Porcelain tile, a leading material in flooring, offers versatility, durability, low maintenance, and many styles, sizes, and colors. This flooring looks beautiful and feels natural for both floors and walls.
Once installed, porcelain tiles offer a stain-resistant finish, yet they do not require sealing. From modern and luxurious to traditional and practical, porcelain tiles dominate the flooring world, making it an optimal material for almost every room in the house.
Advantages of porcelain tile
In the bathroom, porcelain tiles protect the space from steam that typically damages and strips painted walls while also providing a sleek modern look. In the kitchen, porcelain tiles offer an easy to clean, elegant, simple feel that elevates kitchen design. Their durability proves dominant in these areas of the house as they are easy to maintain when coming in contact with any element.
Compared to other flooring types, porcelain tiles cost less and come in various color and size options. You can customize porcelain tile and combine different tiles to create a unique pattern fit for your home. Some designs even resemble wood or stone.
Disadvantages of porcelain tile
Some of the disadvantages of porcelain tile flooring include its expensive installation and adaptation to temperature. For example, porcelain tile floors in the bathroom appear elegant and modern looking. However, they might create discomfort in the kitchen because they are cold and hard to stand on for extended periods.
You will find maintaining grout lines to be a demanding task. Grout lines attract dirt and require care to clean effectively. However, in recent years, stain-resistant grouts emerged to solve that problem. Installing rectified porcelain tiles, meaning tiles with four perfect square edges, offers one way to solve this problem by allowing for razor-thin grout lines with less surface area for dirt and stains to accumulate. Thin grout lines draw the eye to the tile’s design rather than a heavy grout line, giving the floor a modern and minimalist appearance.
Other types of tile
Tiles made of natural stone such as travertine, marble, slate, or granite fail to provide a rectified edge. They require more extensive grout lines to compensate for the variation in the edges of the tile. These natural stone tiles also need sealing to keep stains from penetrating the stones’ porous surface. Porcelain truly excels in this aspect with easier maintenance and does not require any sealing.
Whether you prefer a trendy and elegant style or go for a classic and traditional look, man-made porcelain tiles offer more design options than natural stone. Your porcelain tile options include various designs, colors, and sizes. Natural stones tend to provide fewer selections and present a challenge when making the perfect selection for your home. With the variety of tiles, you can easily find a style that matches your preferences and home. For a more designer look, explore large format porcelain for your flooring options.
