So you've decided to use tile in your home and are asking the all important question; which is better, Ceramic or Porcelain?  It is a question that is not easily answered.  Ceramic and Porcelain tile actually share a similar manufacturing process, but this is where the similarity ends. 

A Ceramic tile is made from finely ground clay and minerals that are pressed into the shape of the tile.  Colored glaze is then applied to provide a variety of colors and textures; and the tile is then kiln fired to harden the tile and melt the glaze.  This is a simplified version of 'how to make a ceramic tile' but you get the idea. 

A Porcelain tile is also made from finely ground clay and minerals, but with a substantially higher quantity of feldspar minerals than clay.  The tile is again pressed into shape but using much higher pressures; actually, many of the presses used in Porcelain manufacture can produce in excess of 2,800 tons of force (that’s 2,800,000 kilograms!)  The Porcelain tile then undergoes glazing steps as required and a longer firing process.

So, what does this mean? 

Porcelain is harder, stronger, more wear resistant, and has a very low rate of moisture absorption thus allowing its use both indoors and outdoors; even in Edmonton’s cold climate.  But, that’s all academic because a high quality Ceramic tile installed in a home environment will last the life of the home.  So why not use only Ceramic Tile? 

Ultimately, it depends what look you want in your house.  Different styles, textures and colors are unique to each type of tile.  The first step is to choose a style that suits your home.  Are you looking for a traditional look, modern, classical, do you want borders, listellos or tableaus?  In today’s market you can personalize your home as never before.

Ok, so you’ve chosen your tile; how do you know that the tile you are looking at is a good quality tile?  If you were looking at purchasing a car, you would do more than just kick the tires.  You would ask to see maintenance records from the mechanic.  The same, believe it or not, is true with Ceramic and Porcelain tile.  The maintenance records in the case of the tile are the ISO Certificates held by the factory that produces the tile.  An ISO Certification, 9001:2000 for Quality Management, and 14001 for Environmental Management, is your guarantee that the factory that holds these certificates has specific procedures in place to ensure the production of the highest quality products using methods that are environmentally responsible.  A separate third party company normally audits the factory several times per year to ensure that the Quality and Environmental Management systems are being adhered to. 

I recommend that every customer who is interested in purchasing a Ceramic or Porcelain tile request an ISO compliance certificate.  This certificate normally lists the results of tests completed on the tile and allows you to see whether it meets the ISO standards for tile.  For example, one of the tests is for straightness of the sides (ISO 10545-2) and is set at 0.6%.  Imagine that you purchased a tile that exceeded that amount.  Would you be happy with grout lines that were not straight?

Finally, what do you do if the tile store does not have any certificates for the tile that you like?  Well, there are some simple tests that an individual can perform that verify the quality of Ceramic and Porcelain tiles:
Confirm the body color of the tile:

1. Red body wall tile is for wall use only.  If someone is selling you red body ceramic wall tile for floor use, go somewhere else to buy your tile.
White and Dark color bodies are acceptable for Floor or Wall applications.

2. Check for a factory stamp.  A quality factory with a recognizable name will always stamp the back of the tile with their company name and/or logo.  If a piece of tile simply indicates the Country of Production, you have no guarantee that the factory that produced it has any quality standards at all.

3. Check for the quality of the Porcelain.  You don’t need to have a laboratory to test a Porcelain tile for quality.
Water Absorption:  Due to the density of Porcelain, the water absorption of the tile should be 0.5% or less.  To test this, simply wet your finger and touch the back of the tile.  If you see a finger print where the water has penetrated the tile, then the density may be low and could indicate a poor quality Porcelain. (A Dry Erase Marker will also work for this test)
Weight:  Due to the density of Porcelain, it should also be substantially heaver than a Ceramic tile.  One factory has claimed that 1 square meter of 8.5mm Porcelain should weigh at least 18.5 kg.  If it is less, then the strength and quality of the tile for a floor application may be suspect.  As there are many factories with custom formulations for Porcelain tile, this should not be viewed as the ultimate test of quality Porcelain.  If a tile feels light, ask for more information.

4. Check the quality of the glaze.  A proper application of glaze should be complete and uniform.  Excessive pinholes and lack of glaze will allow staining of the tile.  To test the glaze, simply use a Dry Erase Marker.  If the glaze is porous, the mark will not wipe off.  Do not use this test method on Polished Porcelain as there is no glaze on Polished Porcelain.
There is a tremendous variety of Ceramic and Porcelain tile available on the market today; all of which are well suited to beautifying your home.  The key to a durable tile is ensuring that you are buying a quality tile.  Armed with the information in this article, you have become an educated consumer that knows the difference between quality Ceramic and Porcelain tile, and cheap imitations.

By Demetrius Bazos; President
ISIS Ceramic and Porcelain