The Difference Between Porcelain and Ceramic Tile

If you've shopped around for tile before, you know there's two options often presented to you, porcelain or ceramic tiles. What exactly is the difference between these two tiles and which one is going to suit your needs best?

We're glad you asked.

Porcelain and ceramic are both made up from raw earth materials such as clay and other naturally occurring materials. What really makes the difference is the quality of material and the heat applied to it. The natural materials in porcelain are more refined than its counterpart, ceramic and these materials are heated at a higher temperature with greater pressure than ceramic making it a harder and denser tile.

Moreover, as porcelain is naturally denser than ceramic, it is not as porous and thus has a low moisture absorption rate. This is especially important for areas that are exposed to freezing temperatures as the porcelain is not as likely to crack as ceramic. This low absorption rate also means that the tile is more resistant to stains.

In sum, if you're looking for a long lasting tile that durable and resistant to cracks, chips, and stains, porcelain tile will suit you best.

All of our tile is made from the highest quality porcelain. Click here to go through our collection of tile or click here to check our other blog post with more information about porcelain tile.