How To Tell Ceramic Tile From Porcelain

If you rub your finger over unglazed ceramic tile it feels slightly rough like a very fine sandpaper or dried out modeling clay.

How to tell ceramic tile from porcelain.

Look for the word porcelain as well as a water absorption rate of 0 5 or a mohs hardness rating of seven or above. No two pieces will ever be exactly the same. Ceramic tile often has a glazed surface coloring so chips may reveal a different color underneath. On a porcelain tile the liquid will remain on the surface for many minutes or even until it evaporates.

The ceramic being a little bit more porous. Then examine the sides for a white tan or red color which is a common sign of ceramic tiles. Items made from porcelain a type of white clay with kaolin as its main ingredient belong to the broader field of all ceramics. If the area has a lot of traffic porcelain tile should be used.

Porcelain tile can be used both indoors and outdoors due to its durability. To tell the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles inspect the tile s finish which will be smooth and even if the tile is porcelain. Natural stone is heavier than that of a porcelain or ceramic tile and is extremely versatile in its application. The main difference between porcelain and ceramic tile is that porcelain tile is that it is denser and less porous than ceramic tile.

The porcelain is 00 01 00 a little bit more durable a little bit more dense. Real natural stone marble is beautiful and unique. Ceramic tiles generally only have a water absorption rate of 3 at best. However marble is a porous material which means that it can get stained scratched and show age easily.

It s something you may not want to put in areas where you ll have something like water sitting a lot. In the unglazed format the surface of porcelain tile is smooth to the touch but porous in nature which means it soaks up stains and liquids over time. The finish of porcelain is smoother than that of ceramic. The unglazed surface of ceramic tile will feel coarse.

Porcelain tiles will have low water absorption. But how exactly do you tell whether a tile is ceramic or porcelain. A drop of water placed onto the side of the tile will absorb into the tile within a minute or less if it s ceramic.