Porcelain vs. Marble
Choosing
cost-effective porcelain slab or tile for your GTA home can be a challenging
but rewarding experience. Natural stone slabs and tiles such as marble are
popular choices, sometimes leaving porcelain overlooked. Marble is a porous
stone that requires resealing once a year, whereas porcelain is
more durable and less porous. Marble requires a lot of special care, whereas
porcelain can be easily cleaned without much stress. This is why marble is
better for indoors and porcelain is often used outdoors. However, porcelain
works great inside the house as well, depending on the tile’s thickness and
finish. Aesthetically, marble comes in shades of cream and grey with veining
and patterns that differ piece to piece. Porcelain naturally comes in uniform
shades of off-white and terracotta, but modern technology has allowed for a
plethora of bold colours, shapes and textures. Both marble and porcelain are
beautiful, but both have different benefits and purposes.
How It's Made
Porcelain,
also known as "china" or "fine china", due its Eastern
origins, is actually a vitrified ceramic made out of refined clay. It is made with an industrial mixture
of clay, specifically kaolin,
and heated in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 and
1,400°C . This process gives the porcelain its strength and sturdiness.
Porcelain that has a more translucent look comes from the inclusion of mullite and glass to the clay composition. The
name porcelain has Latin roots, originating from the word
"porcellana" which actually means shell or crustacean because the
materials have similar aesthetics.
The Benefits of Cost-Effective Porcelain
Beyond
just looks, porcelain is popular for its lower price-point; at around $4 - $10
per square foot, the tile is very affordable. Marble, on the other, had costs
anywhere from $40 - $150 per square foot. One of the key features that porcelain is so
loved for, beyond the price, is that the tiles are less absorbent, often
thicker and extremely durable, which is why it's often the tile of choice for
exterior flooring. When installing the tiles outdoors, one should take extra
consideration when choosing the thickness, as thinner tiles are prone to
chipping over time or during the installation. This is why it is important to
get the tiles installed with an experienced installer.
Take It Easy
Since porcelain slabs and tiles are so tough, they are easier to care for than marble. They
are less porous and able to ward of frost, rain and other weather conditions
better than other tiles. When sealed with a special glaze, the tiles are
tougher and more stain-resistant than most types of ceramics. Porcelain can be
easily cleaned with most cleaning agents, as opposed to marbles or other
natural stone tiles that need gentle cleaning solutions and constant dusting.
Just Finishing Up!
Even though Porcelain is so strong and
practically non-porous, one may want to add a "finish" to the tile.
When left unglazed, the tile can be honed or polished. Certain polishes can
lend the tile a high-gloss finish, which adds translucency to the porcelain. Honed
tiles are not as shiny as polished tiles but smudge less and have more
friction, which makes it a better option for flooring. Glazed tiles are popular
since glazes can be coloured and/or give the porcelain a matte, gloss or
textured finish. Just make
sure you get materials from an experienced supplier who will help you choose
the perfect cost-effective porcelain slab for your perfect GTA home.