The Difference Between Ceramic Tiles And Porcelain Stoneware (47 Photos): How They Differ And What Is Better To Choose

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The Difference Between Ceramic Tiles And Porcelain Stoneware (47 Photos): How They Differ And What Is Better To Choose
The Difference Between Ceramic Tiles And Porcelain Stoneware (47 Photos): How They Differ And What Is Better To Choose

Video: The Difference Between Ceramic Tiles And Porcelain Stoneware (47 Photos): How They Differ And What Is Better To Choose

Video: The Difference Between Ceramic Tiles And Porcelain Stoneware (47 Photos): How They Differ And What Is Better To Choose
Video: Porcelain vs Ceramic Tiles - How are they different? 2024, March
Anonim

The range of facing materials is presented in a wide variety of products, making it easy to find the right option to create the perfect interior. However, a wide variety is not always beneficial - it is often difficult to make a choice and purchase really high-quality material.

Few people know that there are big differences between porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles. And before making the final choice, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with their characteristics and distinctive qualities.

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What is the difference?

When choosing a durable and reliable wall or floor covering, we are faced with a choice - to buy ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware? Today we propose to get acquainted with the main differences between these two materials, their advantages and disadvantages.

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Properties

Both materials have proven themselves to be excellent in the market. Ceramic tiles have many advantages, thanks to which they have been the bestseller for many years. It is characterized by high strength, low weight, long service life, high level of moisture resistance, ease of installation and maintenance. Modern manufacturers offer a lot of ceramic design options, and a variety of textures and colors allows you to choose colors based on the design of the room where it is planned to be installed.

The disadvantages of ceramics include extreme fragility, so you should be careful during transportation and installation. Another significant disadvantage is the poor resistance to ultraviolet light - over time, the tile may fade or change color.

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The main difference between porcelain stoneware and tiles is the ability to withstand colossal loads without deformation of the top coating. Moreover, there are practically no scratches left on it.

It is worth noting that in terms of its strength properties, porcelain stoneware is much superior to more decorative ceramic coating. Due to the low porosity of the surface, it repels moisture, thereby preventing it from passing into the coating. This minimizes the risk of mold underneath the porcelain stoneware layer.

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This material has high heat-resistant properties. It is resistant to fire, frost and high temperatures. Its durability is also noteworthy - even a few years after installation, the coating will be in its original form.

Porcelain stoneware is easy to care for and is not “afraid” of abrasive, alkaline and acidic detergents and cleaning agents. Does not fade under the influence of sunlight, does not deform in bad weather conditions.

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Composition

Ceramic tiles are thin rectangular or square slabs. The main component for its manufacture is the fired charge mass, although the composition can include up to 20 different components. Most often, ceramic products consist of the following elements:

  • clay of different varieties and types, but the highest quality products are obtained from white clay;
  • quartz sand;
  • chamotte - crushed waste and defective products that have not passed quality control during the production process;
  • feldspar or pegmatites used to create floor tiles, they give the finished product hardness and reliability;
  • pigments.
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Depending on the quantity and quality of the components (for example, the stability of the chemical composition, mineralogical purity, the degree of particle size reduction), the technical characteristics of the products are determined, and, accordingly, the class of the finished product.

At a certain stage of production, products are fired using a special technology. This makes the products more durable and reduces the percentage of water absorption of the material. In addition, it has a positive effect on the resistance to chemical compounds, as well as to temperature extremes. In addition, the single firing increases the thickness of the topcoat.

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The composition of porcelain stoneware and the manufacturing process are partly similar to the production technology of classic floor ceramics. Even the materials used are the same, the only difference is in the proportions used. In production they use:

  • white clay varieties;
  • kaolin;
  • quartz sand;
  • feldspar.
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Porcelain stoneware gets its unique strength properties during baking. To do this, the temperature in the furnace is raised to 1300 degrees, and during firing, the components are practically soldered to each other. High pressure (about 450 kg per cm) reduces the porosity of the material and increases resistance to moisture and low temperatures.

After firing, the surface of porcelain stoneware turns out to be slightly rough, and it becomes mirror-like after polishing. Although it is precisely the mirror models of porcelain stoneware that tend to wear out quickly, since the structure of the material is disturbed due to abrasive processing.

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Appearance

Ceramic tiles are highly valued precisely as a decorative material. There are many ceramics collections on the market, but there are certain fashion trends that pass from time to time and are replaced by more interesting and original models.

There are several types of tiles:

  • matte;
  • polished;
  • glossy;
  • glazed.
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Nowadays, glossy tiles with imitation of leather, textiles, metal are very popular. Wood imitation models are very popular. Over the years, ethnic-style tiles and antique designs have not gone out of fashion. This finish will look good both in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

Polished tiles are more suitable for wall cladding, since when wet they become very slippery and laying such products on the floor is fraught with injuries. Moreover, the gloss of the coating of such a tile cannot be compared with any other type of analogue product.

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Often, classic ceramic tiles are complemented with spectacular mosaics. If renovation work is on a tight budget, then mosaic inset is a great alternative. With their help, you can refresh the interior and at the same time save on finishing materials. The mosaic will look especially beautiful in the bathroom - its shine and radiance will add brightness and originality to this small room.

One of the modern ceramic design trends is imitation textiles, which are usually paired with floral prints. Such tiles are perfect for a country-style kitchen.

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Floral ornament is not a rarity in the design of facing tiles for a long time. All kinds of patterns in the form of flowers, leaves, twigs on matte tiles can plunge you into the world of aesthetics and comfort. In addition, today you can choose a tile for a specific interior design. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you can give preference to ceramics with a classic design. Classics never go out of fashion, and a well-chosen pattern of products will emphasize the advantages of the room and hide its shortcomings.

Glazed tiles can revolutionize any space, transforming the bathroom into a spa and the kitchen into a stylish and enjoyable cooking space.

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Porcelain stoneware tiles are larger than standard stoneware. It is generally used for interior and exterior flooring. It should be noted that porcelain stoneware is easier to install, and models with a straight edge are able to give the surface a monolithic effect.

Porcelain stoneware can be:

  • glossy;
  • matte;
  • glazed.
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Glazed porcelain stoneware is especially popular as it has a delightful appearance. Its color palette is practically unlimited - there are monochrome and multi-colored products. Not so long ago, manufacturers managed to achieve imitation of paving stones, mosaics, pebbles. Glazed material can have the texture of wood, stone, brick, slate, which opens up the possibility of creating a unique interior design.

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The most popular porcelain stoneware is considered to be satin, as it wears out quickly and costs an order of magnitude more expensive than analog products. It is not able to withstand such heavy loads, but its appearance completely covers this drawback. Satin-finished models are often used for cladding walls and facades of buildings.

Polished porcelain stoneware looks amazing. Firstly, it shines and perfectly imitates the texture of marble or natural stone, and secondly, it has an incredible depth of color.

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Scope of application

Ceramic tiles are suitable for cladding floors and walls in the kitchen, corridor, bathroom. For the kitchen, it is better to choose products "marbled" or stone. Most designers give preference to a combined coating, combining tiles with various decorative elements made of wood, glass, metal. The use of products of different sizes allows you to achieve a delightful visual effect.

For the bathroom, it is better to choose ceramics with an increased level of resistance to chemical compounds. It is good if the structure of the tiles has low porosity and high acidity - this will increase the resistance to moisture.

When choosing ceramics, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the designations indicated on the packaging - suitable tiles for residential premises with a high level of humidity must be marked with AA.

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Tiles with low strength are suitable for decorating kitchen walls, but at the same time they must be resistant to acids and alkali. It is best to choose products with a smooth surface - they are easier to clean.

The tiles for the lining of the corridor and the hallway must be durable, therefore it is best to give preference to unglazed durable ceramics. When choosing, it is worth considering parameters such as hardness, durability and ease of care. Modern manufacturers produce collections of ceramics for hallways, with a "chrome" structure, gloss and high durability.

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Often, ceramic tiles are used for wall and floor cladding in cafes, restaurants, shopping centers, hotels, theater lobbies and concert halls. Glazed products with increased strength properties are usually used. Often in such establishments you can find designer ceramics or products from limited editions.

Ceramics are used less and less for cladding industrial enterprises, since their properties are somewhat inferior to porcelain stoneware and there is a possibility of rapid cracking. However, if desired, ceramics can still be used for cladding internal and external walls. In this case, choose a hard and dense tile. For floor cladding, products with an anti-slip surface are chosen.

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The scope of application of ceramic tiles is not at all limited to the walls of residential and industrial buildings. It is often used to equip train stations and airports, parks, metro stations, verandas, and pedestrian crossings. Typically, enamelled, unglazed and extruded pottery can be found in such places.

Due to the fact that porcelain stoneware is a more durable material, it is used in those places where not only decorative qualities are important, but also the reliability of the coating. It will be simply irreplaceable in your home interior: in the kitchen, bathroom or hallway. With it, you can create a truly practical design for any room.

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If we talk about the design of the external walls of buildings, then there is no more suitable material than porcelain stoneware. Thanks to its properties, you can not worry about the state of the facade, even in severe frost conditions.

The special structure of porcelain stoneware allows it to be used even for facing fireplaces and stoves. Of course, decorative ceramics are also suitable for such purposes, but the wear of porcelain stoneware will be much less.

Often, porcelain stoneware serves as a practical material for decorating floors and walls in residential buildings with high traffic. That is why it is often used to decorate a kitchen apron, a bathroom, a house porch.

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What is the best choice?

As you can see, the differences between porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles are very significant. However, it is difficult to say which one is better. When choosing a material, you need to take into account a number of factors:

  • type of premises;
  • surface load;
  • climatic conditions;
  • the possibility of damage.
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Objectively speaking, it is better to put ceramic tiles in the bathroom and kitchen, since the load on the surface will be moderate. In the hallway and on the porch, porcelain stoneware is usually laid. The steps are lined with special products with anti-slip rubber pads.

It should be noted that porcelain stoneware will cost much more than ceramics, so if there is no need, then it is better to purchase ordinary tiles.

In any case, you can choose models with improved operational properties, but in this case, you should be prepared for serious spending, since the price of such products will not be much less than porcelain stoneware.

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For information on how ceramic tiles differ from porcelain stoneware, see the next video.

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