So Many Choices in Flooring...

There are so many choices in flooring……Do you find yourself saying…why ceramic? Why porcelain?..why natural stone? What is the difference….What does it all mean. What will work better for me. How do I install it?? Lets look at some very simple differences shall we?

Lets start with the basics and what generations of people have used…….Ceramic……What is ceramic? Most of us can find ceramic in our kitchen cabinets….Dishes, cups etc. Ceramic is a glazed unit made from clays and other ceramic material. It is fired to a temperature sufficiently high to produce a dense body. Decorative ceramic tile is heated at a lower temperature and for a longer period of time to allow the glazes to work. Only some low-fired ceramics are frost resistant.

Porcelain…..a glazed or unglazed vitreous tile, is made of an extremely fine porcelain clay composition that produces a dense, impervious, fine tile. It is suited for both exterior and interior use, and is frost proof.

Natural Stone……is not manufactured. It comes from the earth. Since this is the case, you must expect great variation in color and vein within the same slab. There are textural variations as well.

So how do they compare? Why would you buy on over the other? It depends on the usage desired.

Why ceramic? Ceramic tile is rated by the hardness of the glaze. Depending upon glaze, some tiles are rated only for light residential use, and there are others rated for total residential use, light commercial use moving into commercial use. Ceramic can be more decorative than porcelain as it’s not fired in as high a temperature as porcelain. Ceramic tile can be used in all residential and some commercial installations. Some ceramics are frost resistant.

Why porcelain? Porcelain is denser, therefore stronger than ceramic tile. The unglazed clay composition has the same color throughout the tile. It is used residentially, but is chosen more often than ceramic for industrial use.

Why natural stone? Natural stone comes from the earth and is the exact product that ceramic and porcelain try to copy. It is original, but has some maintenance characteristics that must be taken on account before making a decision to purchase. Stone may be very soft to very dense. Depending on the use intended you have to pick the right density stone. The range of porosity differs a great deal, so there are more variables involved. People who love the natural look and are willing to undergo the maintenance choose stone.

So now we are back to our original question? Ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone? The primary reasons why one would select porcelain tile and ceramic tile over stone is that they take much less care than stone, both in installation and in maintenance…

Donna Burke,
Principal, Tile Connection, Inc.,
631-476-4900