Ceramic Tile | Natural Stone Tile | Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tiles are essentially ceramic tiles, but with a lower absorbency. To be considered a porcelain tile it must have an absorption of less than 0.5%. Porcelain tile is fired at a higher temperature than a ceramic tile and therefore has a higher break strength. There are many different kinds of porcelain, all of which meet this basic definition but each of which has its own unique characteristics.
- Glazed Porcelain
Glazed porcelain is the most common type of porcelain tile. It starts out with an uncolored body on which glaze is applied during the firing process. As the tile is fired and the glaze melts onto the body forming a durable top layer which can look like whatever the tile designer wants to create. The glazing process can cause the tile’s texture to be as rough as sandpaper or as smooth as glass.
- Through-Body Porcelain
A through-body porcelain has pigments through out the entire body so the color goes all the way through. Therefore, there is no glaze applied. On a through-body porcelain the bottom of the tile essentially looks the same as the top. Through-body porcelains are extremely durable, but lack the ability to have the decorative beauty of a glazed porcelain.
Ceramic Tile | Natural Stone Tile | Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tiles are essentially ceramic tiles, but with a lower absorbency. To be considered a porcelain tile it must have an absorption of less than 0.5%. Porcelain tile is fired at a higher temperature than a ceramic tile and therefore has a higher break strength. There are many different kinds of porcelain, all of which meet this basic definition but each of which has its own unique characteristics.- Glazed Porcelain Glazed porcelain is the most common type of porcelain tile. It starts out with an uncolored body on which glaze is applied during the firing process. As the tile is fired and the glaze melts onto the body forming a durable top layer which can look like whatever the tile designer wants to create. The glazing process can cause the tile’s texture to be as rough as sandpaper or as smooth as glass.
- Through-Body Porcelain A through-body porcelain has pigments through out the entire body so the color goes all the way through. Therefore, there is no glaze applied. On a through-body porcelain the bottom of the tile essentially looks the same as the top. Through-body porcelains are extremely durable, but lack the ability to have the decorative beauty of a glazed porcelain.
