In other words you really can t go wrong with tile.
Disadvantages of glazed porcelain tile.
Drawbacks of porcelain tile.
Disadvantages of using porcelain tile porcelain tile is a desirable solution for many applications but it does have drawbacks.
Ceramic tiles have a hard solid surface that does not attract or hold onto dirt dust pollen or other allergens.
Glazed ceramic tile has color on its surface but the color of the clay body underneath the glaze doesn t match.
However the pattern or color of glazed porcelain is only on the surface and does not go through the full body of the slab or tile.
If there are any drawbacks to this durable elegant flooring it is that it can be hard and cold and is somewhat tricky for diyers to install.
Matte and satin finishes are generally harder than shiny finishes.
The color of unglazed porcelain extends through the full body thickness.
Ceramic tiles are thin slabs of clay or other inorganic materials hardened by oven firing and usually coated with some kind of glaze.
As always it s a good idea to try and strike a balance between practicality and decorative taste when choosing your glazed ceramic and porcelain tile.
There are still intact installations in the ruins of ancient rome and egypt says dave gobis executive director of the ceramic tile education foundation.
Therefore it s never a good idea to use a gloss tile for flooring and particularly for bathroom or wet room flooring or in high traffic areas such as entrance halls.
That s because the denser tile is slightly heavier than ceramic tile and much heavier than flooring solutions like wood.
However porcelain tiles can be somewhat more brittle than standard ceramic tiles and they have some of the same drawbacks as ceramic tile including their heavy weight coldness and hardness underfoot.
The interior color may be different and will show if the surface is chipped.
A smooth glossy surface tends to be more slippy than a matt surface particularly when wet.
A special type of unglazed porcelain tile called through body has uniform color throughout the tile so that if the surface is nicked the chip is hardly noticeable.
One of the biggest advantages of porcelain tiles their high density and strength can also be a disadvantage if you are worried about weight.
Then there is the issue of gloss.
If the surface is chipped the flaw is easy to see.
It requires skill using special tools to cut it.
Ceramic is best known for its durability.