Porcelain tiles are one of the hottest design trends right now. The numerous benefits of the tile make it a great choice for both residential and commercial use. While it has some incredible benefits, there are some disadvantages as well. In this post, Emperors Vitrified Porcelain, the best indoor and outdoor porcelain tiles supplier in India addresses both the pros and cons of porcelain tiles, so that you can make a wise choice.
Before we look at the benefits and drawbacks, here’s a quick recap on,
Porcelain Tiles Explained
Ceramic and porcelain tiles have been manufactured for thousands of years. They are used for both floors and walls. Both porcelain and ceramic tiles start their lives as clay, that molded into a variety of shapes, glazed and fired in kilns. However, the similarities end here.
The clay used in the manufacture of porcelain tiles is finer and denser. Hence, this tile is fired at higher temperatures under high pressure. As a result, the final tile is strong, robust, durable and more water-resistant than regular ceramic tiles.
Advantages of Porcelain Tiles
High Durability – Porcelain tiles are extremely dense and hard. They are resistant to wear and tear, chipping, scratching and cracking. This makes porcelain tiles the ideal choice for homes with young children and pets. The toughness of porcelain tiles also makes suitable for high footfall areas like hotels, restaurants, malls, shopping complexes, retail outlets and other businesses.
Water Resistance – Porcelain tiles are sufficiently waterproof, making them a great flooring choice for kitchens, bathrooms, external corridors and pathways.
Stain Resistant – You don’t have to worry about the tile getting dirty due to muddy paws, kids’ art projects and numerous other stains. Porcelain tiles are super easy to clean. You can keep them shiny with regular soap and water, without the need for using noxious cleaners in your home. Porcelain tiles are also anti-bacterial and do not cause the growth of mold, mildew and germs.
Easy maintenance – unlike natural stone floors, porcelain tiles do not require periodic sealing, polishing, waxing or buffing. You can recreate the look of natural materials like marble, granite, slate, travertine and wood with designer porcelain tiles. These tiles use modern printing processes to create a texture that closely resembles natural stone or wood. Thus, porcelain tiles give you an upscale, opulent interior décor without the drawbacks and high cost of natural stone or wood.
Porcelain tiles are also frost-proof – you can install them in outdoor areas like corridors, verandahs, patios, and swimming pool surrounds. Very often, homeowners install porcelain tiles in a kitchen and extend the same tile design outdoors to create a unified, seamless look.
Even if one of your porcelain tiles breaks, you don’t have to replace the entire floor. Just replace the broken tile and your floor is good to use.
Disadvantages of Porcelain Tiles
Can chip/crack in extreme conditions – Though porcelain tiles are extremely durable, they can crack/chip on rare occasions. However, the cracks are generally not visible in full-bodied porcelain tiles, where the colour runs throughout the tile body.
Porcelain tiles are slightly expensive compared to regular ceramic tiles. However, since the tile easily lasts for decades, it’s a great value and the initial cost is certainly worth it. Since porcelain tiles are extremely heavy, you need specialised equipment to cut and install it. This may increase the cost and time of installation. Before you install porcelain tiles, you have to make sure that the flooring and supports are strong enough to withstand the density of these tiles. This may slightly enhance the installation cost further.
Porcelain tiles are difficult to walk on barefoot. Due to their density, porcelain tiles are colder to walk on. However, if you’re planning to install under-floor heating, then porcelain tiles are the best choice.
As you can see, porcelain tiles have plenty of advantages and a few drawbacks. The few cons of the tile certainly outweigh the benefits. So, make sure to go through the pros and cons of porcelain tiles and make an informed and confident decision. If you have any further queries, get in touch with our tile experts at Emperors Vitrified Porcelain, the No.1 porcelain wall tiles suppliers in India. We have a huge collection of porcelain indoor and outdoor tiles for all projects at the best ever prices.
