Once you’ve narrowed down your tile choices for your Adelaide home, the big question is whether to choose ceramic or porcelain tiles. The two tiles are excellent tiling materials that perform best in their respective areas, but it all depends on whether they perform where you want them to.
Knowing the difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles will help you decide which you would love to have in your Adelaide home. Here are some differences between porcelain and ceramic tiles:
The differences between porcelain and ceramic tiles start right from their production processes. Ceramic tiles are made with three different clay types: red, white, or brown. These clays are fired at high temperatures to reduce their water content.
They are then moulded into their square shape, and a glaze is applied. And for those with designs, their particular patterns
Unlike ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles are made from one type of clay, white clay, and during their production, finely grounded sand and feldspar are added to them. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are fired at high temperatures, but porcelain is treated far more highly than ceramic tiles.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles also differ in how much water they absorb.
Porcelain tiles are dense and highly resistant to water; some would say they’re water-resistant. This water resistance makes them perfect in wet areas of your Adelaide home, such as the bathroom or kitchen.
Ceramic tiles absorb water due to their low porosity, which is how much moisture they retain or absorb. This makes them a poor choice in areas such as the bathroom or kitchen. On the other hand, they’d spoil quickly and perform poorly, so they’re better in low-traffic areas.
The appearance of ceramic and porcelain tiles is another way people can tell them apart. There are two types of porcelain tiles in appearance: full-body and glazed porcelain tiles. Full-body porcelain tiles have the same colour and design; they’re not glazed.
Glazes give glazed tiles their colour, design, and shine. This means that once they’re chipped, there’s a noticeable difference, as the actual material of the tiles will show. Unlike glazed tiles, full-body porcelain tiles don’t show signs when chipped. This makes them perfect in areas of the house or building with high foot traffic; you could put it outside, in your kitchen, reception, kitchen walls, etc.
Glazed porcelain tiles are better in places like rooms, offices, etc. All ceramic tiles are glazed, so they perform in the same areas as those of porcelain tiles.
There’s a significant cost difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles are more expensive than ceramic tiles due to their water resistance, durability, etc.
The tiles you choose to get in your Adelaide home depend on your needs, preferences, budget, etc. However, you don’t have to undergo the tile selection process alone. Our experts at Aurees Tiles would happily help you choose the tiles you’ll love for years.
