Porcelain is actually a subtype of ceramic tile, which can be described as glorified ceramic. Durable and reasonably priced, porcelain is one of the most popular tiles going now for residential and commercial applications. It also comes in a wide array of colors and textures.
No wonder that you may be looking to install porcelain tiles in your kitchen or bathroom. But is it right for you? Read this article where we discuss porcelain tile pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
What Is Porcelain Tile?
Both porcelain and ceramic start out as clay, but there is a difference in the manufacturing process. Porcelain is fired at far higher temperatures and with greater pressure than ceramic. It is also made from a more refined and purified clay. As a result, it’s a superior tile material, which is stronger and more durable with a harder and more water-resistant surface.
Porcelain Tile Pros and Cons to Consider
Porcelain tiles are an excellent choice for floors and walls with many significant advantages. Here are the key ones.
Pros
Porcelain is highly durable and resistant to most heavy impact stresses, and it suitable for high-traffic areas, much more so than the standard ceramic tile. Porcelain is an extremely dense material that is also resistant to water penetration and staining. Typically, porcelain tiles will last for decades and have extremely low maintenance – they are easy to clean and do not require sealing to maintain their waterproof properties.
It’s improbable that porcelain tile can get chipped, but if that happens, it won’t be very noticeable due to its through-body composition because the color is uniform throughout the tile. With the low moisture absorption rate of 0.5%, porcelain is also less likely to crack, and it’s frost-proof. You can use it for patios, driveways, conservatories, and balconies, and it will survive even the harshest winter.
One of the principal advantages of modern porcelain tiles is that they are available in various styles and sizes. They can range from tiny mosaic tile to huge slabs of up to 3 meters in length. And they can recreate the look of marble, granite, travertine, wood, bamboo, cork, and even metal. Due to a modern, high-tech inkjet printing process, it possible to create tiles that look like Carrara marble tiles so realistically can be almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Cons
All in all, a porcelain tile has lots of advantages over other tile materials, but there are some drawbacks as well. It’s pricier than standard ceramic tile, and the porcelain tile installation process can be time-consuming and physically laborious, especially if you want to install wall tiles. It’s not really a DIY job because the tile is very heavy, and it needs specialized equipment to cut.
Drawing together all the porcelain tile pros and cons, most people would agree that the payoff of lasting elegant beauty and performance is well worth the extra installation requirements and higher costs involved. So if you are planning your home renovation, porcelain tile is definitely worth considering.
