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                        Ceramic & Porcelain Tile           

 

 

 

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Why Choose Tile?

Tile works from contemporary to classic.

With so many colors, patterns and sizes to choose from, there are countless ways to make use of tile in your home. A long-time favorite in bathrooms, tile is just as suitable in kitchens for its ability to resist spills. And you can lend other living spaces throughout your home a touch of style, ranging from contemporary to traditional.

 

Something Old But Very New

Tile has been around for centuries, and with today's technology manufacturers have created new design and application possibilities that were not available a decade ago.

If you have never lived with tile before or if it has been a long time since you have done so, you will be amazed at the wide selection of colors, sizes, shapes and new textures that are now available.

When it comes to flooring, nothing gives you more options and opportunities to express your unique vision than tile. Choose ceramic or porcelain, and arrange it in nearly endless patterns.

 

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Ceramic Tiles vs. Porcelain Tiles

 

Porcelain tile is a type of dense, durable ceramic tile that does not easily absorb water or other liquids. Both tiles are manufactured similarly using baked clays, so it is primarily the strength and density the tiles that separates the two. Ceramic tiles are generally more absorbent and delicate, so they work better in indoor places that are not likely to get damaged, such as kitchen backsplashes. Porcelain tiles are much less absorbent than ceramic tiles, and so they are suitable for outdoor use and high traffic areas. Porcelain tiles tend to be more expensive than ceramic tiles but are more useful in a wider variety of applications.

 
 

Comparison chart

 

 

Ceramic Tiles

Porcelain Tiles

Made of Red, brown or white porous clay. Less refined and purified. White clay. More refined and purified.
Pros Less expensive , easier to cut for DIY projects. Less absorbent, hence more stain-resistant.
Cons More susceptible to chipping and cracking in cold weather. More porous and less stain-resistant. Expensive, brittle, too hard to cut without the help of experts.
Uses Interior walls Floors and exterior walls.
Cost Cheaper More expensive
Color Baked onto the top only Runs through the whole tile
Used as exterior No Yes
Ease for DIYers Easier to cut May require an expert to cut
Maintenance Can be easily cleaned with a sponge. Can be easily cleaned with a mop or a sponge.

 

 

 

 

Clays Used in Ceramic vs Porcelain Tiles

Ceramic tiles are made with red, brown, or white clay, while porcelain tiles are almost exclusively made with refined and purified white clay. The clays used in porcelain tend to have fewer impurities than clays used in ceramic tiles and have more kaolin and feldspar. This ultimately results in a denser and more durable tile.

Appearance

Ceramic and porcelain tiles can be any color and even made to look like other materials, such as wood or natural stone. However, the design on a porcelain tile is more likely to withstand damage, as porcelain tile design goes throughout the entire tile. Designs on ceramic tiles are merely "printed" on top and then covered with a glass-based glaze. This means that a chip on a ceramic tile is much more noticeable than a chip on a porcelain tile.

 

Uses

Ceramic tiles are appropriate for areas that will not be subjected to heavy use or harsh conditions. Art mosaics, walls, kitchen backsplashes, and countertops that will only be lightly used or have glass overlays are all areas that can use ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles should almost always stay indoors, as typical weather conditions — hot, cold, or rain — can cause ceramic tiles to become weak and crack. Like granite, ceramic is porous, meaning ceramic tiles may absorb liquid spills that could cause staining.

Because porcelain tiles are much more durable and stain resistant, they can be used inside or outside for walls or countertops and even in high traffic areas as flooring. However, not all porcelain tiles are the same, meaning it is important to purchase the right kind of porcelain tiles. For example, only some porcelain tiles are manufactured for outdoor use.

While porcelain tiles have long been a more stain resistant alternative to porous surfaces, they are not as durable or as stain resistant as some modern surfaces, such as quartz and Corian. However, they are more affordable and can even be made to look like natural stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Durability

Porcelain tiles are much more durable than ceramic tiles. In particular, they are less likely to absorb water than ceramic tiles are. This makes porcelain tiles more immune to rain, ice, or liquids which might cause stains or other damage.

All ceramic tiles are subjected to a water absorption test during their manufacturing process. Baked tiles are weighed before they are placed in water for up to 24 hours and then are weighed again after they are removed from water. Those tiles which weigh less than 0.5% more after being submerged are considered dense enough to be classified as porcelain. Tiles that weigh 0.5% more or greater — i.e., those tiles that absorbed more water — are considered ceramic.

Installation

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles can be very delicate to handle during installation. Ceramic is not very thick, meaning it can be easy to cut in a DIY project, but may also easily (and noticeably) chip. Porcelain tile, meanwhile, is so hard that it may be brittle and prone to cracking when handled with unskilled hands. Once installed, both tiles should function relatively well if the right class of tile has been used in the right place. Installation of either tile, however, will almost certainly require a professional.

 

                           

   

Below you will find  just some of the brands Kenny's sells. Click in any of the logos below for more information a new page will open on their website.

   
   

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