What is porcelain tile and is it better than ceramic tile?
The short answer is not necessarily. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) actually do not recognize the term “porcelain” or “ceramic” when referring to tile and it’s durability. It is manufacturers that use these terms as a way to promote how durable a particular tile is. Tile is rated on it’s ability to withstand water penetration and it’s resistance to abrasion regardless of it’s composition. ANSI is the only organization that has created a ratings system to describe a tile’s durability. It is a follows: #1 – To be installed on walls only #2 – Light duty floor #3 – Residential Use Floor #4 – Light Duty Commercial Floor #5 – Heavy Duty Commercial Floor The bottom line is that tile does not need to be made out of porcelain to be good. The durability of the surface is what one really needs to be aware of. The Tile Council of North America’s definition of porcelain tile is: Porcelain tile is ceramic tile that has a water absorption of
