Porcelain Tile Flooring

Due to they high levels of strength and durability, porcelain tiles are the perfect option for long lasting flooring. Porcelain tiles are a type of ceramic tile that have a significantly low water absorption rate, and can be used to cover floors as well as walls. This type of tile is made using denser varieties of clay than ceramic tile. Porcelain tiles are oven baked at extremely high temperatures, for long periods of time, so that almost all the water is removed during the process. This extended drying time makes porcelain tile have much more strength and a denser structure than ceramic tiles. They can either be glazed or un-glazed at the buyers preference. The harder, dense surface of porcelain tile has made polishing a more viable alternative to pre-glazed surfaces in most recent years. This means that a tile can be fired, then a have polish built into the surface, creating shine without the use of a glaze.

Porcelain is much harder than ordinary ceramic tiles, and is an ideal selection for areas where strength and durability is a more important concern, as well as in areas with high wear. Not only is porcelain a great alternative of tile for indoor areas but, is also safe to use outdoors too. It has a lower moisture content and is less likely to crack in freezing weather. Being a more dense material, it is harder to cut and drill through, which may make installation, and proper fitting, harder and more expensive. Although, porcelain density make it heavier to handle, and can drive the price tag amount up quite a bit, due its features of strength and longevity, it can be a very worthy investment in the long run.

When porcelain is first made, it’s not actually very absorbent. But, during the polishing process, which makes the un-glazed surface more reflective, it also makes the tile more porous and prone to absorbing stains, in the same way as natural stone tiles do. One thing to keep in mind while shopping for tile is that, unless a suitable, long-lasting treatment is put on by the manufacturer, polished porcelain tiles will need a sealing compound installed. Porcelain sealers are, mostly, either water-based, which is cheaper, but does not last as long, or solvent-based. Porcelain is less porous than your standard ceramic tile, making it easier to clean and less likely to stain. It can withstand very high levels of traffic and increased levels of wear and tear, making it a perfect option for family homes. Porcelain can be used in light-duty or medium-duty commercial projects in addition to residential homes as well. Porcelain is very hard and durable, it can weight quite a bit more than standard tile, which can make for some problems during installation. Its dense nature makes it difficult to cut, especially when constructing special shapes or rounded edges for custom jobs. As such, installation should usually be left to professionals to ensure a proper end result.

Porcelain is definitely the right choice if you’re looking for a long-term tiling solution, with style and durability for those high traffic areas, and you want something that requires little maintenance. The added expense for materials and installation will be worth it when you realize that your new porcelain tile will last you a lifetime!

Call Perfect Flooring today and have one of our trained technicians install your new Porcelain Tile!