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Are porcelain tiles porous?

Image shows Knot porcelain wooden effect tiles in taupe to floor of lounge with easy chair
Knot porcelain tiles - taupe

Are porcelain tiles porous?

It’s one of the most frequently asked questions about porcelain tiles: are porcelain tiles porous? We take a deep dive into this incredibly versatile material to reveal everything you need to know about porcelain tiles for your home in our blog.

Porosity in tiles

What do we mean by porosity? The porosity of a tile determines the water absorption of the tile itself. The higher the water absorption, the more likely a material is to stain and the tricker therefore it can be to clean. Porosity is also a key factor in areas where water is more likely to be present so in bathrooms and kitchens for example. It also determines frost resistance, so will be a deciding factor in whether a tile can be used outside.

 

Porous materials such as natural stones can absorb moisture and this makes them more likely to stain as well as encourage mould growth. In contrast, porcelain tiles are made from refined clays that are fired at high temperatures and this makes them very dense and virtually non-porous. To be called porcelain, a tile has to have less than 0.5% porosity.

BEIGE-TILES-ABODE-SAND. Image shows beige tiles in bathroom
Abode porcelain tiles - Sand

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.

Porcelain tiles and slip ratings

One of the brilliant things about porcelain tiles is that they come in a range of finishes including everything from natural, matt, soft, antislip, polished, glossy and more. This means you can select a tile with a finish that works for your area. This is especially so for outside spaces where an antislip tile with a minimum rating of R11 A+B+C tile is the most suitable. Wetrooms also demand tiles with a higher rating. There are some very clever surface finishes that offer higher ratings and textured surfaces combined with ease of cleaning – check out our antislip soft tile finishes in our Docklands collection for example.

To conclude

So are porcelain tiles porous? In summary, no they are not and makes them a superb option for the home. They are low-maintenance, water resistant and very hardwearing. The fact they have such low porosity means they are perfect for bathrooms, kitchens and even outside areas where water and moisture may be present. This is a material that is very stable – your porcelain tiles are also fade resistant so perfect for areas with lots of light and sun filtering through. This is an all rounder of a material!

Porcelain tile gallery

Want to know more?

Click the images with a description underneath to head straight to these tiles on our website.

 

Working on a project? We’d love to help! Get in touch and let us start searching for beautiful tiles with you!

Get In Touch

If you would like to know more, please get in touch...

The TilePortfolio specialise in Italian and Spanish Porcelain and Ceramic tiles, in particular large format Porcelains and Porcelain tiles for inside and outside. Our carefully curated, stunning tile portfolios are beautifully presented online and supported by our fuss-free ‘go-the-extra-tile’ service. In addition, you can view our entire tile collection at our Northamptonshire Showroom.  Visit our website for unmissable interiors inspiration. The TilePortfolio team are always available to chat, we’d be delighted to help with your project so please do get in touch. 

 

Please note: We strongly recommend using a professional tiler for your project. Installation requirements may vary depending on the tiles you choose, the fixing products used and the specific conditions. Always check with your tiler regards the suitability of the tiles. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.

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Want to keep up to speed with the latest tile trends, new products, fabulous offers and inspiration from The TilePortfolio?

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