Glazed ceramic tile has color on its surface but the color of the clay body underneath the glaze doesn t match.
Disadvantages of glazed porcelain tile.
Ceramic tiles are thin slabs of clay or other inorganic materials hardened by oven firing and usually coated with some kind of glaze.
However the pattern or color of glazed porcelain is only on the surface and does not go through the full body of the slab or tile.
There are still intact installations in the ruins of ancient rome and egypt says dave gobis executive director of the ceramic tile education foundation.
However porcelain tiles can be somewhat more brittle than standard ceramic tiles and they have some of the same drawbacks as ceramic tile including their heavy weight coldness and hardness underfoot.
The color of unglazed porcelain extends through the full body thickness.
A special type of unglazed porcelain tile called through body has uniform color throughout the tile so that if the surface is nicked the chip is hardly noticeable.
Porcelain is very strong.
The interior color may be different and will show if the surface is chipped.
In other words you really can t go wrong with tile.
Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic tile though it is made from finer denser clay and is fired at higher temperatures.
Pros cons of porcelain tile.
It requires skill using special tools to cut it.
If the surface is chipped the flaw is easy to see.
Ceramic tiles have a hard solid surface that does not attract or hold onto dirt dust pollen or other allergens.
Disadvantages of using porcelain tile porcelain tile is a desirable solution for many applications but it does have drawbacks.
As always it s a good idea to try and strike a balance between practicality and decorative taste when choosing your glazed ceramic and porcelain tile.
Matte and satin finishes are generally harder than shiny finishes.
Then there is the issue of gloss.
That s because the denser tile is slightly heavier than ceramic tile and much heavier than flooring solutions like wood.
Therefore it s never a good idea to use a gloss tile for flooring and particularly for bathroom or wet room flooring or in high traffic areas such as entrance halls.
One of the biggest advantages of porcelain tiles their high density and strength can also be a disadvantage if you are worried about weight.
A smooth glossy surface tends to be more slippy than a matt surface particularly when wet.