What is the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile?

What is the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile?

The terms "porcelain" and "ceramic" are often used interchangeably, but that's incorrect. While porcelain is a kind of ceramic, it does have some different characteristics, making each behave a little differently in various installations.

Porcelain: Great floor tile for busy, heavily trafficked rooms

Porcelain's manufacture is different from that of the other ceramics. Made of clay, porcelain's composition includes sand and glass and is fired at higher temperatures, resulting in a heavier, denser tile.

Water absorption is another difference; waterproof whether or not it's glazed, porcelain can be installed outside and will withstand even the most severe weather conditions. It also has through-body color, meaning that the hue goes all the way through rather than sitting on a
glaze.

The large format tile is available in countless colors and designs, making it also ideal for walls and tub/shower surrounds, as you’ll see in the inventory in our tile store. Additionally, it's often the preferred choice for wood and stone look tiles because of the larger format and fewer seams.

The many other types of ceramics

As long as it has clay in its makeup--even if it also includes sand and glass--it's considered a ceramic, and you'll see all colors, shapes, sizes, and designs in our tile shop. Of course, we're all familiar with the square, which is highly designed, usually glazed, and appears on backsplashes, countertops, and tub/shower surrounds. This is best for indoor, moderately heavily foot trafficked rooms.

Mosaics are tiny (sometimes as small as 1 X 1), often glass-coated, decorative tiles. Many use them as accents on indoor floors and walls and, right now, they're trending for bathroom floors, being durable and mold/mildew resistant. Terracottas are reddish-brown bricks that are sturdy enough to be outdoors or indoors. While subway tiles are primarily used on backsplashes, they can also be used on indoor, low-traffic floors.
Listellos are bands of border tiles used as accents.

At Traditions Flooring, we know how important the floor is; after all, that's not only a significant investment, but it's also the first thing people see. If you're thinking of tile flooring, our professionals will help you find the right type for your project. So come in to get inspired and also get a free quote. Our showroom is in Valdosta, GA, convenient to Quitman, Clyattville, Hahira, Lake Park, Adel, Nashville, Moultrie, Tifton, and Madison.