The Difference Between Porcelain And Ceramic Tile

According to the astm standards porcelain must have a water absorption rate of 0 5 percent or lower.

The difference between porcelain and ceramic tile. Even porcelain tiles are a variety of ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles are more porous and often have a higher water absorption rate. Both porcelain and ceramic are fired in a kiln but porcelain is fired at a higher temperature for a longer period of time. Porcelain tile is almost impervious to water compared to ceramic tile.

Porcelain tiles are more durable than ceramic tiles. Basically porcelain tiles are better for both indoor and outdoor use as well as hard wearing. Porcelain is actually a type of ceramic made from denser clays. For one porcelain tiles are known to be denser and less porous than ceramic tiles.

They are preferred for high traffic floors. Porcelain tile comes in many surfaces such as matte rough non slip textured gloss semi gloss glazed and unglazed. You need a professional to install porcelain tiles. While ceramic tile is less dense than porcelain tile and thus less durable it is also a far easier material for do it yourselfer homeowners to cut manually by wet tile saw or with a snap tile cutter.

What does this mean. Despite the fact that ceramic and porcelain tiles look very similar there are plenty of noticeable differences between the two. What is the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile.