Porcelain vs Ceramic: What's The Difference?

Posted on 17th February 2023

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are both common options when it comes to tiling your living spaces. Whilst both can be aesthetically pleasing and transform an area, there are actually a lot of differences in composition, durability, water absorption and much more.

An extremely popular alternative to natural stone, porcelain boasts astounding technical specifications that allow you to enjoy the look of natural stone without the maintenance. So let’s take a look at some of the most important differences between the different types of tiles, so you can make an informed decision to transform your living space.

How are porcelain tiles made?

Porcelain tiles are produced by mixing fine clays and other minerals. Certain materials are chosen specifically due to their ability to fuse together and form a strong bond at high temperatures.

1. These materials are mixed with water to create a solution, which is milled into fine powder.
   
   
2. Next, the resulting mixture is pressed into the desired shape, using high pressure to compact the particles tightly.
   
   
3. Then, these tiles are fired in a kiln at intense temperatures, removing any remaining moisture and fusing the particles together strongly.
   
   
4. After that, they’re cooled, polished and cut to an exact size, before being quality-assessed.

Read our guide to preparing porcelain paving.

How are ceramic tiles made?

Ceramic materials are produced by grinding raw materials such as clay and sand into fine powder, before being mixed with water to create what’s known as a ‘slurry’.

1. The mixture is shaped into tiles using moulds, then dried to remove excess moisture.
   
   
2. Next, they are fired in a kiln at extremely high temperatures to fuse all the materials together properly.
   
   
3. Tiles are then often (but not always) glazed to add to the aesthetic appeal as well as adding more moisture resistance, before being fired again to fuse the glaze to the tile body.
   
   
4. Finally, tiles are inspected before being ready for distribution.

Can porcelain tiles go outside?

Porcelain paving is renowned for its water resistance and typically has a water absorption rate of less than 0.05%. This makes them highly suitable for outdoor applications, as well as indoors. This water resistance provides increased frost resistance too, as the tiles won’t hold much water, which would freeze and expand in cold temperatures.

On top of this, porcelain is crafted using fine kaolin clay and other minerals, whereas ceramic is made from coarse clay.

Kaolin clay is a good choice for paving tiles because it has a high fusion temperature, which results in porcelain having incredible strength and resistance to cracking, denting and chipping. This extreme strength makes porcelain extra suitable for outdoor use.

Check out our expert guide to laying porcelain paving.

Can ceramic tiles go outside?

Ceramic tiles can be used outside, but they are definitely not the best option for outdoor use tiles. They’re more susceptible to damage in frost, as they’re not as water resistant, which also increases the chance of staining.

Ceramic tiles also aren’t as strong as porcelain tiles, which means they’re less suitable for high traffic areas, such as patios or garden paths.

Another potential downside to ceramic tiles is that they aren’t as aesthetically pleasing. Porcelain can be manufactured to provide the natural beauty of materials such as marble slabs, granite slabs, slate slabs, limestone slabs, sandstone slabs, wooden tiles, and much more. On the other hand, ceramic usually comes in a solid colour, which doesn’t look as natural or authentic, making it less suitable for outdoor areas.

Should you choose porcelain or ceramic tiles?

If you’re looking for paving that is versatile, porcelain is an excellent choice due to its suitability for both outdoor and indoor spaces. On the other hand, ceramic tiles are usually suitable for indoor use only.

When it comes to durability, the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles is drastic, so porcelain is better suited to high traffic areas.

So, it’s not difficult to see why porcelain is the top choice… It looks beautiful in every setting, its specifications are outstanding compared to ceramic and natural stone, and it boasts brilliant water resistance capabilities! We would recommend porcelain as the top option for almost any living space.

If we haven’t yet convinced you that porcelain paving is the right investment for you and your home improvement project, get in touch with us and we will be happy to help with any queries you may have.