۷ DIFFERENT TYPES OF PORCELAIN TILES EXPLAINED!

Porcelain tiles have become one of the most popular flooring materials, with thousands of homeowners, builders, or constructors across the world choosing them for their residences, office, or outdoor space.

Different types of porcelain tile have specific characteristics, which make it essential to choose carefully. You may have read the article about everything you need to know about porcelain tiles or types of porcelain tiles. But you should learn the specific character and their uses.

CPG, a leading large-format porcelain tile exporter is here to help you answer your questions before you decide on the perfect flooring for your home!

Types Of Porcelain Tiles

Over the past century, porcelain tiles have made a strong presence in the tile industry – for their shiny and smooth texture, eye-catching design and patterns, as well as a stylish and elegant touch.There are many reasons to consider large format porcelain tile: durable, seamless community, more hygienic option, and sturdy.

All these come in a variety of designs, patterns and sizes, making it hard to decide which one to choose. Knowing the characteristics and uses of tile will help you select the right type of porcelain tile for your room.

01. Matt & Unglazed Porcelain Tiles
Featured Tile: Soft or satin finish – incredibly smooth and rustic matte finish. Statuario Venetian 1600*1600mm, 1600x 3200mm & 1200*1200mm.

Unglazed porcelain tiles have a matt finish with uniform colour throughout the entire. It is also referred to as through-body porcelain. If this tile chips, the colour underneath will be the same as the surface, but these tiles are strong and durable!

The tile fired in the kiln usually renders them without further processing or does not have a glazed coating, known as unglazed tiles. Unglazed porcelain tiles get colour from the minerals deposited in clay or from the natural pigment.

Characteristics:-

Matt porcelain tile does not reflect light and can have a smooth or textured surface. Thus, they create a softer, more contemporary look.

The natural unglazed porcelain tiles make them more slip-resistance than the polished or glazed tiles.

Unglazed tiles are thicker than glazed tiles.

Matt & unglazed porcelain tiles are more durable and studier enough to withstand high footfall.

These tiles have a rustic, natural and earthy appearance.

Matt porcelain tiles come in a wide range of texture surfaces to increase slip-resistance and are perfect for outdoor poolside, and commercial.

Where To Use:-

Unglazed & matt porcelain tiles can be used outdoors and indoors because they are all-rounder. They can also be used in various public and commercial places.

02. Full-Body Porcelain Tiles
Featured Tile: Stone series has a modern look and smooth structure-matt finish but has a high anti-skid feature that can be laid in exterior areas- outdoor swimming pool. Ardesia Grigio 1200*2400mm.

Full-body porcelain tiles are the types of tiles with colour uniformity throughout them. Such tiles have a single colour from the surface to the base. These tiles get colour by adding colour pigment to create patterns throughout the tile. Thus, they are known as full-body tiles.

The surface of colour and design is the same throughout the biscuit(body), meaning if the tile gets chipped or damaged, it can hardly be seen.

Characteristics:-

Full-body porcelain tile is denser and thicker than the usual tile.

These tiles are more durable and resistant to break.

These tiles have no effect of the sunlight. Thus, they are UV-resistant.

Full-body porcelain tile can withstand extensive wear and tear.

The robust strength, anti-skid, and scratch resistance feature provide extreme durability to the flooring.

Where To Use:-

Full-Body porcelain tiles can be used in malls, offices, gardens, parking areas, godowns, and residences. The amazing features and high aesthetic value of full-body tile make it ideal for commercial and residential traffic.

03. Glazed Porcelain Tiles
Featured Tile: Each surface has different requirements. Lustrous finish- glazed porcelain tile for a bright and shiny surface. Antique Grey 1200*2400mm & 1200*1200mm.

Glazed porcelain tiles are made up of clay materials that undergo vitrification to achieve a glossy finish. The vitrification process removes excess moisture from the tile body, making them highly water-resistant.

High gloss porcelain tile offers a premium and stylish look and a reflective surface that brightens the space. Glazed tiles make the room look bigger, and the lustrous finish adds elegance. These tiles have higher reflective properties than polished tiles.

Glazed porcelain tiles are available in a variety of designs, patterns, colours, and sizes. They can be installed on walls and floors and used as countertops without worrying about cracking or staining.

Characteristics:-

These tiles are dense, adding strength to the tile.

The low water absorption rate is less than 0.5%, the most remarkable properties of glazed porcelain tile.

Glazed porcelain tiles are highly durable and studier than ceramic tiles.

It is more stain and scratch-resistant thanks to the protection layer of glaze.

Glazed porcelain tile requires less maintenance.

These tiles provide more flexibility for new homes or renovations.

Glazing porcelain tile does not require further treatments or sealing once installed.

Where To Use:-

Considering the functionality and aesthetic appearance, glazed porcelain tile is widely applied for bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and exteriors.

04. Polished Porcelain Tiles
Featured Tile: The luxurious stone series- polished porcelain tile adds a touch of glory and richness. Calacutta Bianco Oro 1600*3200mm, 1600*1600mm, 1200*1200mm, & 1200*2400mm.

Polished porcelain tile indicates high gloss with a smooth finish. Tiles have repeatedly passed under a series of polishing wheels and repeated until a smooth, shiny surface is received.

Despite this, the process can cause the microscopic pores in the tiles and cause dust particles to retain them. If not sealed properly, they will look dirtier over a time period.

Polished porcelain tiles look incredibly wonderful and complement almost all kinds of themes and furniture. The only downside of these tiles is slippery when wet and not suitable for bathroom spaces. Polished porcelain tile is less glossy and slippery than glazed porcelain tile.

Characteristics:-

Polished porcelain tiles are scratch resistant.

These are frost resistant; the colour doesn’t fade away over a period of time.

It has exceptional stain resistance properties and is easier to clean and maintain.

Polished porcelain tiles are durable and studier.

Where To Use:-

Polished porcelain tile adds aesthetic appeal to any place. It is mostly used for decorative walls, kitchen and shower backsplashes.

05. Double Charged Porcelain Tiles
Featured Tile: Blend the style and functionality with a crystalline finish – Carrara 1600*3200mm.

Double-charge porcelain tiles, a.k.a double-loaded porcelain tiles, are made by infusing two different layers of clay. The upper layer consists of the design layer, which holds 3-4 thicknesses of tile that are nearly 30%. Hence, they are thicker than other porcelain tiles and more durable with unique designs and patterns.

Double-charge porcelain tiles are made in the traditional way, where the colour pigment is mixed with raw material and pressed in a hydraulic press machine to print patterns on the top layer. This gives a homogeneous look and smooth finish with nanomaterial coating. These tiles appear as natural-like marble and feel, which define the luxurious vibe in your space.

Double-loaded porcelain tile is a flexible solution for both interior and exterior applications. These tiles are available in matte and crystalline finishes.

Characteristics:-

These tiles are highly durable and withstand wear and tear for heavy foot traffic.

Prevent accumulation of dirt and grime on the surface and can shine long-lasting for years.

The beneficiary properties of double charge porcelain tiles are stain and wear resistance and anti-bacterial.

These tiles are easy to clean and low-maintenance.

Where To Use:-

With the robustness and variety of designs, double-charge porcelain tiles are the best flooring choice for commercial spaces like malls, hotels, airports, restaurants, libraries, and hospitals.

06. Digitally Printed Porcelain Tiles
Featured Tile: Beautifully printed, elegant and vibrant tile that creates a cheerful environment. Flora Mosaic 1200*2400mm.

Digitally printed porcelain tile is a type of glazed porcelain tile. Due to technological advances, the latest production method utilises digital photography to capture natural material and digitally print the tiles. After that, porcelain tiles are glazed and do not require sealing.

For an elegant look of marble stone tile or nature-inspired wood look, digitally printed porcelain tile is the best alternative for your floors and walls.

With digital printing technology, tile decoration is easier, more precise, faster, more flexible, higher resolution, more convenient to execute, and less waste and residue to eliminate, making it a popular, hassle-free decor method.

Characteristics:-

There are virtually endless design options for every space.

These tiles are physically one of the toughest porcelain tiles available.

They are moisture-resistant and easy to clean.

Digitally printed porcelain tiles are exactly what you are looking for resistance to frost, aesthetic appeal, shiny surface and anti-skid.

Where To Use:-

Bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor spaces are ideal for using digitally printed porcelain tiles.

07. Textured or Stone-look Porcelain Tile
Featured Tile: Enhance the character of your space by adding authenticity and traditional element. Iron Grey 1200*2400mm in Orgatech and rustic finish.

With advanced technology, stone-look tiles combine the properties of porcelain with the graceful beauty of the stone. The technical characteristic of textured or stone-look porcelain tile is suitable for domestic and commercial spaces.

Typical veins and irregular texture look of natural stone with resistance properties of porcelain stoneware convey a traditional look and timeless elegance. In addition, it can define an architectural or interior design with a modern appeal. These tiles come in a wide range of matt finishes made by pressing materials in moulds to give texture effects of stone, wood, concrete or tin; the options are limitless.

Characteristics:-

These tiles offer high resistance to wear and tear and scratches.

Stone-look porcelain tiles do not absorb water; therefore, using them in the kitchen or outdoor swimming pool can’t be a problem.

Textured porcelain tiles are non-porous materials that can resist any chemical attack.

These tiles are frost resistant and can withstand bad weather.

Stone-look porcelain tile is the most hygienic flooring option, preventing bacteria growth.

Where To Use:-

Textured or stone-look porcelain tiles offer flexible design and can be used as floor and wall tiles in domestic and commercial places.

End Note:

Rustic matt or Unglazed porcelain tiles are referred to throughout the body. They have a smooth, soft surface with an incredibly high level of slip-resistant and can withstand wear and tear.

Glazed porcelain tiles are single-layered tiles pressed in the hydraulic pressing machine under high pressure to give them excellent durability.

Thanks to technology, one can get digitally printed porcelain tiles in attractive patterns and designs.

When a layer of polish is added to tiles to give them extra gloss and shine, they are known as polished porcelain tiles.

Double-charged porcelain tiles are made by fusing two layers of pigment and are usually thicker than normal tiles. Their heavy-duty nature makes them ideal for high-traffic areas.

Full-body porcelain tiles are meant for heavy footfall, like commercial/industrial use.

Textured or stone look porcelain tiles give a timeless and unique character to your interior and exterior decor.

Check out this guide on how to clean different types of porcelain tiles in detail with do’s and don’ts.
CPG’s Large Format Porcelain Tiles Collection

We believe in innovation. With our state-of-art technology and innovative designs to produce porcelain slabs that are durable and add a personal touch to your space. Explore our wide range of large format tile collections from lustrous marble look to rustic stone series with varied sizes and finishes.