Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Sep 17, 2008 9:05 am We are planning on having tiles on all our downstairs floors and so my question is ceramic or porcelain?
Now the only thing I know that really differs between the two is: 1. Price - ceramic the cheaper option 2. If you chip a porcelain tile the same colour is all through the tile so it wouldn't be very noticeable as opposed to ceramic which is only a coating. So I guess my question is which would you recommend? Do ceramic tiles really chip that easy? Or is it worth paying the extra for porcelain? Are porcelain tiles a lot hardier? I have two toddlers so I need something that is going to handle things being dropped on them constantly! Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 2Sep 17, 2008 9:54 am Have never had porcelain tiles but I will say ceramic tiles don't really chip very easily; we have had some down in our house, back area of an old house which is toilet, laundry, enclosed porch leading to back door so heavy traffic area, they have been down for about 15 years, young children lived thru them, mid range in price and have stood the test of time very well.
Tiiles are unforgiving to things dropped on them - plates, etc will break but without damaging the tile. Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 4Sep 17, 2008 5:57 pm Stick with glazed ceramic tiles I restore porcelains everday they are a major problem for staining and polished porcelain is a big no no in my book trust me.
Just make sure the tiler leaves you spare tiles and some grout they used on the day that way if you chip a tile it can be easily replaced. Craig Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 5Sep 17, 2008 10:19 pm Hi
We were given the option to upgrade from a ceramic base to a glazed porcelain base tile by our builder at no additional cost. Is it worth it and what does it mean by glazed porcelain base tile ? Thank you Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 6Sep 18, 2008 8:16 am Glazed porcelain is fine just stay away from the polished porcelain to risky what I would be worried about is if there is no extra charge than they are a cheap porcelain which can give you problems down the road check it to see how easily it stains and scratches first. If you are not paying over $65 per sq metre for porcelain than I can garuntee you will not be happy.
The reason I say stay away from polished porcelain is due to the cheapo imports coming out of china they say it is polished but when layed it shows bad hazing only 4% are affected but if this happens to you there is nothing you can do about it. Porcelains are 10 times harder than ceramics that is for sure glazed porcelain is the only thing I would recommend but not in a wet area like a shower. Craig Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 7Sep 18, 2008 9:15 am Grout Perfect Porcelains are 10 times harder than ceramics that is for sure glazed porcelain is the only thing I would recommend but not in a wet area like a shower. Craig Craig, we're having glazed porcelains throughout our living areas. We've been told NOT to install them in the alfresco & front porch areas. But the external version of our tile is terribly rough in texture & I'm horrified to think how difficult they will be to keep clean. How dangerous are the glazed porcelains in an external environment ? Both outdoor areas will be covered. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 8Sep 18, 2008 9:39 am That should be ok but they can become slippery if they get wet if they do not have the slip proof design, if you do go with a rough textured tile than you can not mop it I would suggest you use a deck brush apply neutral cleaner than use a wet and dry vac to pick up the slurry very easy to do.
Craig Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 10Sep 18, 2008 5:12 pm If you do not want to use a dry vac than a damp mop with neutral cleaner is fine I recommend wrapping a bath towel around your mop and dry the floors concentrating on the grout lines after wet mopping.
If the surface is rough due to anti slip reasons than a deck brush would be easier, than use a towel to dry the floor I just put the towel under my foot and wipe as I go I know this is more work but the idea of keeping floors clean and looking good is you need to suspend the dirt and take it away. The best neutral cleaner I have ever used is from Research Products called SupaStar. When looking for a general cleaner just make sure it is PH 7 that way you do not have to rinse. Craig Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 12Oct 04, 2008 3:37 pm Quote: If you are not paying over $65 per sq metre for porcelain than I can garuntee you will not be happy. Is this for all porcelain, matte, polished etc? We layed ceramic tiles in this house 6 years ago and they chip terribly - they weren't the most expensive tiles, but at the same time I don't think my husband and I are overly clumsy, yet the kitchen floor is terrible. We were hoping to go with porcelain this time around in the hope of it being better for us with 2 young children. Are we better off going for a more expensive ceramic rather than a less expensive porcelain? Thanks Andrea Glazed ceramic the best way to go? 13Oct 04, 2008 8:56 pm Grout Perfect Stick with glazed ceramic tiles So the glazed ceramic tiles dont stain or get smudges etc like the glazed porcelain? I am renovating a 3 bed house. I have no trades experience but I am keen to learn how renovate. I really appreciate the advice people give me here because I dont have a car so it is hard to get around trades places to talk to people. Re: 15Dec 04, 2009 11:49 am Grout Perfect Glazed porcelain is fine just stay away from the polished porcelain to risky what I would be worried about is if there is no extra charge than they are a cheap porcelain which can give you problems down the road check it to see how easily it stains and scratches first. If you are not paying over $65 per sq metre for porcelain than I can garuntee you will not be happy. The reason I say stay away from polished porcelain is due to the cheapo imports coming out of china they say it is polished but when layed it shows bad hazing only 4% are affected but if this happens to you there is nothing you can do about it. Porcelains are 10 times harder than ceramics that is for sure glazed porcelain is the only thing I would recommend but not in a wet area like a shower. Craig Do you think importing ceramic tiles from China would be safer? Or just as bad? Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 17Dec 04, 2009 3:19 pm Grout Perfect Ceramics are ok to import from china craig Thanks for that. What are the things to look out for if ordering from china? Making sure that they are the same thickness everywhere obviously... anything else? Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 18Dec 04, 2009 3:44 pm The only issue I have with ordering from overseas is that you can not see the tiles or get an idea of the real colour as the colour may vary from what you see on the website. Also there are different types of quality ceramics there are cheaper virsions but to pick the difference would be impossible I tell my customers to go by weight the heavier the tile the better the quality. Craig Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 19Dec 04, 2009 4:00 pm Grout Perfect The only issue I have with ordering from overseas is that you can not see the tiles or get an idea of the real colour as the colour may vary from what you see on the website. Also there are different types of quality ceramics there are cheaper virsions but to pick the difference would be impossible I tell my customers to go by weight the heavier the tile the better the quality. Craig Thanks again. If I do decide to order them from China I will most definitivelly first order the samples. Ahhh. So many big decisions. Re: Tiles - Ceramic or Porcelain? 20Dec 04, 2009 7:54 pm What is the ideal water absorption rate for tiles? Firstly the ableflex that has been installed needs (manufactures specification) a sealant cap over the top, preventing water draining down between the slab and the… 3 5412 Our house was completed 8 years ago. Builder did not leave any spare roof tiles behind. Just found out that one tile is cracked. Wanted to replace the tile but most… 0 1993 1 12683 |