Ceramic v Porcelain – Cracking the Conundrum

You’re planning to create your dream bathroom. You have the perfect vision of it in your head, be that a calming haven in neutral hues or a riot of colours and textures.

But have you stopped to consider which is the best type of tile for a room that is used multiple times throughout the day and often, let’s face it, gets hot and steamy. Porcelain or ceramic?

First, it’s worth bearing in mind that both porcelain and ceramic tiles make for great bathroom tiles, it’s more a case of deciding which one will work best for your particular bathroom and budget.

Although there are lots of similarities between the two types of tile – both are made of clay and are fired in kilns – there are also some key differences.

For example, porcelain tiles are compressed into moulds and fired at much higher temperatures. This makes them denser and less porous than other tiles. They absorb less than 0.5% of moisture – making them almost entirely waterproof – and are more hardwearing and long-lasting.