When it comes to your home, you will always want to choose the best option for designing and decorating your interior and exterior. One of the most important parts of your home design is the floor tiles. If you have already narrowed your options and now it is Ceramic vs Porcelain tiles and want to know the difference and choose the most suitable one for your space, we are here to help. Our collection mostly consists of outoor Porcelain tiles, but it is good to know the difference.
There are several factors you must consider before choosing your tiles. Your choice should answer the following questions:
Factors to Consider
- Are porcelain tiles stronger than ceramic tiles?
- Which tile is better for high-traffic areas?
- Can ceramic/porcelain tiles be used outdoors?
- How durable are ceramic tiles? What about porcelain?
- Which tile is more water resistant?
- what is better porcelain or ceramic tile?
You should also be able to compare prices for ceramic and porcelain tiles to ensure that it is within your budget.
After reading this blog, you will be able to answer all these questions and finally choose a winning tile option for your project.
Ceramic vs Porcelain Tiles: what's the difference?
We will take you through certain considerations while choosing tiles for your specific project. You will know the benefits of both options, how much each will cost you, how they are made and installed, their durability, and how easy they are to maintain after installation.
Manufacturing Process
Both of them look the same however, they are made differently. Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are both man-made and formed from clay mixtures, so what is the difference between them?
Porcelain is made of white Kaolin clay, sand, and feldspar, fired at a higher temperature and pressure (1200℃) resulting in a very dense and durable tile. The
On the other hand, you may think what are ceramic tiles made of? Ceramic is made of red or brown clay fired at a high temperature of 930℃ making it dense but not more than Porcelain.
Features and Benefits:
While designing and styling your space, your preference matters the most. You must consider all the design, and functionality options that suit you best.
Design and Colour Variations
When it comes to colours, design, and texture variations, both Porcelain and ceramic have a huge variety of options. The reason is that both are man-made and can be modified according to your taste.
Water Resistance
Both Porcelain and Ceramic tiles are designed as water resistant and are optimal for moist spaces like bathrooms and kitchens. However, Porcelain has less than 1% water absorption capabilities, making it a more suitable choice to ponder.
Slip Resistance
When it comes to spaces that have water features or remain wet most of the time like bathrooms or outdoor areas, you would want your tiles to be safe to walk on. Porcelain is rated R11 anti-slip for a better foot grip.
Frost Resistance
Unlike Ceramic tiles, Porcelain is frost-resistant and perfect for cold weather where a lot of ice and low temperatures are expected. They do not accumulate ice or break while Ceramic has a lesser ability to resist low temperature and there is a huge chance that they will break.
Fading
Porcelain is designed in a way that all of its layers are made of the same colour and design while ceramic has the top layer of design and the rest is brown or red clay. When used more frequently or kept under the sun, ceramic tends to lose its colour and design under traffic while Porcelain persists and lasts years without fading.
Cost Comparison: Ceramic vs Porcelain tiles
When it comes to cost, what is the ceramic vs porcelain tile installation cost?
Talking about the initial cost, glazed and matt Ceramic tiles are the most affordable. Ceramic tile installation cost is much less than Porcelain. So, if you are on a budget, you can go for Ceramic tiles.
Matt Porcelain tiles, on the other hand, are expensive, and time-consuming to buy and install. The initial costs are high. So why choose Porcelain tiles in the first place then? This is because they last longer and do not need frequent replacement over time.
If you want to buy ceramic and porcelain tiles online or do it manually, you should consider all the aspects and decide accordingly. Pave Direct provides some of the best porcelain tiles for bathrooms and kitchens in the UK.
Durability
One of the most asked questions is “Are porcelain tiles stronger than ceramic tiles?”
As we have seen in the manufacturing part, Porcelain is fired at higher temperatures and pressures than ceramic and, thus is stronger and denser in nature. However, it does not label ceramic as weak and delicate.
PEI Rating: Ceramic vs Porcelain Tiles
The PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating is a helpful way to check the strength of the tiles under pressure. Let’s examine what it says about the durability of both tiles.
The durability range from PEI0 to PEI5 is zero to the highest. Ceramic tiles are between PEI2 and PEI4, while Porcelain’s durability ranges between PEI3 and PEI5.
Experts recommend Porcelain as the better choice for spaces with high foot traffic, such as kitchens, hallways, patios, or driveways. On the other hand, Ceramic tiles can be used for low-traffic and rarely used spaces.
Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
Undoubtedly, your home needs maintenance including your tiles. It is even more important when you have pets, kids, or a lot of guests. But, how to maintain and clean porcelain tiles? And How to clean ceramic tiles properly?
Porcelain needs soapy water and a non-toxic cleaner to keep them as good as new. The grout lines hardly get dirty and do not frequently need sealing.
Ceramic is admirable in its maintenance as well however, the colour wears out with time and the grout lines get dirty over time. You need a good sealant and deep cleaning periodically to maintain them.
To keep your ceramic or porcelain tiles well-maintained and have ever-lasting aesthetics, clean them professionally now and then.
Which is better: Ceramic vs Porcelain Tiles
At Pave Direct, we’ve installed porcelain tiles in over 500 patios and driveways across the UK. Our installers consistently report better long-term performance in high-traffic and outdoor areas.
Although both of the tiles have an amazing capability to resist water, however, if you want your bathrooms and spaces that receive a lot of water, to last many years and not fade or stain as frequently, you should choose Porcelain.
On the other hand, if your space does not face a lot of moisture, ceramic works just fine and you are good to go.
Area with high/low levels of moisture
Porcelain is recommended for bathrooms and wet areas, while Ceramic is suitable for spaces with low moisture exposure.
High/Low Foot Traffic
Which tile is better for high-traffic areas? What about medium to low-traffic areas?
Ceramic is more suitable for areas that do not receive a lot of footfalls (low to medium traffic). But if you are looking for a tiling option for high-traffic areas like your hallways or kitchen, go for Porcelain.
Ceramic vs Porcelain tiles: Outdoor/Indoor
If you ask, “Can ceramic tiles be used outdoors?”
Ceramics works best for indoor areas like dining areas, lounges, and bedrooms. They are strong and give you the best value for your money.
For outdoors like patios, pathways, and outdoor dining areas, you might want to consider Porcelain tiles. It is because they rarely fade, are frost and slip-resistant, and are denser for outdoor use.
Conclusion
You need to know your needs, wants, and affordability to choose the most appropriate tiling option. Features, durability, and maintenance must be according to the space you want to tile.
Knowing your most optimal option for your space the pros and cons of ceramic vs porcelain tiles, according to the foot traffic, moisture, and sunlight it is about to receive, is important.
Now you know everything about Porcelain and Ceramic tiles. You can choose and install your tiles without worrying whether you have made the right choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is porcelain tiles better than ceramic tiles?
Yes. Porcelain tiles are mostly better than ceramic tiles due to their high durability, water resistance, slip-proof, and density. Their stain and scratch resistance makes them perfect for high-traffic areas like bathrooms and outdoor spaces. However, ceramic tiles are affordable and easy to cut and install.
What lasts longer, porcelain or ceramic?
Porcelain lasts longer than Ceramic. They do not break under heavy footfalls or low temperatures. They do not fade and are frost-resistant. Their high density and benefits make them last longer than ceramic tiles.
Which is expensive, ceramic or porcelain?
Porcelain tiles, being very high-quality, are more expensive than ceramic tiles. Their installation and grouts are also more expensive than that of the ceramics. So if you see, the overall initial costs are higher for Porcelain than Ceramic tiles.
What is the disadvantage of porcelain tiles?
- Higher cost due to longer lifespan and density.
- Difficult installation. Mostly needs professional assistance to cut and install these tiles.
- Heavier material, that is why needs careful handling and installation.
- Cold in winter underfeet especially in UK homes, unless paired with underfloor heating.
- Not quite DIY-friendly because cutting and installing, needs professional help.
- Porcelain does not but its grout needs regular sealing and maintenance.
What is the best material for bathroom tile?
The best option for bathroom tiles is Porcelain. They are:
- Water Resistant (0.5% water absorption)
- Anti-slip even when wet (R11-rated slip-proof)
- PEI3 to PEI5 strength. (PEI0 least strong - PEI5 Strongest)
- Non-fading
- Stain-resistant
- Scratch-resistant
Another great and more affordable option is Ceramic tiles with the same amount of variations.
Additional Reading!
