QUESTION

Porcelain Tile - How does Porcelain Tile differ from other types of ceramic tile?

ANSWER

ANSWER - Porcelain tile is a dense clay mixture that provides a very dense body tile.  It is considered an impervious body which means its absorption is less than 0.5%.  As in all things in life, not every porcelain is made equal and there are trade offs for using this type of tile.  There are higher quality porcelains and lower quality porcelains.

Red or brown body tiles come in a wide range of quality as well.  Most of the Spanish red body tiles are very dense and considered vitreous (glass like) which means its absorption is less than 3%, which is still considered frost proof and chip resistant.  There are even some porcelain tiles that have a red body, but most are white bodied.  There are some red body tiles that are very absorbing.

These tiles come in either glazed or unglazed surfaces.  The glaze is a glass like material that gives it an impervious surface.  It typically gives the tile more stain resistance and makes it easier to maintain, but it also can make it more slippery and susceptible to chipping and wearing.  The glaze surface can provide from high wearability to low wearability depending on the hardness of the glaze.  Unglazed tiles are the same color throughout so you don't see much of a difference if they chip.  If the glaze color is contrasting to the tile body it will tend to stand out if chipped.  Unglazed tiles are more susceptible to staining, and even the impervious porcelains can be affected due to micro pores that can trap stains.  Now there are hybrid tiles that incorporate a blend of glazed and unglazed to minimize this problem, and the porcelain tiles can even be polished like a stone.

In terms of functionality, either porcelain or any vitreous tiles will work just as well for most residential applications and many commercial applications.  Remember that the more slip resistant a tile is, the more maintenance will be involved in keeping it clean.

White body talc wall tile is very absorbing and considered non-vitreous, which means it has a 7% absorption rate or more, but should be no more than 20% absorption, which is the area where it lies.  This type of tile only comes with a glazed impervious surface and should only be used for wall applications and countertop applications.  It is a less expensive type of tile.

There are many other types of tile, exceptions and trade offs, but too many to mention here.
ANSWER - Porcelain tile is a dense clay mixture that provides a very dense body tile.  It is considered an impervious body which means its absorption is less than 0.5%.  As in all things in life, not every porcelain is made equal and there are trade offs for using this type of tile.  There are higher quality porcelains and lower quality porcelains.

Red or brown body tiles come in a wide range of quality as well.  Most of the Spanish red body tiles are very dense and considered vitreous (glass like) which means its absorption is less than 3%, which is still considered frost proof and chip resistant.  There are even some porcelain tiles that have a red body, but most are white bodied.  There are some red body tiles that are very absorbing.

These tiles come in either glazed or unglazed surfaces.  The glaze is a glass like material that gives it an impervious surface.  It typically gives the tile more stain resistance and makes it easier to maintain, but it also can make it more slippery and susceptible to chipping and wearing.  The glaze surface can provide from high wearability to low wearability depending on the hardness of the glaze.  Unglazed tiles are the same color throughout so you don't see much of a difference if they chip.  If the glaze color is contrasting to the tile body it will tend to stand out if chipped.  Unglazed tiles are more susceptible to staining, and even the impervious porcelains can be affected due to micro pores that can trap stains.  Now there are hybrid tiles that incorporate a blend of glazed and unglazed to minimize this problem, and the porcelain tiles can even be polished like a stone.

In terms of functionality, either porcelain or any vitreous tiles will work just as well for most residential applications and many commercial applications.  Remember that the more slip resistant a tile is, the more maintenance will be involved in keeping it clean.

White body talc wall tile is very absorbing and considered non-vitreous, which means it has a 7% absorption rate or more, but should be no more than 20% absorption, which is the area where it lies.  This type of tile only comes with a glazed impervious surface and should only be used for wall applications and countertop applications.  It is a less expensive type of tile.

There are many other types of tile, exceptions and trade offs, but too many to mention here.