Porcelain/Ceramic

As a species, we are hard-wired to create beautiful living spaces.  From the time of the cave-painters at Lascaux to present day, we want nice homes.  It should therefore come as no surprise that ceramic tile has been a staple in home-decorating for 4000 years.  Ceramic has been uncovered in the oldest pyramids, the ruins of Babylon and in ancient ruins of Greek cities.

At first reserved only for royalty and churches, ceramic is now widely available to anyone, worldwide.  It comes in all sizes, colors, shapes and textures and is appropriate for every room, inside or out, wall or floor.

Simply put, ceramic is composed of a clay base, which is then fired to make it solid.  Because in this state the tile is porous, a glass-like glaze is then added, producing not only a waterproof surface but also the beautiful colors that makes it so popular today.

A close cousin to ceramic is porcelain.  The primary ingredient in porcelain is sand, which is pressed and fired at extremely high temperatures, creating a tile that is almost impervious to absorption.  A glaze is sometimes added to create color and texture, but it is for aesthetic purposes only.  If you have a space that is subject to drastic temperature changes, you’ll want to go with porcelain.

It is true that porcelain is harder than ceramic.  The clay body is denser and less susceptible to the body of the tile chipping.  That being said, it can still chip, especially the glaze.  It is not true that chips won’t show on a porcelain tile.  While there are many through-body styles available, most porcelain tiles do have a decorative glaze on top.

Some tiles are a solid color; some have many colors.  Some tiles are perfectly smooth; others have a lot of physical texture.  Some have straight edges; others have an imperfect edge made to resemble stone.  More colors and more texture means a more complicated manufacturing process, which usually means more money.

A ceramic tile floor is only as good as the substrate that it’s going over and the installer who puts it in.  Underlayment is usually required if you’re going over a wood surface, but tile can typically be put down directly on concrete.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are easy to care for—simply sweep and damp mop as needed.  Grout, however, is a different story.  Grout can absorb liquids and trap dirt, so it is recommended that you seal the grout soon after your tile is installed.  Don’t skimp here; buy the best grout sealer that you can find and remember, if it’s cheap, it’s probably cheap.

Enjoy you new tile floor.  After all, you may have it for the next 4000 years.