Are porcelain tiles good? A comprehensive guide.

Longevity

It’s a stand-out feature of porcelain tiles. They really are super durable. They are highly resistant to wear and tear and this makes them a brilliant option for busy areas of the home such as kitchens or hallways – and commercial spaces too. Unlike some natural stones or carpet, porcelain won’t show signs of wear even in well-trodden areas. This is a material that doesn’t need sealing but is also highly stain resistant so as we will find out later in our blog, it is easy to clean and maintain.

Design

A high-quality, well-designed porcelain tile will mimic other materials superbly well. With leading manufacturers pushing the boundaries of what is possible with design there are porcelain wood effect tiles like our Knot collection that house 30-40 different patterns. Not only are these tiles designed to echo wood by mimicking all the knots and gnarls of the real thing, because there are so many patterns, repeat isn’t such a concern even over larger areas. This makes for ultra-realistic porcelain tiles and the same can be said of marble or metallics, concrete or cement effect tiles.

Finish

A great advantage of porcelain is the fact there are so many different finishes. This makes porcelain tiles highly flexible and means that in natural or soft finishes they can be used across the home and in more textured surfaces used outside too. Wetrooms also require a higher slip rated tile and there are surface textures that can work for these spaces too. The finish or texture of a tile can really impact the overall design of a space with so as well as being functional and necessary for areas where water is present, finish can also be aesthetic.

Low Maintenance

Porcelain tiles are about as low maintenance as you can get. Unlike natural stone which requires regular sealing and upkeep porcelain is pretty easy. Straight after installation tiles do need a thorough clean down to ensure all the excess grout and building dirt that has accumulated on the tile surface during fitting is removed. Once this easy process has been carried out you will find your porcelain tiles easy to maintain. A sweep followed by a mop and warm water are usually enough and a buff with a dry cloth if you wish, then occasionally you may want to use a cleaner specially formulated for porcelain tiles to give them a good clean.

The fact that porcelain tiles are easy to clean and scratch resistant makes them a great choice aswell for those with pets.

Indoor and outdoor use

Because porcelain tiles are moisture resistant and super durable they can be used inside and outside the home. They are able to withstand harsh weather conditions and this makes them an ideal pick for patios and outdoor spaces. Unlike natural stone which can stain, porcelain is, as we have discovered already highly scratch and stain resistant. In addition, porcelain tiles are designed to create a flush, architectural feel to spaces – rectified edges create clean lines and this allows you to create an inside room, outside. This opens up a world of opportunity and allows for the creation of outdoor kitchens, dining areas or a place to relax. Correct installation of your porcelain tiles is key but get this right and you will have a beautifully contemporary space.

Fade Resistant

A great benefit of porcelain is that it is fade resistant so keeps its colour and tone.

Size of tiles

Porcelain tiles also come in a wealth of different sizes with some collections housing 3 or 4 different tile sizes. With smaller tiles generally more cost effective you really can find something to suit your budget. Larger format tiles are fast becoming the go-to for homes, particularly for open plan living areas. With rectified ie straight edges, these larger formats are perfect for those seeking a more tile, less grout look.

Porcelain and underfloor heating

Porcelain tiles work brilliantly with underfloor heating too. This gives you the best of both worlds with a cool feel in the summer and warm feel in the winter.