When it comes to choosing a tile for home or even for businesses, the easiest options to go with will automatically be ceramic tiles and porcelain. Among other floor tile types, these two are best known to be the ones that are durable, commercially ubiquitous, easy on the purse yet still stylish. These two tiles fair decently against their other counterparts like wood and stone tiles, but how well do they match up against each other?

Today, we study the pros and cons of ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles.

Ceramic

Image source: linkedin.com/in/rajunakum (Ceramic Tiles)

Ceramic might be the most popular of all the floor tiles in that it is known to be the cheapest (price varies with the distributor). Ceramic tiles are typically cut to a thickness ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 inches, depending on intended use.

Ceramic is best known for being affordable and second-best known for its variety. It may be purchased in very many styles and colors (terracotta, quarry, clay brick, etc.), even in imitation of wood and stone (stone-looking ceramic tiles are more durable than actual stone tiles, too).

Its glazed variety is relatively water resistant, but the same cannot be said for its unglazed form. Unglazed ceramic tiles are great for adding a touch of warmth to an area’s aesthetic, but it is “soft” and easy to damage if placed where there is heavy foot traffic. However, it will last a very long time if only used for households.

Porcelain

Image source: alraheemtraders.pk

Porcelain is made of the same basic materials as ceramic but blasted in the kiln at hotter temperatures making them more durable, long lasting, and almost completely water resistant with a water absorption factor of less than 0.5. Almost all other tiles, including ceramic, have a factor of more than 0.5.

As a floor tile, porcelain is very well known for its hardness, even in its unglazed form. It is denser so it can be cut thinner while having the same hardness as a thicker glazed ceramic counterpart. The only catch is that it is a little more expensive than ceramic in general.

Porcelain, since it’s very durable, is a good material to invest in spite of cost if to be used for commercial spaces where heavy traffic is expected. It is scratch resistant, easy to maintain, and, in its unglazed variety, is also resistant to stains.

The Verdict

When it comes done to it, it is better to decide on whether to go for ceramic or porcelain using two factors: usage and budget. Ceramic is still the top choice when it comes to households because it gets the job done for less (around half) the cost. Ceramic is also the perfect choice if you’re prospecting to do DIY repairs—it’s easier to cut, modify, attached, and so on. Porcelain is a great investment for both home and business. It has a relatively higher PEI rating than ceramic counterparts of the same thickness, has all the floor tile benefits of ceramic and more, but at a greater cost.

Not all tiles are created equal. Some of them are perfect to be stepped on daily by a lot of people (like in malls, parks, and places of business), some can only take very little weight at a time like bathroom tiles while others can’t take weight at all.

Today, we’ll be discussing the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) Rating and what purpose it serves in determining what tiles to use for your specific purposes.

To start off, the PEI rating is an internationally used scale of hardness or toughness specifically for commercial tiles. PEI rating ranges from a value of 1 (least hard) to 5 (hardest).

PEI 1

You may not under any circumstance use tiles with a PEI of 1 as flooring. These tiles may only be used on walls or any other decorative purposes. These tiles are very prone to wear, tear, and breaking so never use them to be stepped on.

Image source: http://bit.ly/2BInwJv

PEI 2

Harder than PEI 1 but not completely hard, these are tiles that may be used in very low traffic areas like bathroom tiles, pantry flooring, or supply closet tiles.

PEI 3

Tiles that can take light to moderate traffic only are categorized under PEI 3. These include domestic kitchen floors, commercial kitchen & domestic countertops, and most residential flooring for about 3-8 inhabitants. Such tiles are available at FC Floor Center or FC Tile Depot.

Image source: http://bit.ly/2zAu2jE

PEI 4

This is a lot sturdier than PEI 3 in that it may be used between moderate to heavy foot traffic. This is good for any residential flooring, but if it will be used for commercial flooring, it is best used for heavy traffic where people do not stay for prolonged periods like clothing boutiques or service centers.

PEI 5

This is the hardest among all the tiles perfect for very heavy traffic like as public bathroom tiles, airport tiles, park & mall flooring, or restaurant, food court, and events area tiles.

Image source: http://bit.ly/2BJlj0m

Aside from the PEI rating, there are other factors that affect the contextual usability of tiles like coefficient of friction, to name one. Make sure to learn more about your tiles before you decide to buy them.

One major consideration of both architects and engineers when building homes are what materials to use for different parts of the project. These materials matter on several levels like what material should the exterior of the building be if it’s going to be in the city where the temperature is hotter than it is in rural areas. For tropical homes, however, there are fewer design variables and the major consideration is ambient temperature as well as humidity above all else.

In today’s article, we try to explore 3 wood materials that are great floor tiles for tropical homes especially if you are constructing on a tight budget.

Basic Hardwood

Image source: http://bit.ly/2xusU3J

In tropical countries like the ones in most of South East Asia, there are numerous hardwoods that are well adapted to a specific climate. In the Philippines, for example, Narra is both popular for furniture as well as flooring because it expands and shrinks (depending on humidity) very minimally making it suitable for tropical homes.

Reclaimed Hardwood

If you’re on a really tight budget, then this might work for you. Reclaimed hardwood comes from structures that are already for demolition so not only can you avail of them cheap (or buy them from owners of the to-be-demolished building yourself), you can even salvage your own. The only thing is that you must also know a thing or two about repurposing wood or have them re-milled so that they fit in properly for your home.

Wide-plank Hardwood

Image source: http://bit.ly/2wt7Qv7

Wide-plank hardwood might be a little bit of the more expensive tropical home choice but it’s definitely the best on this list. Not only is it stylish and easy to manage (clean, maintain, polish, etc.), it is also very breathable and it feels good barefoot on hot days and cold nights. It’s as versatile as it is comfortable.

Aside from hardwood floor tiles, however, there are a number of other different types of floor tiles that are climate appropriate (especially for tropical homes that do not have air-conditioning or humidity controls). We will touch on them on our next articles.

You should not ask, “Where to buy floor tiles?” rather it should be, “How to choose the right floor tiles?”

Why?

It is not that hard to find floor tile shops here in the Philippines. Some are even giving away discounts for those who buy in bulk. However, don’t be blindsided by ads like “50% off” or “less 30%.” More than ever, you should be wary if you’re getting value for your money.

So the question again, “how to choose the right floor tiles?” Here are the factors you should look for once you decided where to buy floor tiles:

Types of floor tiles

The Balance lists six different types of home flooring:

Ceramic tile

Pros: waterproof, can be used indoor or outdoor, and even on countertops
Cons: prone to scratches and grout

Hardwood flooring

Pros: durable, an insulator, easy to maintain
Cons: non-waterproof, prone to noise, expensive

Laminate flooring

Pros: can withstand high traffic areas
Cons: non-scratch resistant, cannot be refinished

Marble flooring

Pros: an insulator, can enhance the look of a floor space
Cons: expensive, needs high maintenance

Cork flooring

Pros: cheap, easy to install
Cons: not good in the kitchen, prone to damage

Bamboo flooring

Pros: durable, easy to clean
Cons: non-resistant to water, vulnerable to scratches

Location

After buying the floor tile of your choice, where would you install it? This is important because as you’ve noticed above there are certain type of floor tiles that are not water resistant such as wood and bamboo flooring. It would be safe if you categorized it into two: the area of the house susceptible to water and those which are not.

Another thing you should consider is the foot traffic in each room. Foot traffic is one of the reasons floor tiles suffer from wear and tear.

Color & Style

You should possess an “eye” for this because no matter how classy or unique a floor tile is, if it is not a good match, well, it isn’t. Is the color and style you chose compliments the entire room or it becomes an eyesore? Moreover, as explained by BuildDirect, “color influences the overall attitude of your room.”

Size & Pattern

According to Tileflair, “there are certain floor tiles that have a variety of sizes and will have a modular pattern to follow for each square meter.” It boils down on the layout of the room. Is the layout of the room plain square or rectangle? Or does it have uneven corners or angles? This is also where you consider going DIY or hiring a professional to install it.

You can determine how many boxes of floor tiles you’re going to buy as well. But can you estimate it on your own?

Budget

Of course, this must be always on top of your mind when shopping for floor tiles. It is way more important than answering the question of where to buy floor tiles? Very importantly, ask how much is it?

It is true that it increases the resale value of your house, stated by Forbes. However, you should not go beyond your budget even with the seduction of posh-looking porcelain flooring. Stick. To.Your.Budget.

With too many tiles out in the market today, it gets a bit hard to choose one that best suits your home’s flooring. But don’t you worry because we listed down the different types of tile floorings you’d find from your tile supplier in the Philippines. Get to know each type and decide which tile your home needs.

Ceramic

Image source: bit.ly/2oxOoZ2

Ceramic tiles are made from quarried clay materials that are either hardened, pressed or molded at a high temperature in a kiln. This type of tiles can either be glazed or unglazed. Glazed tiles are coated with matte, semi-gloss or high gloss finish in a modern manufacturing process called monocottura. Compared to unglazed tile, the glazed finish increases the tile’s scratch and stain resistance, as well as its traction while decreasing its water absorption.

Ceramic tiles are further classified into two:

• Non-porcelain – considered as the traditional ceramic and is known as one of the most economic tiles. It comes in natural tones made of minerals as well as brown, red and/or white clay materials. This type of ceramic tile has noticeable chips because the inside color differs from the outside. The variations in color make it a perfect fit for your kitchen or bathroom flooring.
• Porcelain – manufactured the same way as non-porcelain, but with contains 50% of a crystal called Feldspar. The said crystal acts as a flux that bond all the molded ingredients together during the manufacturing process, creating a glass-like structure that strengthens the tile mixture.

Porcelain ceramic tiles are more expensive than non-porcelain, but they possess through-bodied color, lesser water absorption, higher stain resistance and greater durability. These tiles can withstand higher foot traffic, perfect for busy commercial areas. Since this type of tiles is easier to color, it has lesser visible chips than non-porcelain.

Glass

Image source: bit.ly/2oxPHHv

Glass tiles are commonly used in mosaics. Although it is often used as wall tiles, glass tiles can also be an option for floors and backsplashes albeit unpopular due to its grout lines. These lines give a busy look and make cleaning a hard task to pull off.

If you are going to buy these from your tile supplier in the Philippines, install the glass tiles by setting them into stone or like a traditional tile using grout.

Metal

Image source: bit.ly/2oo0hPc

Metal tiles are a great choice if you are aiming for a high visual impact. Although this type of tile flooring is not a usual option, it can really make your flooring shine. Just keep in mind that metal tiles are prone to wearing over time.

This type of tiles can either be made of pure metal or with non-metal materials such as ceramic tiles. Metal tiles made of non-metal materials have metal plating.

Natural Stone

Image source: bit.ly/2p4pkJM

Tiles made from natural materials are known as natural stone tiles. These materials are quarried, cut into a rough slab and sliced to tile size by a stone fabricator. Since these type of tiles are made from natural stones, characteristics may vary depending on the material used.

Common types used in tile flooring include the following:

• Granite – an igneous rock that has specks of different minerals throughout its surface. Once polished, granite can be scratch resistant, making it an excellent choice for areas with high foot traffic.
• Limestone – a sedimentary rock that has soft and permeable structure. This stone can be easily stained and is scratch-prone, which is not the most ideal characteristics for high-traffic areas.
• Marble – a metamorphic rock that offers a variety of colors. The veins of different minerals run throughout its surface, creating its different colors. However, it is more porous than granite, giving it a high vulnerability to scratches.
• Slate – a metamorphic rock with darker earthy hues. It is extremely durable and dense, and it often has chips, bumps and uneven surfaces.
• Travertine – a limestone with porous texture, making it an easy target for scratches and stains. However, it has an earthy tone with an uncommon crystallized appearance.

Natural stone tiles can also have the following finishes: natural, honed or polished. Natural finish has an earthy and dull appearance while the honed finish has a matte and smooth look which prevents slipping and wear. Polished finish has the mirror-like appearance but has more slippery surface.

Have you decided on the tile flooring your home needs based on the list? Then, it is time to visit your tile supplier in the Philippines and get the floor tile installation started today.


Sources:
http://flooring-professionals.com/flooring-resources/types-of-tile-flooring/
http://buildipedia.com/at-home/floors/tile-flooring-101-types-of-tile-flooring
http://www.beaumont-tiles.com.au/Tile-DIY-Info/Types-of-Tiles
https://www.thespruce.com/tile-types-for-floor-and-wall-1822635
https://eurtton.com/monocottura-tile/
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/masonry-and-tiling/installing-a-glass-tile-backsplash-in-a-kitchen