Porcelain vs Ceramic Floor Tile: What Are the Differences?

Porcelain vs Ceramic Floor Tile: What Are the Differences?

Did you know that Americans spend around $400 billion every year on remodeling their homes? If you are looking to rip out your current flooring and install something new to walk on, we are here to share the differences between porcelain vs ceramic floor tile. 

Read on to learn what the main differences are between both so that you can make an informed decision. 

Porcelain Tiles

A porcelain tile is more waterproof than ceramic tiles. This type of tile has a hardier construction and tends to be more durable than other tiles. When porcelain tiles are made, they are less porous than ceramic tiles, which is why they are a popular option in damp locations such as basements and bathrooms. 

Porcelain tiles are also stain resistant because they are dense, making it difficult for any substance to seep down inside and stain it. Cleaning up after pet or kid accidents is not a problem on porcelain tiles. 

In recent times, manufacturers have been creating porcelain tiles that resemble other materials, such as wood grains or marble. For those looking for the wood look but without having to deal with water damage in the future, this flooring option is a great alternative. 

If you are thinking of selling your home, there are a few flooring options that will help increase the value of your house. We recommend checking out this article about what flooring increase home value.

Opting for porcelain tiles requires someone with experience to install the floor because it is more brittle than ceramic, making it harder to cut correctly. 

Ceramic Floor Tiles

Ceramic tiles are fired at lower temperatures than porcelain tiles, which makes them a bit more prone to water infiltration. If the ceramic tile is glazed, it does decrease the chances of water or liquids from seeping in. Keep in mind that the parts of the tile that are not glazed will not have the ability to resist water. 

This tile material is more prone to breaking or cracking because they are less dense than porcelain tiles. If you were to chip a ceramic tile, the color underneath is not glazed, so it will be pretty noticeable. 

Ceramic tile flooring is less dense than porcelain tile, making it a much easier floor to install as a DIY project. If you opt for this floor, you can cut it with a wet tile saw, a snap tile cutter, or manually. 

Now You Know the Differences Between Porcelain vs Ceramic Floor Tile

Now that you learned more about the porcelain vs ceramic floor tile debate, you can make an informed decision on which floor option is best for your home. Although when you first glance at either tile, they will look similar, their key differences are important to keep in mind when choosing between each option. If our blog post helped you out, keep browsing our home section for more tips and tricks.