Porcelain vs. Ceramic
When it comes to choosing tiles for your home, the options can be overwhelming. Two popular choices that often spark debate are porcelain and ceramic tiles. While they share some similarities, there are key differences that can influence your decision. Let's delve into the characteristics of each to help you make an informed choice for your next project.
What does your project require?
Each project comes with its own set of variables that play a role in defining its unique requirements. To make informed decisions during the selection process, it is essential to thoroughly understand the specific needs of your project. This critical first step lays the groundwork for a successful and tailored approach to meet the project's distinct demands.
Project Considerations
Usage and Traffic
Moisture Levels
Budget Constraints
Design Preferences
Installation Considerations
Long-Term Maintenance
Project Scale
Indoor vs. Outdoor Use
Porcelain Tiles: Strength & Durability
Composition
Porcelain tiles are crafted from a dense clay fired at extremely high temperatures. This results in a tile that is hard, durable, and highly resistant to water absorption. Porcelain tiles are known for their strength and are often considered a premium choice.
Characteristics
Density: Porcelain tiles are denser than ceramics, making them more resistant to wear and tear.
Water Resistance: Their low water absorption rate makes porcelain ideal for areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Durability: Porcelain tiles are robust and less prone to chipping and cracking.
Dynamic Porcelain
Because of its robust & hardy composition, porcelain serves as our most dynamic product, generally appropriate for the following areas:
Floors (incl. exterior), walls (incl. exterior), splashbacks, stairs, benchtops, pools, paving, ventilated facades (VF) & raised access flooring (RAF).
Sustainable Slip Resistant Porcelain
Many of our porcelain products come in Slip Resistant finishes, these are especially important in commercial environments.
Ceramic Dimension
Composition
Ceramic tiles are made from a mixture of clay, minerals, and water, which is then fired at lower temperatures than porcelain. This results in a product more geared towards wall applications. The benefit this creates is you can add dimensionality to design, to encourage a more diverse & unique interior.
Characteristics
Variety: Ceramic tiles come in a wide range of colors, patterns, and styles, providing ample design options.
Installation: They are lighter and easier to cut than porcelain, making them a preferred choice for DIY projects.
Ceramic Applications
Ceramic tiles are generally appropriate for the following applications:
Wall (internal), shower wall & splashback.
Conclusion
Every space is unique in nature and thus requires specific consideration in the specification phase. Porcelain tiles are denser in their composition, making them less porous & more appropriate for multiple floor & wall applications. Ceramic tiles, fired at a lower temperature, offer a unique dimensional design element. At Earp Bros, many of our key ranges have matching porcelain and ceramic options, leaving you with a multitude of design options. Our experienced team are there to assist you in the design journey, providing you relevant information based on your needs.
