Selecting flooring and wall covering materials is one of the key steps in renovating or furnishing commercial and residential properties. Among the wide variety of modern coverings, traditional ceramic tiles and porcelain tile are the most popular.
At first glance, these materials may seem virtually indistinguishable: thanks to modern printing technologies, they all reproduce the texture of wood, natural stone, marble, or concrete with equal realism. However, in terms of their physical and mechanical properties and operating conditions, there is a fundamental difference between them.
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at how porcelain tile differs from ceramic tile, under what conditions it’s best to use one material or the other, and how to make a choice based on the specific characteristics of a given room.
Differences in the performance characteristics of materials are determined by their manufacturing processes and the raw materials used.
Ceramic tiles (tiles) are made from a mixture of red or white clay with the addition of quartz sand and feldspar. The formed tile blanks are pressed under moderate pressure and then fired at a temperature of about 1000–1100 °C. A decorative layer of glaze is then applied to the surface to determine the color and texture, followed by a second firing. Due to the moderate pressure applied during pressing, the body of the tile remains slightly porous.
Porcelain stoneware (ceramic granite) is made from similar raw materials, but of higher quality. The main difference lies in the parameters of the manufacturing process:
During this heating process, the components of the mixture are essentially sintered into a single monolith. The result is a material with no internal pores or microcracks and an extremely high density.
When comparing ceramic tile and porcelain tile, the differences between them can be boiled down to a few key characteristics:
First, there’s water absorption and frost resistance. For standard ceramic tiles, the water absorption rate ranges from 3% to 10%. In heated rooms, this is not a critical issue at all, but outdoors, moisture trapped in the pores expands when it freezes, causing the tile to crack. Porcelain tile has virtually zero water absorption (less than 0.05%), making it completely frost-resistant and waterproof.
Second, strength and resistance to mechanical stress. Porcelain tile can withstand high pressure, heavy foot traffic, and heavy objects falling on it. Regular ceramic tile is less resistant to breakage and may chip or crack if subjected to a strong localized impact.
Third, wear resistance and color depth. In classic tiles, only the top glazed layer is decorative. Porcelain tile is often manufactured using the through-body coloring method—pigment is added to the mixture before pressing. For this reason, even with natural wear and tear of the top layer, the pattern and color of the surface remain unchanged.
It’s also important to consider the weight of the tile and the difficulty of cutting it. Monolithic porcelain tile is heavier and requires the use of a professional electric tile cutter with a diamond blade. Ceramic tile weighs less and can be easily cut using a manual tile cutter.
It is not entirely accurate to claim that one material is unequivocally better than another. The best choice always depends on the room’s intended use and operating conditions.
When selecting cladding, the choice is usually based on the type of surface and the nature of the loads:
As part of a comprehensive renovation, it is important to consider the overall engineering aspects of the project. The pages of the Itum catalog provide a detailed analysis of the technical specifications of floor coverings, which helps to match the characteristics of the materials to the requirements of a specific area.
If you have two unmarked samples, you can determine the type of coating yourself based on several distinctive features.
The first distinguishing feature is the appearance of the back side and the cross-section. When cut, the tile clearly reveals a porous body (reddish or beige in color). The cross-section of a porcelain tile is dense and completely uniform in structure and shade.
The second characteristic is weight. For the same size and thickness, a porcelain stoneware slab is noticeably heavier due to its high density.
The third characteristic is a simple water test. If you place a drop of water on the unglazed back side, the moisture will be absorbed by the tile in a matter of seconds, while on the back side of porcelain stoneware, the drop will remain on the surface.
Understanding the difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile allows you to make informed technical decisions and plan your renovation budget effectively. Ceramic tile is a lightweight, versatile, and practical material for covering vertical surfaces. Porcelain tile is the most reliable, durable, and wear-resistant solution for flooring, open areas, and high-traffic zones.
Interesting articles:
How to choose stone and marble-look porcelain tiles for your space
The difference between porcelain tiles and granite