Porcelain tile is a tile that is generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face.

Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain tiles making them frost resistant or frost-proof. Glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and more wear and damage resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tiles, making them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic. Full body porcelain tiles carry the color and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile making them virtually impervious to wear and are suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic commercial or industrial applications. Porcelain tiles are available in matte, unglazed or a high polished finish.

“Ceramic” or non-porcelain tiles are generally made from red or white clay fired in a kiln. They are almost always finished with a durable glaze which carries the color and pattern. These tiles are used in both wall tile and floor tile applications, are softer and easier to cut than porcelain. Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are usually suitable for very light to moderate traffic and generally have a relatively high water absorption rating making them less frost resistant and they are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles.
Stone tile such as marble, slate, and granite represent some of the most naturally suitable materials for household and commercial surfaces because they are highly resistant to impact and wear. In addition, the stone tile flooring made from these materials are some of the most attractive options available for your flooring and other surface applications. The random patterns in granite and marble are formed over millions of years and make your floor truly individual, offering an elegant look and feel to any household or commercial space. The granite, slate, and marble are quarried from massive deposits and cut into large blocks. These blocks are then cut to standardized thickness, with one side of the granite or marble honed and polished.

Considerations such as moisture levels, slip resistance, foot traffic, and even hardness of the surface of your stone tile floor are more easily judged once you’ve decided where the installation will take place. When starting your search for the most suitable flooring surface, first consider how much traffic the space will get. Generally, the higher the traffic the harder the surface likely should be. Next, add to your considerations how the hardness will affect the use you make of your floor. For instance, if your floor is for a kitchen or dining room, it is important to note that fragile items such as glassware or china are more likely to break if dropped, for example, on marble or granite, as opposed to bamboo wood flooring. Also, remember to consider moisture, and how much your stone tile floor is likely to sustain. Some types of stone tile flooring are more porous than others, proportionately less resistant to moisture and more likely to crack over time.

The issue of slip resistance is important as well, particularly if your household or commercial space is likely to see high traffic from young children or the elderly. A marble stone tile floor may not be the best choice if you are concerned with someone slipping in an area such as a bathroom, where footwear often consists of bedroom slippers and socks, items not known to be slip-resistant themselves! In area such as this, stone flooring such as slate tile may be more appropriate, or perhaps unglazed ceramic tile might be also be a good choice.

 Porcelain tile for Kitchen, Bathrooms, Floors.