Tiles are one of the most crucial components of your indoor and outdoor decor. You must be very careful when choosing tiles for your home because they are unique to any room. When talking about selecting the best tiles, people often get confused and cannot spot the difference between ceramic and vitrified tiles.
So, if you are also one of those and looking to get things clear regarding these two tiles, you should consider reading this article. We’ve discussed the main differences between vitrified and ceramic tiles that will help you choose the best for your home.
Ceramic vs Vitrified Tiles - Differences Between the Two
Vitrified and ceramic tiles are the most popular types used indoors and outdoors. These tiles add style and value to your home as they come in a variety of colours, textures, and patterns. However, one must not get confused as there is a difference between ceramic and vitrified tiles. The main differences between these two tiles are:
- Composition
- Texture
- Cost
- Installation
- Stain Resistance
- Replacement and Repair
So, we’ll discuss these main differences between the two tiles in detail below.
Moreover, you might even get confused between ceramic, vitrified, and porcelain tiles. So, it’s better to read about porcelain tiles to avoid confusion.
1. Difference in Composition
There is a slight difference between ceramic and vitrified tiles when talking about composition. Ceramic tiles are made using a mixture of water & earthen clay and are heated to high temperatures in a kiln. On the other hand, vitrified tiles are a mixture of silica, clay, feldspar, and quartz, which are converted into smooth and glass-like surfaces. The process involved here is vitrification.
2. Difference in Texture
For those who love rough surfaces, ceramic tiles are for them. Ceramic tiles have a rough texture and surface, giving your area a classy look. You can use ceramic tiles for walls, flooring, and countertops. But when we talk about vitrified tiles, they have a glossy & smooth surface and are ideal for floors. This is the key difference between ceramic and vitrified tiles that will help you choose the one based on the texture.
3. Difference in Cost
When talking about the cost, these two tiles offer cost-effective and cheap solutions for your home compared to limestone internal flooring or any other flooring. However, when compared with each other, ceramic tiles are more affordable than vitrified tiles. This is because vitrified tiles need stronger adhesive than ceramic tiles, which will cost you more while installing. On the other hand, ceramic tiles are cheaper and offer a greater solution for flooring, walling, and countertops than vitrified tiles.
4. Difference in Installation
This is, again, the major difference between ceramic and vitrified tiles. Compared to vitrified tiles, installing ceramic tiles is simpler. This is why many homeowners choose ceramic tiles for their flooring instead of vitrified tiles. You need a stronger or additional adhesive to install vitrified tiles on your floor. With ceramic tiles, however, this is not the case.
5. Difference in Slip Resistance
Vitrified tiles are slippery because of their smooth and glossy surface. These types of tiles become even more slippery when wet. When talking about ceramic tiles, they are not slippery because of their rough texture. They are slip resistant and are an ideal choice for flooring.
6. Difference in Replacement and Repair
Due to the existence of grout lines, ceramic tiles are much easier to restore and repair than vitrified tiles. Ceramic tiles can be easily replaced, even one at a time. To repair vitrified tiles, specialised equipment and trained labour are required. Tile removal and reinstallation are very challenging tasks.
Conclusion
We’ve covered the major difference between ceramic and vitrified tiles. But if you have to choose one of these tiles, it would be ceramic. This type of tile offers more benefits than vitrified ones and is ideal for flooring, walling, and countertops. However, it’s up to your need, style, and budget to choose the best type of tile for your space.
You can also consider other kinds of materials, including Kota stone flooring, marble flooring, and granite flooring, that greatly benefit your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions, along with their answers, will help you know these tiles in a better way.
Q1. Which tile is better, ceramic or vitrified?
Ceramic tiles are unbeatable if you talk about installation, cost, replacement, and slip resistance properties. Ceramic tiles are cheaper and easy to install than vitrified tiles. They are far better than vitrified tiles.
Q2. Do vitrified tiles break easily?
Vitrified tiles should be handled properly. Otherwise, it might break. These tiles need a flat surface to lay them on and avoid any breakage.
Q3. Are vitrified tiles slippery?
Vitrified tiles are very slippery due to their smooth and glossy surface. When they are wet, the surface becomes even more slippery.
