Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: Which is Best?

One of the most exciting stages of building new homes is choosing all of the finishes, one of which is tile. While selecting tile for your new home can be exciting, choosing between the many styles and designs can be challenging. Two of the most popular types of tile are porcelain and ceramic. But what are the differences between the two types, and which is best for your new home? Let’s discuss this further.

Porcelain Tile: Pros & Cons

As a type of ceramic tile, porcelain tile is made from dense clay that is fired at high temperatures. This manufacturing makes porcelain highly dense and less porous than other tiling options.

Pros

• Durability
  Porcelain tile is incredibly durable because of the way it is made. It can withstand heavy foot traffic and will last for years in new homes. Porcelain tile has low porosity, making it resistant to staining, bacteria, and odors.
• Low Maintenance and Easy to Clean
  As one of the most durable types of tile, porcelain doesn’t require sealing to repel water. They’re also one of the easiest types of tile to clean, requiring just sweeping, vacuuming, and cleaning with porcelain-friendly cleansers. They are perhaps one of the most durable flooring options in any design center.

Cons

• Cost
  Compared to ceramic tile, porcelain usually has a higher cost per square foot. While it’s typically more expensive than ceramic, it is more affordable than natural stone.

Ceramic Tile: Pros & Cons

Ceramic tiles are very similar to porcelain. While ceramic tiles are manufactured from similar elements to porcelain tiles, they’re kiln-fired at lower temperatures, making them softer, more porous, and less dense.

Pros

• Affordable
  Ceramic tiles are one of the most budget-friendly tiling options. Because ceramic is easier to work with than porcelain, installation costs could also be cheaper.
• Low Maintenance and Easy to Clean
  Similarly to porcelain, ceramic is low-maintenance and easy to clean. Glazed ceramic, a type with a glass-like coating, is particularly resistant to water and stains. Like porcelain tile, ceramic is easily cleaned with vacuuming and ceramic-friendly cleaners.

Cons

• Less Durable
  While ceramic is less durable than porcelain, it’s still a durable option for your home and is one of the most durable flooring options on the market.

How to Narrow Down Your Decision

When choosing between ceramic or porcelain tile in your house, you’ll first want to consider the area where we will install the tile. For example, do you need to pick out durable flooring that can resist heavy foot traffic, or are you picking out a backsplash behind your cooktop? You could consider using porcelain tiles on floors or bathrooms where you’ll need high durability. Consider using ceramic where you’ll have less demand for durability, such as backsplashes or accent walls.

Visit Our Design Center to See Samples, Pick Your Tile, and More!

Make your decision to pick out tile much easier by visiting our design center. Our design team will be glad to answer any questions about the process of choosing tile, help you select the right tile for specific areas of your home, and much more. Are you interested in building a new home? With just one walk through any of our new homes in Spanish Fork, you’ll realize why we’re the Utah home builder that people trust.