What are the differences between porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles?
Porcelain tiles are typically made with “porcelain” clays that have specific properties. Typically, these tiles are dense and by definition, they have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Non-porcelain tiles have water absorption greater than 0.5%. Because porcelain tiles have a low water absorption, they are usually frost resistant – although, not always. To know if a tile is frost resistant, you should check the manufacturer’s literature. There are also many non-porcelain tiles that can be used in freeze thaw environments and that are manufactured with properties similar to porcelain tiles. There are both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles – it is important to know the difference, as the glazed variety is usually a little easier to clean. Typically, glazed porcelain tiles have filled in microscopic holes that could be present in the unglazed tile. On the other hand, unglazed porcelains may have better slip resistance. Non-porcelain tiles cover a wide range of properties – typically the
