Susan from Lambertville writes:
My husband and I are in the market for a new kitchen floor and are thinking of using tile. What’s the difference between ceramic floor tile and porcelain floor tile?
Good question Susan! Ceramic tile is made from clay materials and is fired in a kiln to harden it. Porcelain is also a ceramic, but is made from finer clays and fired at a hotter temperature, resulting in a higher density tile body than regular ceramic. This higher density of porcelain makes it harder than regular ceramic, more stain resistant and more waterproof.
That being said you probably should not exclude all non-porcelain tiles from consideration. Most homeowners would likely never see any performance difference between ceramic and porcelain tile. In fact, we routinely see ceramic tile floors that are several decades old and in great shape being replaced just for cosmetic reasons.
The important things to keep in mind when getting a new tile floor are:
Get a guaranteed installation from a reputable local company! I've seen too many people burned by "bucket and trowel" freelance installers that cut corners during the installation. Improper installation can cause your tile floor to literally fall apart. Don't risk losing thousands just to save a little on labor costs!
- Choose a sensible tile and grout color. If you have a busy family and kids and pets running in and out of the house perhaps the glassy smooth white polished porcelain tile isn't the way to go. Sure it will look pretty, but you'll be chasing after dust bunnies so much you'll never get to enjoy the floor. Pick a tile in a medium to dark color range and a design with some movement to make a low maintenance floor that always looks ready for company. The same goes for grout. Avoid very light colors and you'll cut down on a lot of maintenance headaches!
- Seal the grout! Generally grout should not be sealed until its fully cured, which can take up to thirty days. Most installers are not in the habit of going back to every job a month later to seal, and so most of the tile installations out there have unprotected grout. This is the main reason for all the horror stories about grout that stains or is hard to keep clean. We recommend buying grout sealer right along with your tile and putting it on a month after installation. It's easy to do yourself and will pay off in the long run.
Carpets by Otto's Levis Commons Design Center and Landmark Showroom have a wide range of beautiful tile options on display, and both the installation work and the pricing are fully guaranteed!
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