Ceramic Tile Compared To Porcelain Tile

Ceramic tiles are kiln fired at a lower temperature than porcelain tiles making them less dense softer and more porous.

Ceramic tile compared to porcelain tile.

If you chip a porcelain tile no change in color occurs. Ceramic tiles are made with red brown or white clay while porcelain tiles are almost exclusively made with refined and purified white clay. Both tiles are made from a clay mixture that s fired in a kiln but porcelain tile is made from more refined clay and it s fired at higher temperatures. It may eventually reach square sizes of 36 or 48 inches.

According to the astm standards porcelain must have a water absorption rate of 0 5 percent or lower. Ceramic tile is fired at lower temperatures generally no more than 1 650 degrees fahrenheit. Ceramic tiles are more porous and often have a higher water absorption rate. Ceramic tile can be slightly more prone to water infiltration than is porcelain tile though these differences are fairly minimal if the ceramic tile is glazed.

The major difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile is how it s made. Porcelain comes in mosaics but usually starts at 2 inches in size skips up to 6 or 8 inches then 12 inches. Porcelain tile is almost impervious to water compared to ceramic tile.