The ceramic tiles and the porcelain tiles are generally used for the same applications: to cover soils, walls, exterior, urban furniture ...
But they have differences in their characteristics, price and properties that are not appreciated with the naked eye.
This post of ceramic mykonos serves as a guide to know their disparities and be able to choose better which one to select.
Both tiles are part of the general ceramic category, which includes all the tiles formed by natural clays of heat and hardened by heat.
In the modern tile industry, however, the porcelain occupy their own category since they meet certain specifications.
Components and manufacturing
The manufacturing processes of the porcelain tiles are longer and, therefore, more expensive than those of the common ceramics.
The ceramic tiles are mainly made with gres-arcilla and contain less kaolina than the porcelain, whose mixture is purest clays and contains other minerals such as quartz and feldspar.
This makes them thinner and more smooth but also denser and heavy tiles.
Also due to these procedures, porcelain are more resistant to blows and scratches.
The ceramic tiles are cooked at temperatures of 900 and the porcelain between 1200 and 1400 degrees Celsius.
The absorption rate of the porcelain tile is 0.5% while that of ceramic tiles is higher so they are more porous and more prone to leaks.
Even so, the ceramic tile, also called stoneware or white pasta, has high quality. This difference should only be taken into account if it is intended to be used for a kitchen countertop, for example, the area of a pool ...
Porcelain are somewhat heavier and hard but where they make a difference it is in their impermeability and how freezing cycles support (outdoors and/or cold zones).
DESIGN
Porcelain tiles can simulate with great fidelity other materials such as wood, marble, cement or stone. This makes them more realistic than those of white pasta.
In addition, porcelain usually has more finishes, patterns ...
Meanwhile, white pasta tiles are usually solid or decorations, which makes them perfect as coating (walls).
Placement and duration
Gres is much faster and easy to place. Any work or reform made with sets is a saving of both money and time.
Both the porcelain tile and the gres tile are very durable construction materials.
The estimates of the technicians indicate that, on average, a floor of porcelain tiles can remain, almost without visible variations, from 80 to 100 years, if their joints are maintained in good condition.