Last updated on December 4th, 2023 at 02:14 am
Tiles are tiles, right? Wrong! Tiles come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and textures. What’s more important is the “tile” you choose for your space. In this blog article, you’ll find out what porcelain tiles vs vitrified tiles have to offer for your home project.
What is Porcelain Tiles?
Porcelain tiles are a type of ceramic tile that have been made by a process called vitrifying. Vitrifying is the most widely used technique to produce ceramic tiles because it creates a uniform, slip-resistant and durable surface on the tile that can be glazed or left unglazed. Porcelain tiles are fired in temperatures over 2500 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point it becomes vitrified.
Benefits of Vitrified Tiles
Vitrified tiles are able to withstand the high temperatures that can reach up to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. Vitrified tiles have many benefits over porcelain tiles, such as resistance to chemicals and a longer life span.
Which Tiles are Better?
Porcelain tiles are more expensive than vitrified tiles. Porcelain tiles have a higher thermal resistance which is why they don’t crack as easily. Porcelains may be damaged by hydrochloric acid, so you should not use them in areas that are prone to acid or chlorine exposure. Vitrified tiles have a lower thermal resistance which makes them crack more easily than porcelains. They can also be damaged by hydrochloric acid and mineral oils, so these types of tiles should not be used in places that are prone to contamination.
Comparison between Porcelain and Vitrified Tiles
Porcelain tiles are much more expensive than a vitrified tile. This is because porcelains are made of natural materials such as kaolin, quartz, feldspar, and porcelain clay and have a high firing temperature. Vitrified tiles use less natural materials and have a lower firing temperature so they are much cheaper to make.
What are the Causes of Problems with Vitrified Tiles?
Porcelain tiles usually have a “dead” state, where the tiles are not in contact with water. They are not subject to changes in temperature, so they are stable and can be damaged by heat. Vitrified tiles can be hot or cold, which means they are constantly changing their state and being subjected to exterior conditions. The biggest issue that vitrified tiles face is that they can easily crack during transport.
How to Avoid Problematic Vitrified Tile Installation
One common cause of problems in the tile installation process is when the installer applies too much water and causes the vitrified tiles to shift out of place. One way that you can avoid this scenario is by taping off any areas where there are exposed adhesive to avoid water runoff.
Summary
porcelain tiles are made of clay and fired at very high temperature, while vitrified tiles are sprayed with a glass-fusing mixture of silica and oxygen. Both types of tiles have similar ceramics that resist stains, breakage, fire, and heat. They also both have an identical color palette and in general are used for the same purpose: flooring. One major difference is that porcelain tile is more expensive than vitrified tile because it has to be fired three times more.
