan Acero 120X120 (Available in-store)
The difference between technical porcelain floor tiles and enamel porcelain floor tiles is the addition of a finish layer.
This glaze layer allows for any number of decorative effects to be applied to the tile. Both are made with special clay and other additives pressed and fired at similar temperatures. Both are homogeneous meaning that even with wear the same material is presented throughout the thickness of the tile.
In the generic sense, ceramic flooring is either glazed or unglazed; unglazed ceramic floor tiles include terracotta. A popular glazed ceramic flooring option is stoneware which is manufactured from a mixture of carbonates free clays. The tiles have low water absorption with high-quality glaze finishes that help ensure durability, resistance and non-slip properties.
In summary here are the pros and cons regarding porcelain floor tiles:
Prada Acero 120X120 (Available online & in-store)
Prada Acero 45X120 (Available online & in-store)
Visually impacting wall finishes are available to us now with porcelain tiles that were simply not possible just a decade ago. The printing of marble, cement, metal or timber effects onto decorative wall tiles is indistinguishable visually from the real thing. But porcelain also offers all the technical benefits of a material that is durable, easy to clean and with practically zero water absorption. These very same properties make porcelain tiles a very popular choice for outdoors, wall cladding systems that look really stylish.
Here below is a brief summary of the pros and cons regarding porcelain wall tiles:
Cubik Urban Caliza Nature 33.3X59.2 (Available in-store)
Urban Caliza Nature 33.3X59.2 (Available in-store)
Urban Caliza Nature 59.6X59.6 (Available in-store)
The single fired wall tile has a higher water absorption than porcelain, over 10% in fact. Ceramic wall tiles are only appropriate for use indoors, but can be used for bathrooms and kitchen splash backs. They are highly resistant to natural and chemical agents, scratches and daily wear and tear, making them a suitable choice for even the most demanding home owner.
In summary here are the pros and cons regarding ceramic wall tiles:
Although similar there are significant differences between ceramic and porcelain which include the source clay and its specific composition, other additives, the pressure used to mould the tiles, the firing process and finishes (glazed, unglazed or matt).
For practical reasons already outlined porcelain tiles are a superior choice for flooring. This is because of their durability, low porosity and water absorption, and overall strength. When it comes to wall tiles neither one nor the other can be said to be superior but each do have different properties that will help decide which is more appropriate.
For porcelain tile flooring sweeping then warm water and a mop is sufficient as part of the normal cleaning regime combined with a mild detergent in warm water every couple of weeks. Wall tiles only need to be wiped clean, stains however should be removed with a soft bristle brush.
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