Beautiful & Durable: The Benefits of Porcelain Floor Tile
If you want to achieve an elegant, beautiful look without compromising durability, you may want to consider porcelain floor tile for your home remodeling project.
As a type of ceramic tile, porcelain tile has a robust construction and greater durability than non-porcelain tile. It is a denser, less porous, and harder option that offers better resistance to stains and water than ceramic, so you can live life without worrying about damaging your floors.
What is Porcelain Floor Tile?
Porcelain is formed from refined clay and other natural elements, such as quartz and felspar. After being kiln-fired, the tiles are left in their natural state or transformed to look like wood, stone, concrete, or other natural materials.
There are two basic types of porcelain floor tile:
- Glazed – Glazed porcelain tile has a glazed glass protective coating and a hard finish that is typically colored. It is strong, dense, and available in a wide range of colors or decorative patterns. Glazed porcelain tile is also available in a shiny or matte finish.
- Unglazed – Unglazed porcelain tile is solid, with consistent color throughout the tile. It is strong, durable, and disguises chips and scratches as they appear. Available in a variety of finishes, unglazed porcelain tile is ideal for walls, floors, and countertops.
The Benefits of Porcelain Floor Tile
Design
Porcelain tile has unmatched design versatility, as it is available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. It can mimic a variety of traditional flooring materials, including marble, granite, wood, steel, bamboo, or cork.
Visually, the porcelain tiles are indistinguishable from the materials they imitate, so you can enjoy the performance advantages and durability without compromising style.
Durability
As one of the toughest flooring options available, porcelain is harder, denser, more robust, and less porous than ceramic tile. It has a low absorption rate, which means it is impervious to water damage and ideal for bathrooms and other moisture-prone areas.
Porcelain floor tile is also resistant to stains, bacteria, and odors, as well as scratches and fire. It is perfect for high-traffic spaces, such as kitchens, foyers, and living rooms.
Maintenance and Repair
In addition to its durability, porcelain tile is easy to maintain, clean, and repair. To clean porcelain tile, you should wipe up water, sweep, and vacuum immediately. If you have glazed tile, you should use a damp mop once a week. For unglazed tile, you need to rely on scrub with a soft-bristle brush weekly.
Regardless, you should always dry porcelain tile thoroughly with a towel or microfiber cloth. You should also avoid abrasives such as steel wool and scouring pads.
Water Absorption
Porcelain floor tile is perfect for moisture-resistance. As defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), porcelain tile has a water absorption rate of 0.5 or lower. To classify an individual tile as porcelain, it must weigh less than half of one-percent more as a result of water absorbing into its surface.
Is Porcelain Floor Tile Right for You?
If you want the performance advantages of ceramic tile but the look of wood, stone, or another material, you should consider porcelain tile. You may also choose porcelain tile if you are remodeling a high-traffic or moisture-prone room such as a kitchen or bathroom.
Overall, porcelain floor tile is a perfect option if you want durable, elegant flooring that can last for decades.
Your Local Destination for Porcelain Floor Tile
At St. Louis Tile Company, we do more than sell porcelain tile. We help homeowners sort through countless options so that they can find the perfect tile for their DIY projects.
To shop our extensive selection of tile, visit our showroom in Ellisville. We are available seven days a week, with extended evening hours.
To schedule your free consultation, contact us online or call us at (636) 220-3550. We look forward to meeting you!
