Ceramic vs Porcelain: What Contractors Must Know
By Frederick M. Hueston
Even though most of us spend our days restoring stone, it’s not uncommon to get called out to work on ceramic or porcelain tile floors. Sometimes it’s a cleaning job, sometimes it’s a repair, and other times we’re asked to polish or restore them. Knowing the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile can save you from a headache and help you set the right expectations for your clients.
Understanding the Difference
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are both made from clay and fired in a kiln, but the similarities stop there.
- Ceramic Tile – Usually made from a less dense clay and fired at a lower temperature. It’s often coated with a glaze that gives it color and protects the surface. The body of the tile is usually softer, which means it’s easier to cut and drill. You’ll often see ceramic tile used on walls, residential floors with light traffic, and decorative areas.
- Porcelain Tile – Made from a finer clay, pressed under higher pressure, and fired at higher temperatures. This makes it denser, less porous, and much harder. Porcelain is often “through-body,” meaning the color goes all the way through, so chips are less visible. It’s commonly used in high-traffic areas, commercial spaces, and even outdoors because it can handle more abuse.
If you’ve ever tried drilling a hole in porcelain tile, you know it feels like trying to drill through steel compared to ceramic.
Restoration and Maintenance
From a restoration standpoint, both materials have different personalities:
- Cleaning – Glazed ceramic tile is pretty forgiving since the glaze forms a protective layer. Most soils stay on the surface. Porcelain, being denser, doesn’t absorb much either, but unglazed or textured porcelain can trap dirt in the tiny pores and textured surfaces. This can make it look dirty even when it’s technically clean. You may need an alkaline cleaner and a brush or even a scrub machine to get into those crevices.
- Sealing – Glazed ceramic tile usually does not need sealing, but the grout joints definitely do. Porcelain tile doesn’t technically need sealing either, but some through-body and unglazed porcelains benefit from a penetrating sealer to prevent staining in the micro-pores. Always test first.
- Repairs – Chips in ceramic tile can be tricky because the glaze is just on the surface. If you repair it with an epoxy or filler, you’ll have to carefully color-match the glaze to hide it. Porcelain chips can sometimes be less obvious since the color runs through the tile, but when a repair is needed, it’s just as challenging to get an invisible fix because of the dense, hard surface.
- Polishing – True polishing of glazed ceramic tile isn’t really possible because you’d just grind off the glaze. Porcelain tile, especially polished porcelain, can sometimes be re-polished if it’s scratched, but it’s not easy. You’ll need the right diamond pads designed specifically for porcelain.
What This Means for Stone Restoration Contractors
Working on ceramic and porcelain tile can be a nice add-on service, but you have to be clear with your clients about what can and can’t be done.
- Don’t promise to “restore” a ceramic tile’s shine if the glaze is worn off. You can clean and seal, but replacing the tile is the only real fix.
- Be ready to use more aggressive cleaning methods on textured porcelain, including hot water extraction or even a pressure washer in extreme cases.
- Always carry the right diamond abrasives if you plan on touching porcelain tile. Ordinary marble or granite pads won’t cut it.
Final Takeaway
As stone restoration contractors, we shouldn’t ignore ceramic and porcelain tile. Clients trust us to handle their hard surface problems, and knowing the differences between these two tile types helps you give the right advice and deliver better results. Think of it as adding another tool to your toolbox.
