Porcelain or Ceramic Tile: What’s the Difference?

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Ceramic tile shower walls with porcelain tile on floor

This simple shower has ceramic subway tile on the walls and a porcelain mosaic tile on the shower floor

 

In the post embedded below Houzz.com author Sam Ferris explains the difference between porcelain or ceramic tile and outlines 5 different scenarios where each type of tile might be used.

A quick summary:

The name porcelain is a bit of a misnomer. Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic tile, both are made from clay. Different clays are used in Porcelain tile and what really defines a porcelain tile is its water absorption rating. Porcelain tile has a water absorption rating of less than .5%.

Ceramic tile is great for low traffic areas on the floor and great for kitchen backsplashes.  It typically costs less than porcelain and is less dense, making it less appropriate for wet areas like the shower. Talk to your tile supplier, some ceramic tiles can be used in wet areas while others can not. Ceramic tile is softer and easier to cut than porcelain tile.


When to Choose Porcelain or Ceramic Tile 

Ceramic Tile is Great for:

  • People on a budget
  • Your installing the tile yourself (DIY)
  • You want hand made tiles

Porcelain tile is very dense and durable making it great for high traffic areas, wet areas like a bathroom shower or outdoors. Today porcelain tile comes is a huge variety of shapes and colors (even sizes up to 5 ft x 10ft ! )

Porcelain tile is great for:

  • High traffic areas
  • Outdoor use
  • Wet area’s like a bathroom shower or tub surround
  • When you want to use larger tiles

Check out the full post for more details and to read about each scenario.

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