The Great Tile Debate: Porcelain vs. Ceramic

We dive deep into the differences between porcelain and ceramic tiles to help you choose the right material for your home renovation projects. From composition and moisture resistance to durability and price points, we cover everything you need to know before making this critical design decision.

• Porcelain tiles use finer materials and are fired at higher temperatures (1,200-1,400°C) making them denser with less than 0.5% water absorption
• Ceramic tiles are fired at lower temperatures (700-1,000°C) with 3-7% water absorption, making them less suitable for wet areas unless properly glazed
• Porcelain offers superior durability, especially for high-traffic areas and can withstand freeze-thaw conditions outdoors
• Modern porcelain manufacturing techniques create realistic imitations of natural materials like stone and wood
• Ceramic tiles are more budget-friendly (starting at $0.50/sq ft vs. porcelain at $2/sq ft) and easier for DIY installation
• Kitchens and bathrooms generally benefit from porcelain's moisture resistance and durability
• Living rooms and bedrooms can use ceramic tiles effectively where moisture isn't a concern
• Commercial spaces with high traffic strongly benefit from porcelain's wear resistance

Call us at 614-543-8334 or visit www.belktile.com with any questions about your tile project. Find us on Facebook and Twitter at BelkTile and on Instagram at BelkTiles.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
Do you have to seal tile?
How much extra tile should Ibuy for my project?
What thinset is the best for mytile application?
How hard is it to maintainnatural stone?
You have questions.
We have answers.
Welcome to the Belt TilePodcast.

(00:22):
How to style the bathroom, thebackyard, the kitchen, how to
improve your home style withtiles to make your home
absolutely beautiful?
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
Here's your host, Mike Belk.

Abby (00:43):
Well, good morning Mike, or should I say afternoon.

Mike Belk (00:46):
Haha, yes, we are getting a late start on this one
, aren't we?

Abby (00:49):
That's okay.
I understand you had a meetingrun late this morning.

Mike Belk (00:52):
Yes, had a factory rep stop by unannounced but
really wanted to see the newproducts they were showing.

Abby (00:57):
Anything good.

Mike Belk (00:58):
Of course, but we can get into that another time.
But brings me to today's topicceramic versus porcelain tiles.

Abby (01:04):
Oh, that's a good one.
I get that question all thetime.

Mike Belk (01:11):
All right, porcelain versus ceramic this is one of
those debates I've heard aboutfor years in the tile world.
At their core, both are made ofclay, but it's the type of clay
and the way it's processed thatreally sets them apart.
Porcelain, for instance, usesfiner, more refined materials
like feldspar and quartz, andit's fired at much higher
temperatures.

Abby (01:26):
Okay, so the high temperatures make it stronger?

Mike Belk (01:28):
Exactly those higher temps, like 1,200 to 1,400
degrees Celsius, make porcelainsuper dense and way less porous.
We're talking under 0.5% waterabsorption levels here.
Compare that to ceramic, whichis more in the 3% to 7% range
because it's fired at lowertemperatures, around 700 to
1,000 degrees.

Abby (01:48):
And that's why porcelain's better in bathrooms or kitchens
.
Right the moisture resistance.

Mike Belk (01:52):
Right.
If you ever see ceramic tileswarp or stain in a damp area,
it's usually because waterseeped through.
On the flip side, glazedceramic tiles do pretty well in
moisture-prone areas, since theglaze acts as a protective
barrier.
But unglazed ceramic, that's ano-go for wet spaces.

Abby (02:08):
Oh, that's good to know.
So technically you could useceramic in a bathroom as long as
it's glazed.

Mike Belk (02:13):
Exactly.
But and here's a quick storyBack in the early days at Belk
Tile I had a client who used thewrong ceramic tile in a
bathroom remodel.
It looked great at first, butwithin months the grout was
practically screaming help.
The tile wasn't glazed, sowater seeped in and we had to
redo the entire thing.
I learned real quick todouble-check tile
recommendations for wet areas.

Abby (02:35):
Yikes, that's like a tile nightmare.
So is durability kind of tiedto this whole moisture
resistance thing too.

Mike Belk (02:41):
Yeah, pretty much.
Ceramic tiles are softer sothey're more prone to chipping
under heavy foot traffic.
Porcelain, though it's tougher,handles wear and tear better
and can even work outside infreeze-thaw conditions.
That density really makes adifference in durability.

Abby (02:55):
All right.
So durability is clear, butwhat about style?
When you're choosing betweenporcelain and ceramic, how much
does the look really factor intothe decision?

Mike Belk (03:04):
It can be a huge factor.
Porcelain has this almostmagical ability to mimic natural
materials stone, wood, you nameit.
Manufacturers are usingadvanced printing techniques to
make these tiles look sorealistic it's hard to tell the
difference.

Abby (03:16):
Oh, absolutely.
I've seen porcelain tiles thatcould pass for reclaimed wood
planks.
It's kind of mind-blowing.

Mike Belk (03:28):
Yeah, exactly, With ceramic you can get some cool
designs too, but they usuallyhave a more, I guess,
traditional aesthetic.

Abby (03:30):
It's not quite as versatile in pulling off those
natural looks Right and Iimagine that plays into budget
as well Like if someone's tryingto keep costs down.
Ceramic might be the way to go.

Mike Belk (03:38):
For sure, ceramic tiles are generally more
affordable.
Price ranges can start as lowas 50 cents per square foot,
whereas porcelain tiles usuallybegin around $2 per square foot
and go up from there.

Abby (03:48):
And installation too right Like it's easier to work with
ceramic if you're DIYing.

Mike Belk (03:52):
Oh, absolutely.
Ceramic is softer and easier tocut, so a DIYer can handle it
with standard tools.
Porcelain that stuff's tougherto cut.
You really need a wet saw andif you're not careful you'll
burn through blades Not exactlybeginner-friendly.

Abby (04:05):
Makes sense.
So a couple years ago I hadthis client in Connecticut
beautiful old farmhouse and theywanted to redo the kitchen
flooring.
We spent weeks debatingporcelain versus ceramic.

Mike Belk (04:16):
Weeks.
What was the holdup?

Abby (04:17):
Well, it came down to budget and style.
They loved the idea ofporcelain for its durability,
but the cost was a little steep.
In the end, we found thisceramic tile with a really great
glaze.
That gave it a kind of rusticlook and it kept us within
budget.

Mike Belk (04:32):
That's a solid compromise.
It's all about balancingpriorities.
If style and budget align withceramic, it's still a great
option, as long as you'reputting it in the right space.

Abby (04:41):
Exactly, and that's why you need to weigh all the
factors where it's going, howmuch traffic it'll get and
whether you're trying to DIY orhire a pro.
All right, so we've talkedabout budget, style and
practicality.
Now let's break it down room byroom.
Where does each tile shine andwhere, you know, might it not
quite work?

Mike Belk (04:58):
All right, starting with kitchens, porcelain is the
champ here.
It's durable and handles spills, greasy messes, you name it.
If you're cooking up a storm orhave kids running through, it's
the tile that'll stand the testof time.

Abby (05:10):
Makes sense.
But ceramic works too rightLike, as long as it's glazed.

Mike Belk (05:13):
Yeah, you're right, glazed ceramic can absolutely
work, just not as bulletproof asporcelain if you're dealing
with heavy traffic or you knowpotential damage from dropped
pots and pans.

Abby (05:26):
What about bathrooms?
Here's where I kind of feelporcelain has the edge, just
because of the whole moisturefactor Spot on.

Mike Belk (05:30):
Porcelain's low porosity makes it a no-brainer
in bathrooms, especially, youknow, around showers or tubs.
Ceramic can work on walls,though Less direct exposure to
water.

Abby (05:43):
Just avoid it on floors and high-moisture areas unless
you've got a really good glazeand sealant, good to know and
living areas.
Are we basically just choosingbased on design, preferences and
budget there?

Mike Belk (05:51):
Pretty much, yeah.
Living rooms, bedrooms, diningareas.
They don't have the same stressfrom, you know, moisture or
heavyware Ceramic tiles canthrive in those spots and
they're easier on the wallet.

Abby (06:01):
Got it.
And for people with outdoorspaces, I'm guessing porcelain
wins again.

Mike Belk (06:05):
Absolutely, especially in climates that have
freeze-thaw cycles.
Porcelain doesn't absorb water,so it won't crack in cold
weather.
Plus the textures, you can getnon-slip finishes for patios,
for example.
They're just ideal for outdooruse.

Abby (06:21):
Okay, speaking of high traffic, like outdoor patios I
heard you have a story about acommercial lobby upgrade.

Mike Belk (06:24):
Oh yeah, that project was a game changer.
We replaced the old ceramictiles in this busy lobby with
porcelain.
The client was hesitant atfirst because you know the
upfront costs were higher.
But once I explained how thedurability would pay off in the
long run less chipping, lessmaintenance they were all in.

Abby (06:41):
And it worked out.

Mike Belk (06:42):
Worked like a charm.
We used these tiles designed tolook like marble gave it a
high-end look without thehigh-end maintenance.
Months later I checked in.
It handled the foot trafficlike a champ and they loved the
design.

Abby (06:53):
You see, that's the perfect example of weighing
priorities durability, cost andaesthetics.

Mike Belk (06:58):
Exactly.
Whether it's a commercial spaceor your home, it always comes
down to matching the tile to thespace's needs.

Abby (07:05):
All right.
So to wrap this up, porcelainis your go-to for moisture
durability and heavy traffic.
Ceramic is, you know, yourbudget-friendly, design-flexible
option in lower-stressenvironments.
Did I nail it?

Mike Belk (07:17):
Couldn't have said it better myself, and with that I
think we gave folks a clearguide on how to choose the right
tile for their space.

Abby (07:24):
Totally Well, mike.
This was fun and superinformative.
I'm ready to tile everything.

Mike Belk (07:29):
Same here and to everyone listening.
Thanks for tuning in.
Till next time, take care.

Speaker 1 (07:34):
You've been listening to the Belt Tile Podcast.
When it comes to creating abeautiful home using tile, this
is the podcast for products,design ideas and tips.
We hope you got some usefulpractical information from this
show and we'll be back soon, butin the meantime, reach out.
The website is wwwbelktilecom.

(07:57):
Our store phone number is614-543-8334.
Find us on facebook and twitterat belk tile and on instagram
at belk tiles.
Make sure to leave a rating andreview and if you have
questions or comments, reach outand we'll talk about it on the
next show.
Till next time.