Catalogues may describe the same class of ceramic material as gres, porcelain gres, gres porcellanato or porcelain stoneware. The terminology mainly reflects the manufacturer’s language and sales market. It is therefore more useful to compare individual collections and their technical properties than the wording on their labels.

The confusion often starts with imported products. An Italian manufacturer may use gres porcellanato, a Spanish one gres porcelánico, while an English catalogue says porcelain stoneware. In other markets, the same product may be sold under a local equivalent. The shorter term gres is also common in section names and everyday trade language.

Is there a technical difference?

In ordinary product descriptions, the difference is usually terminology. Marazzi’s multilingual technical catalogues, for example, present gres porcellanato and porcelain stoneware as equivalents. However, the word gres alone says nothing about the tile’s size, finish or approved area of use.

To identify a product, rely on the manufacturer’s declaration and the applicable standard rather than a translated name. ISO 13006 classifies ceramic tiles by their forming method and water absorption, while the ISO 10545 series describes test methods for their properties. In European technical documentation, tiles with water absorption of no more than 0.5% belong to the lowest-absorption group associated with gres porcellanato.

That does not make every product bearing the word gres suitable for every project. The complete technical sheet for the particular range matters more than the generic material name.

What should you compare instead?

A product title cannot tell you whether a tile will perform well in your space. Check these six points before ordering.

1. Intended use. The manufacturer should explicitly approve the product for the planned floor, wall, façade, terrace or other application. The porcelain stoneware catalogue includes collections for different projects, but an interior wall tile and an entrance-area floor covering face very different conditions.
2. Surface finish. Matt, textured, lappato and polished finishes differ in appearance, maintenance and behaviour when wet. Texture alone is not proof of safety: use declared, tested slip-resistance information and read the conditions under which it applies.
3. Nominal and actual size. Large slabs reduce the number of joints but require a flatter substrate and more careful handling and cutting. If the layout depends on consistent narrow joints, check the calibre and whether the edges are rectified.
4. Thickness. Select it together with the application and installation system. Millimetres alone do not determine strength: the substrate, adhesive, adhesive coverage and manufacturer’s instructions all influence the result.
5. Service conditions. Outdoor use requires explicit manufacturer approval and confirmed frost resistance. Slip properties matter particularly in wet areas and on stairs. In busy spaces, check the relevant surface characteristics and, for glazed products, the stated resistance to surface wear.
6. Technical documents. Match the item code on the packaging to the collection sheet, declaration of performance and installation instructions. Two ranges that look alike may have different specifications.

A practical pre-purchase check

Begin by defining the installation area and expected load. Shortlist only collections approved by the manufacturer for those conditions. Then compare finish, size, thickness, edge treatment and declared test results instead of relying on marketing names.

For a bathroom, assess the floor where it will regularly become wet and select compatible waterproofing materials in advance. For a terrace, consider temperature exposure, drainage and compatibility across the entire installation system. With large-format products, agree on substrate preparation, adhesive application and suitable handling tools with the installer in advance. Even the right slab can fail when installed incorrectly.

Do not replace a technical sheet with the assumption that porcelain stoneware is always strong and slip-resistant. Different finishes within one collection can have different properties and approved uses. Likewise, do not apply the figures for one size to the whole range when the manufacturer reports formats separately. For porcelain stoneware worktops, also check whether the selected slab is suitable for fabrication, the cut-out plan and the fabricator’s requirements.

Before paying, verify the full item code rather than the collection name alone: a base tile, décor and special stair piece may have different specifications. Calculate the quantity around the actual layout, cuts and a sensible replacement allowance; there is no universal percentage because formats and laying patterns differ. On delivery, compare the markings on every box before installation and dry-lay several pieces to assess shade variation and pattern direction.

Conclusion

Gres and porcelain stoneware are generally not competing materials but different names for the same material class. The better choice is not the product with the more familiar label; it is the collection whose documented performance suits the room, load and installation method.

The ITUM catalogue lets you compare collections by format, thickness, surface and intended use. If a product page lacks technical details, request the manufacturer’s documentation and clarify the choice with a consultant before ordering.