Porcelain VS Ceramic: Which Tile Material Should I Choose?

Where to use porcelain tile?

The beauty of porcelain is that it is naturally dense, and therefore very hard and tough. It is made of refined clay and other natural elements and therefore has a greater durability than ceramic. Due to its toughness, porcelain tiles can be longer-lasting and can resist scuffs and scratches and is perfect for high traffic areas such as living room and hallway floors. Porcelain comes in many shapes, sizes and designs too so you needed be limited by choice – just imagine a porcelain tile from our Bordeaux range in your entrance way.

The Porto Anthracite porcelain floor tile is a great choice for a room with high moisture content such as your kitchen, bathroom, utility room or even your mudroom. Porcelain is also perfect for your patio because of its ability to withstand the wet British weather.

On the down side, porcelain, as, due to its density, is tough to cut and would ideally need a wet saw with a diamond blade to make the cleanest cut.

Where should I use ceramic tiles?

Although it’s not quite as tough and durable, ceramic tile is a versatile and affordable option. The clean-lined appearance of ceramic tiles makes them the perfect choice for most wall tiled spaces; a kitchen splash back or feature wall for instance, and for low impact floor spaces. Our Artisan range, for instance, comes in a stunning décor patterned floor tile. As it’s not as durable as porcelain due to its relatively high absorption rate, ceramic is best avoided in areas often exposed to high moisture, such as the shower and patio.

So which tile material is best?

If you’re looking for super durability, in wet areas or areas of high traffic, then porcelain tiles are the way to go. For ease of installation, you’ll want to choose the ceramic option. Both types come in an abundance of styles and designs. So, your only problem will be to choose which of our beautiful tiles to use in your home.

All ceramic floor tiles sold at Tileflair are a high grade and suitable for domestic installations. The Helpdesk will also happily talk you through your porcelain and ceramic options, and provide design advice.