Q:  What is Porcelain Tile?
A:  Porcelain tile is a reliable option for refined beauty in flooring, as well as being durable to high foot traffic and highly resistant to moisture. Used as an alternative to stone tile, porcelain tile remains in a class by itself; an ornate addition to kitchens and bathrooms in particular.  Baked at higher temperatures in the kiln than most ceramics, resultant porcelain tile is a harder material, making it a great choice in areas of foot high-traffic. Porcelain tile also remains to be a versatile tile flooring option, offering the consumer a range of finishes and colors which can complement or redefine any interior to great effect.  Both glazed and unglazed porcelain tile have gained a level of popularity in residential and commercial applications, adding to an air of subtle sophistication and level of practicality that is unique to porcelain tile. These elegant tiles are easily maintained, and offer high performance in many different locations.

Things To Consider Before You Buy
Sourced from all over the world, porcelain tile has come to be recognized as a decorative, reliable and versatile option for a variety of household and commercial applications. This hardy tile offers unique practical benefits as well as a classy and refined look. Take a look here at why you should consider porcelain tile. Porcelain tile is a subset of ceramic tile, which is becoming better and better known. It shares the elegant nature of china earthenware with ceramic’s noted durability and hardness.  Characterized by its dense body which renders it very moisture resistant, porcelain tile is often used in bathrooms where high moisture levels are a matter of fact.In addition to its attractive look and durability, porcelain tile can be used as either flooring tile or wall tile. There are also many glazes and colors that can be added according to your design requirements. Varieties of porcelain tile are available in glazed and non-glazed styles much like other types of ceramic tile, the glazed tile being a little bit easier to keep clean, and unglazed tiles offering a slip resistant quality that may make them more suitable in for use in certain areas.

Low Water Absorption Rate of Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is made from a specific type of clay which has a lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than many varieties of ceramic tile. This allows the porcelain tile to be used in places where it is important that the tile not be affected by overt wetness. Porcelain tile is tough, often resistant to frost as well, although some types of porcelain tile are more adept at this than others. It’s always a good idea to read manufacturer’s instructions to make sure that the type of porcelain tile you get is suitable for varying outdoor climate factors. Porcelain tile is baked at higher temperatures in the kiln, more so than many types of ceramic tile; the higher the temperature, the harder the tile. A good idea with regard to foot traffic issues is to double check the hardness rating (PEI rating) that measures types of ceramic tile, to make sure that your porcelain tile is suitable for the amount of foot traffic you are expecting.

Classy and Tough
Porcelain tile is a very refined and moisture resistant type of ceramic tile that has attributes which make it both a practical and decorative choice. With porcelain tile, you are gaining the benefit of a classy, refined look for your interior, particularly in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. Porcelain tile offers a significant level of practicality; the benefits of durability, hardness, and moisture resistance are its most obvious traits. Porcelain is also a hypoallergenic choice for flooring, being a dense surface upon which antigens, and particles which cause allergy symptoms to become inflamed, are less able to reside than they would in carpeting. Equally, porcelain tile has a smooth, attractive surface, lending any interior an air of simple beauty and refinement that remains unique. It is little wonder that porcelain tile has been the tile of choice in many areas, given these advantages.