What is the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile?
Porcelain is a type of ceramic that is made of kaolin clay. Both ceramic, composed of coarse clay, and porcelain tiles are hardened in a high-temperature kiln. Tile flooring is ideal for the kitchen, bathroom, and entryways. Tile is also suitable for bathroom and kitchen backsplashes and bathroom walls. Hessler Floor Covering is a tile store in Southwest Florida that offers various floor and wall tiles. We have a showroom in three locations: Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, and Naples.
Sizes and designs
Tile ranges in size from 2-inch and smaller mosaic tiles to large format tiles. Choose the latter if you want to make a small room look bigger. Less costly ceramic tile tends to come in neutral colors and standard sizes. Porcelain tile designs are available in a wide range of colors and styles. Designs that mimic natural materials, including wood, are favored.
Durability
Porcelain is the most durable tile on the market. Combine that fact with the wide range of design choices, and you've got tile that is worth the higher cost. Further, porcelain is inherently waterproof. In contrast, ceramic is porous, and therefore, it will repel water only when it is glazed. Porcelain tile can also be used for outdoor applications in warm climates.
Installation
Porcelain is a harder and denser material than ceramic, and therefore, porcelain tile is more difficult to cut than ceramic tile. Installers use a wet tile saw to make precision cuts. Before the tile is laid, the subfloor is leveled, if necessary. Then a fiber cement underlayment is placed on the subfloor. Each tile is attached with mortar, and lastly, tiles are joined together with grout.
Family-owned Hessler Floor Covering, established in 1951, installs ceramic and porcelain tile. Our installation team travels in an area that includes Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Port Charlotte, Bonita Springs, and Cape Coral, Florida. In-home estimates are free. You can begin your tile flooring upgrade by viewing our online catalog or visiting one of our three showrooms.
