Ceramic or Porcelain tiles: what is the difference?

When choosing wall tiles for our renovation projects, sometimes we get lost in the many different types of tiles available in the large choise of renovation materials.

One of the questions we often ask ourselves is: what exactly is the difference between ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles? Since we at ArtisTile Ceramics work with both types of these ceramic tiles, we feel it is necessary to help clarify this question.

In fact, porcelain tiles are also ceramic tiles that are produced with similar technology, but the materials used are not the same.

In general, all ceramic tiles are produced from clay in which quartz sand, feldspar and water are added. The color and certain characteristics of the clay vary. The two main types of clay are used for the production of ceramic tiles: "red" and "white" clay.

“White" clay contains relatively high levels of kaolin and relatively small amounts of iron oxides, which give the clay red or reddish shades.

So, in most cases, if you look at the edge or back of the porcelain tile - the edge or back of the tile would have a pale color (pale beige or very pale gray). Of course there are exceptions. For example - some Italian textured porcelain tiles are brown on the back of the tile.

The firing of porcelain tiles in the kiln requires higher temperatures. The higher the temperature, the denser and harder the porcelain tiles become. Ceramic tiles are more porous, less permeable and less resistant to wear than porcelain tiles. The water absorption rates of porcelain tiles are lower than those of ceramic tiles – that’s why porcelain tiles are strongly recommended for installation in areas with high humidity (in bathrooms, shower stall walls, SPA and swimming pools).