Tile

What you should know

Porcelain vs. ceramic tile. The differences are subtle, but they can make a big difference in your installation.

Porcelain Tile
While porcelain is a ceramic, it’s also made up of sand and sometimes glass. This makes it heavier, as well as a good choice for heavily-trafficked floors in kitchens, baths, entry foyers etc. andon tub and shower surrounds.

It can also be used outside, on decks, patios, pool areas, etc. It’s also always white, somewhat translucent, but comes in so many patterns and shapes you’ll still have a big choice.
The big difference, however, is that porcelain is always waterproof whether or not it’s glazed.

Ceramic Tile
This does need glazing and it’s what makes ceramic tile waterproof. The glazing also creates a super-strong tough top coating, so it’s almost impossible to crack, but if it does, simply lift out the broken one and replace it, and not the entire floor.

Ceramic tiles come in a large assortment of colors, styles, designs, shapes, and sizes and, as long as they’re glazed they can be used on any floor indoors, but never outside.

Besides floors, they can also be used to create stunning kitchen backsplashes, open shelving surrounds, accent walls, and fireplace surrounds. It’s also not unusual to see them on shower walls, especially when homeowners want to create a spa-like atmosphere.

While ceramic tile can be affordable, it can also be pricey, especially when you increase the level of design. If budget is a concern, simply mix and match, using a plainer one of the larger square footage areas and inserting a few highly designed ones as accents.