Porcelain Vs Ceramic Tile For Bathroom Floor
Porcelain allows for a very wide variety of styles.
Porcelain vs ceramic tile for bathroom floor. It works great in kitchens as countertops or wall coverings and is also a good choice for showers and bathroom walls. The good part about choosing your porcelain tile style is that it doesn t matter whether you want your bathroom floor to be modern chic rustic or psychedelic. Where it really shines however is in flooring. Porcelain tiles are made from finer clays and are fired at higher temperatures to make them harder and more durable.
Porcelain tiles are harder to install than ceramic because they need a special grout. Homeadvisor s porcelain vs ceramic guide explores the primary differences between the two tiles for kitchen floors bathroom walls showers sinks and more. Porcelain is a particular category of ceramic tile. Choose ceramic tile with a grade of 1 or 2 for floors.
The porcelain enamel institute pei. Find out whether ceramic or porcelain is better in the following categories. Ceramic tile also comes with a coefficient of friction cof. Maybe you re one of those people who never wants your floor to be boring regardless of where it is.
Ceramic floor tiles however tend to have a softer surface. Porcelain tiles are considered to be the toughest flooring options available on the market. Ceramic tile by some estimates a ceramic tile floor can last from 75 to 100 years if the grout is maintained properly and sealed regularly. For safety choose one rated 50 or greater.
They are also heavier than ceramic tiles meaning that they may need a substrate to support the weight. Cost porousness heat resistance durability and more. While it theoretically is softer and doesn t wear as long as porcelain tile it also tends to resist cracking due to structure shifting somewhat better than does porcelain tile best for lifespan. Aside from being solid porcelain tiles are also hard dense and highly resistant to most heavy impact stresses that it s perfect for commercial use.
Ceramic tile can be used other on floors or for countertops walls or showers while vinyl tiles are used only as a flooring material. Known as the most durable type of tile on the market porcelain is harder denser tougher and less porous than ceramic tile. Using applicable astm tests regular ceramic tile has a breaking strength of 250. Porcelain tile can be used anywhere you want an excellent performing good looking surface.
It s useful in high traffic areas such as kitchens mudrooms hallways and living areas.