Top 5 advantages of porcelain stoneware

Porcelain tiles offer unlimited possibilities for creating original designs in all sizes, styles and colors - you will find designs that resemble various natural materials such as wood, marble, stone or even cement. Porcelain tiles are suitable and preferred for both floors and wall coverings, both indoors and outdoors. The most preferred flooring material for many households is porcelain tiles. In recent years, the invention and development of many new technologies and methods have been observed, thanks to which more and more models, textures and innovative additional elements and types of new generation porcelain tiles are being created, which are characterized by significantly higher functional and technical characteristics.

Although recently on the market, porcelain tiles are becoming an increasingly preferred flooring material for many households. In recent years, many new technologies and methods have been invented and developed, thanks to which more and more models, textures and innovative additional elements and types of new generation porcelain tiles are being created, which are characterized by significantly higher functional and technical characteristics.

Porcelain stoneware, in simple terms, is an artificial stone.

The differences between porcelain tiles and ceramic bathroom tiles are in the composition of the materials they are made of. The difference is visible when cut – porcelain tiles are the same color on top, bottom, and inside, unlike ceramic tiles.

These tiles are usually made using a method of grinding porcelain clay into powder. This creates a very fine texture, smooth surface and dense mass . They have an absorption rate of 0.5% or even less. This makes them resistant to frost, moisture, water, sudden changes in temperature, etc.

In fact, porcelain tiles offer unlimited possibilities for creating original designs in all sizes, styles and colors - you will find designs that resemble various natural materials such as wood, marble, stone or even cement . Porcelain tiles are suitable and preferred for both floors and wall coverings, both indoors and outdoors.

The main ingredients for creating this super strong porcelain tile are clay, resin and sand. The finished mixture is fired at a temperature of over 1200 degrees, which makes the porcelain tiles waterproof and moisture-resistant.

There are 3 main types of granite tiles: matte, polished and glossy.

Frosted porcelain stoneware has many advantages

It can have a relief surface that is non-slip and very resistant to heavy loads . This type of granite is difficult to wear out.

The matte granite tiles are extremely durable and will retain their appearance for many years. They are suitable for installation in wet areas such as the bathroom or in the yard , because they are not slippery and this will save you problems.

Frosted granite tiles are among the most preferred , not only because they are safe, but also because they offer a great opportunity to imitate various natural materials . Some people believe that frosted tiles are more difficult to clean, but this depends on the type of mat, the method of operation, cleaning, etc.

Polished and glossy granite tiles are distinguished by a smooth, almost mirror-like surface.

They have a particularly luxurious appearance and give the room style and class. The surface of the glossy porcelain tiles is not actually a glaze . It actually contains natural porcelain, which has a smooth surface.

However, its surface is smooth, which prevents stains and dirt from absorbing into it, making it easy to maintain and wear-resistant. Tiles made of the so-called " glazed porcelain stoneware " can be partially glazed or fully glazed.

Most of the granite tiles have an absorption rate of around 0.5% . However, the absorption can be even below 0.1% if a clay body is used on the face of the tile . Polished granite tiles come close in their final appearance to granite.

It is worth mentioning that glazed tiles are preferred for rooms at home that are not so busy, for the reason that after a long time of use, they can lose some of their shine . They are suitable for rooms such as the bedroom and the living room, because there, in addition to the lower traffic, the likelihood of moisture and water is minimal .

Completely smooth tiles can be dangerous when wet because they become very slippery. This is why they are not recommended for installation outdoors or in the bathroom.

What are the advantages of granite tiles?

Durability and durability

The production of granite tiles itself is a very high-tech process, in which various natural and artificial materials are mixed, which leads to the production of an extremely strong final material . After the tiles are obtained, they are pressed under great pressure and then fired at high temperatures. This results in very strong tiles that are able to withstand any gust of weather and environment.

The color of a given granite tile is achieved during its production. The desired pigments are added, which are mixed and distributed during the processing process, just like in natural stones.

Because of this method of obtaining the color , it is not affected by sunlight, moisture or other factors that usually change the color of the tile. This guarantees the preservation of the aesthetic appearance of the granite tiles for many years.

The enormous hardness that is characteristic of porcelain stoneware is due to its low porosity. It is distinguished by its great mechanical resistance compared not only to ceramic tiles, but even to that of natural stone .

The material is highly wear-resistant, it belongs to the PEI V group, which means that it can be used in any place ( indoors and outdoors ). Of course, care must be taken during transportation and installation , because no matter how resistant it is, granite tiles can still break. Once installed correctly, there would be nothing that could damage it.

Very easy maintenance

Whatever we say, this is also one of the leading advantages of porcelain stoneware . In this hectic everyday life, every housewife would prefer the floor to be cleaned easily and quickly, without being pretentious about detergents. Porcelain stoneware is exactly that, especially glossy and polished porcelain stoneware.

Of course, maintenance begins with the installation of the tile itself. This includes the complete removal of adhesive residue and dirt from construction waste immediately after the installation of the tile itself. In most cases, after grouting , the tiles can be successfully cleaned using only a soft cloth , followed by rinsing and drying. If there is adhesive residue, this process can be repeated several times.

When grouting granite tiles , you can also use cleaning agents to make it easier to remove the grout from the surface of the tile. It is very important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for using these products.

Once the installed granite tiles can be subjected to normal operation, cleaning them becomes even easier. The high density and low water absorption of this material make it extremely resistant to cleaning agents. These tiles do not require the use of sealing materials or pastes .

There are many universal detergents on the market at affordable prices, with which we can easily and quickly clean our floors. As you can guess, the most important thing is that heavy dirt that gets on the tiles should be removed immediately, so as not to cause any discoloration or darkening of the area, and after you have finished cleaning with detergent and rinsed with water, do not forget to wait for it to dry, for greater safety.

Great variety

There is hardly a taste that cannot be satisfied with the look of granite tiles . In addition to all its qualities, granite tiles are available in a wide variety of types, colors and textures .

It can be glazed, polished, matted and even embossed . It is a good substitute for natural flooring and cladding , imitating them very well in interior or exterior design, so even lovers of natural materials can save themselves a lot of headaches and money by choosing granite tiles.

And here, of course, you need to take into account the interior of the room or place where you plan to install granite tiles. Pay attention not only to the colors and the effect they give, but also to the size of the tile. For example, it is not appropriate to install large tiles in a small room.

Different lines and styles of granite tiles are imposed, all of which are suitable for every type of wall and floor application. Decorations and special features enhance the possibilities for expression of a huge range of colors and sizes .

High wear resistance

It can be said that when installed and maintained properly , porcelain stoneware is practically eternal. Porcelain stoneware can be used for both floor and wall coverings and is the ideal solution for rooms with high traffic and increased influence of physical and chemical stress .

Due to its high density and production method, granite tiles are very resistant to wear and tear, which is why they are the preferred flooring material in most public buildings, such as train stations, hotels, commercial buildings, etc. In addition, they are almost impossible to break, of course, if installed correctly and with quality.

In fact, the high wear resistance is primarily due to the fact that the entire material from which the tile is made is uniform in structure and color, unlike with ordinary floor ceramics , where once the glaze peels off, another material becomes visible underneath.

Even if it gets scratched, although this is very difficult with granite tiles, the scratch itself will not be noticeable precisely because the structure and color are the same everywhere . In addition, the price of granite tiles is very close to other types of tiles, which makes it even more preferable.

The dense structure of the material and the almost complete absence of pores in it make the surface of the tiles highly resistant to stain formation , and dust and dirt on such a floor can be cleaned very easily with ordinary detergents , even if you have chosen matte granite tiles.

It is precisely because of these qualities and properties that granite tiles are increasingly used for exterior cladding of buildings and/or premises . In addition to giving an incredible look, they are suitable for this purpose precisely because they are very difficult to get dirty and very easy to clean.

Affordable price

Listing all the advantages of granite tiles and comparing it to "eternal flooring", the price factor should not be of much importance. Of course, it is not possible to give an exact price for granite tiles . It all depends on the manufacturer, thickness, type, etc.

And yet, where do porcelain tiles stand in terms of price compared to regular floor ceramics? Porcelain tiles can cost you as much as regular ceramic tiles . However, if you want “extras”, such as polished porcelain tiles, for example, you will have to spend a larger amount of money to purchase them .