With a wealth of floor options to choose from, why opt for porcelain? Are porcelain floor tiles durable and if so, what makes them so durable? With a choice of carpet, LVT, laminate, wood, natural stone and more, it can be tricky to know which to opt for. Ultimately you want a flooring that will last, looks beautiful and adds value to your home. In this blog we explore just how durable porcelain tiles really are and the make-up of this go-to material.
Porcelain is an incredibly durable material and this is due to it’s make up. Made from a mix of clays and minerals and fired at high temperatures, porcelain is an incredibly dense material that can easily deal with the wear and tear of every day. The clays used in porcelain are finer and denser than those used in ceramic tiles and this is what gives porcelain superior performance. In fact, porcelain is not just used in homes, with many of our tiles they are also used in commercial environments like restaurants and airports confirming just how durable this material really is. If porcelain can cope with these intense environments, it can cope with every day home life.
Unlike natural stone which wears over time and needs regular sealing, porcelain is unalterable as a material and is very stable. It also doesn’t need any ongoing maintenance. Unlike wood which is soft and can easily mark, porcelain is highly scratch resistant. Unlike carpet which can harbour dust and can stain easily, porcelain is highly stain resistant.
As with any flooring material, professional installation is key, tiles that are installed correctly will stand the test of time much better than those that have not been well installed.
This is a material that is about as durable as you can get and chosen well can add value to your home. It’s also a material that can be used across the home from lounge to kitchen, dining area to bathroom, bootroom to office. Let’s take a look at each of the benefits of porcelain in turn.
Whilst mopping up spillages quickly is always wise, because porcelain has a porosity level of less than 0.5% it has minimal liquid absorption and that makes it highly unlikely to stain. It also makes porcelain perfect for busy kitchens where water may be present, or laundry rooms and more. In fact, porcelain is so durable and stain resistant it can also be used outside.
Porcelain is highly scratch resistant – especially matt and natural finishes. This is a material that copes well with everyday life including pets (think dog bowls being pulled across the surface, pet’s claws and more).
Porcelain tiles will stand the test of time without showing any significant signs of wear – as long as they have been installed correctly. This is a material that is unalterable and very stable. Picking the right porcelain tiles for your home can add value.
Porcelain is about as easy as it gets when it comes to cleaning. A brush or sweep to remove any loose debris followed by a mop and warm water usually does the trick and because porcelain has such low water porosity, you can mop with water without any huge concern of affecting the tiles – unlike natural timber for example.
In the summer when you want a cooler climate, porcelain flooring is lovely and cool to the touch. In the winter when you want to warm up spaces, porcelain flooring works brilliantly with underfloor heating. So you have the best of both worlds.
Porcelain is so durable it can even be used outside. That’s because of the low levels of porosity. Outside tiles generally have a higher slip rating than inside tiles as a layer of frit is added to the tile surface to create a rougher texture for added grip. All our 2cm porcelain pavers have a co-ordinating inside tile so it is easy to run the same porcelain flooring inside and out.
As well as being highly durable, porcelain tiles are also beautiful. Porcelain as a material is designed to echo other materials think limestone, metals, woods, stones, marbles, slates and more. Leading manufacturers are developing tiles that are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with design with the latest innovations aligning texture and pattern to deliver tiles that not only look like wood or marble, but feel like wood or marble mimicking the knots and gnarls of wood or the veins for the real materials.
This exceptional design, coupled with porcelains incredible hardwearing properties make this a material that is highly versatile and in answer to our question, are porcelain floor tiles hard wearing it is definitely a yes.
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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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