Are porcelain tiles porous?

In a nutshell, no they are not porous. In fact because the water absorption rate of a porcelain tile is less than 0.5% they are virtually impervious to moisture. This makes them brilliantly versatile and an ideal material for use across the home.

Because of their low porosity, porcelain tiles have a number of advantages over other materials:

1. High water resistance. Because they absorb minimal moisture, porcelain tiles are perfect for areas where water or moisture is usually present, for example bathrooms, wetrooms and kitchens. It also means porcelain can be used outside on patios or outdoor feature walls.
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3. Stain resistance: Their low porosity means porcelain tiles are highly stain resistant. Spillages are prevented from penetrating the tile surface and this also means they are very easy to clean. There is no scrubbing to remove stains and unlike natural timber, you don’t need to worry about sloshing water around with a mop when cleaning them. The only area where it is wise to invest in a sealant is for tile grout. This is easily carried out and will help protect your grout against stains.
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5. Durability: porcelain tiles are very hardwearing so ideal for busy areas of the home. They won’t show signs of wear in well-trodden areas either.
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7. Easy to maintain: all this makes porcelain tiles very easy to look after. Unlike natural stone, they don’t require any sealing or ongoing maintenance.
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The real beauty of porcelain is the combination of amazing design and brilliant performance. Porcelain tiles are specifically designed to resemble other materials and it is a long list with everything from micro cement, metallics, woods, marbles, slates, concretes and more.

Unlike marble and wood which tend to be soft materials, porcelain is very hardwearing so won’t mark, stain or show signs of wear as easily and is super easy to clean. All this makes porcelain tiles the go-to for interiors and with tile technology creating tiles that are more and more faithful in their interpretation of these materials it’s no wonder porcelain tiles are so widely used.