Ceramic tiles vs Porcelain tiles
Ceramic or porcelain tiles
are two different surfaces. These tiles can be found on the kitchen and bathroom floors and on walls and backsplashes. The popular tiles are available in colors and designs to match – or create – the decor of your room, kitchen, or walls. Before picking the style for you, understand the difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile. Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles are not different but similar in many ways. You can’t always tell them apart by quickly glancing at the installed tiles. Both tiles are clay-based and kiln-fired, but porcelain is technically a specialized type of ceramic that is made up of different chemicals. The clays used to make porcelain have a higher density and are fired longer at a higher temperature than the ceramic one.
How to tell people?
The difference in ingredients and production methods creates types of tile with unique characteristics. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages in the porcelain tile vs. ceramic tile decision. Packaging will indicate if new tiles are porcelain or ceramic. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has a certification process for manufacturers producing porcelain. For loose or installed tile, there are some rules of thumb that can help you determine whether it is ceramic or
Porcelain
Porcelain tile has the same color throughout the material. A broken or chipped piece of unglazed porcelain will have a uniform color throughout its thickness. Ceramic tile often has a glazed surface coloring, so chips may reveal a different color underneath.
The finish of porcelain is smoother than that of ceramic. Turn over a piece of loose tile. The unglazed surface of ceramic tile will feel coarse. The finer grain of porcelain will be smooth to the touch.
Ceramic tiles aren’t as dense as porcelain and therefore are slightly lighter by comparison.
