Your new floor’s aesthetic appeal is important, but you should also consider its longevity, practicality, and safety. When it comes to longevity and low upkeep, ceramics and natural stone tiles are unrivalled. You would not be alone in your confusion if you were to try to explain the distinctions between natural stone and ceramic porcelain tile. They share several characteristics, making it difficult to tell them apart visually.

Are you ready to find out more about the characteristics that set each variety apart? Keep reading!

Natural Stone

Natural stone tiles precisely what they would be based on their description. It is entirely unmanufactured and retains its natural state throughout the process. There are many kinds of natural stones, but some more common ones include slate, marble, travertine, limestone, and granite.

Ceramic Porcelain

Fired in a kiln, white or red clay is commonly used to create ceramic porcelain tile. Although less frequent than glazed ceramic tiles, unglazed ceramic tiles are still made. Thanks to the glaze, the tile is strengthened, waterproof, and stain-resistant.

A ceramic tile that has not been coated with a glaze is its purest form. Given how porous the tile is, spills and stains will be quickly absorbed. The correct sealer, which adds a protective coating to the tile, should be utilised whenever an unglazed ceramic porcelain tile is used.

Natural Stone Tiles vs. Ceramic Porcelain

Both choices have advantages and disadvantages, and the two are quite comparable. Let’s have a look at them.

Durability

Natural stone tiles are considered to have a longer lifespan than ceramic porcelain tiles, which is a commonly held belief. The natural stone’s ability to gracefully weather the passage of time adds to the allure of the material.

The fact that ceramic tiles may be found in a range of hardnesses is one of the material’s many advantages. If the rating is high, it indicates an extremely lengthy lifetime for the product. Tiles of a lesser quality may have a beautiful appearance when used as a backsplash on walls, but they will not stand up well to foot traffic when used on floors.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Natural stone and ceramic porcelain tile have different cleaning and maintenance needs, but they both need to be cleaned and maintained regularly to retain their fresh appearance. In order to prevent water damage and stains, natural stone must be sealed or glazed since it is more porous than ceramic tile. The time between sealant applications may be necessary if the stone is porous. Take care not to often use acidic cleaners since they might erode the stone over time.

Unglazed ceramic tile, like real stone, needs a sealer or glaze to prevent damage from moisture and stains. However, this coating holds up well against many common household cleaners. Although glazed ceramic tile may be used without a sealer, one is typically advised to provide further protection against stains.

Choices of Color and Their Variations

Stone is available in a large number of naturally occurring varieties, everything from warm brown tones and rich beige marble to pristine white marble. The fact that ceramic tile is manufactured means that it may come in a wider variety of colours and patterns than other types of tile.

Because of advances in technology, ceramic tiles may now be produced to seem like a variety of other materials, such as real stone, wood planks, and many others. Undoubtedly, you will be able to choose a ceramic tile that satisfies both your preferences and requirements in terms of interior.

Cost

Natural stone is one of the alternatives for tiling that comes with the highest price tag, but the luxurious appearance that it provides is well worth the investment. The complete reverse of this is the case with ceramic, which is among the most reasonably priced materials for tiling that are accessible. Having said that, the cost will vary according to the design, grading of the material’s hardness, and finish (glazed or unglazed), among other factors.

The Bottom Line

In the same way that the bulk of the jobs involved in home remodelling may be done in a variety of different ways, the installation of the tile floor you have in mind can also be done in a variety of different ways. It is challenging to determine which material is preferable since both natural stone tiles and ceramic porcelain offer a number of desirable qualities. Any tile may seem quite gorgeous in the right setting, but, in the end, you should select the tile you like the most.

Conclusion

It’s exciting to make significant improvements to your home’s appearance, but the sheer number of options may be daunting. In concerns of flooring, the options seem endless. Not only is it not something you can swap out, but there are also numerous more considerations. If you want something long-lasting, choose natural stone tiles. Nevertheless, the choice of tiles for your flooring ultimately depends on your preferences.