Ceramic tile can be one of the more affordable flooring materials starting at well below 5 per square foot for budget tile and diy installation however as you move into better looking tile and professional installation tile flooring can easily cost as much or more than quality hardwood flooring.
Disadvantages of porcelain tile flooring.
These tiles have a distinct look and are ideal for areas where moisture is a concern.
In high traffic areas porcelain floor tile is an excellent choice and will out perform other tiles in both long term appearance and durability.
Porcelain tile is made from clay and other natural materials blended together and fired in a furnace.
Porcelain is designed for say airports says dave gobis executive director of the ceramic tile education foundation.
Depending on the traffic and level of risk for the floor in your home choose a value that suits the situation.
Here s more on the pros cons and costs.
The pei scale is used to give a measure of how hard a tile flooring is.
Porcelain is somewhat harder with a rating ranging from 3 to 5 pie.
Choosing between ceramic or porcelain tiles can mean prioritizing durability water resistance and the tiles overall appearance.
Before getting into the benefits and drawbacks of porcelain tile it makes sense to go over what it actually is.
Porcelain bears a perception of high quality but for residential applications its particular toughness is unnecessary.
Ceramic tile cost.
If you love the look of hardwood flooring but not the cost then wood look tile is a trendy alternative.
Porcelain tile achieves this by using clays with finer particles fired at a higher temperature which creates a harder less porous surface than can be achieved by standard ceramic tiles this inherent versatility gives ceramic tile the ability to provide a number of benefits as a flooring such as durability and design flexibility.
Porcelain porcelain tiles also come from the clay family but manufacturers use feldspar and other minerals in the mixture.
It s a flooring solution made from very dense clay that s fired at higher temperatures than standard ceramic tile flooring is.
Ceramic tile being softer has a hardness value that ranges between 3 and 4.
Cleaning porcelain tile is a breeze.
Some porcelain floor tile is made to look like stone and while it might hold up just as well it will cost less.
When evaluating the pros and cons of porcelain tile and ceramic tile consider your taste in decor your budget and the needs of the rooms to be decorated.