By Jennifer Turner
The Floor Store Design Consultant, Tile & Stone Specialist
Porcelain floor tiles are beautiful, durable, and add a touch of elegance to any space. When properly installed, they are easy to take care of. People often confuse porcelain with ceramic, so let's first clarify the difference.
Ceramic tiles are made of clay, which is pressed, cut into shape, and fired in kilns at high temperatures. Finished tiles are either glazed or left unglazed. Most ceramic tiles are rated on a hardness scale (the MOH Scale) numbered from 0 to 5. Tiles with a rating of 0 are strictly decorative and not suitable for floors, while tiles rated at 5 are very durable indeed.
Porcelain tiles are made by combining natural products such as crushed China stone (a type of feldspar) and kaolinite with chemicals that give it strength. The rest of the process is essentially identical to that of ceramic tiles, except that porcelain is fired at even higher temperatures, resulting in hardness ratings of 6 or 7, literally off the MOH scale.
Compared to ceramic, porcelain tile is generally considered the more luxurious and valuable product. In fact, it has been the choice of royalty and the privileged classes for centuries, prized for its hardness and wide range of finishes, including slightly translucent gem-like colors.
However, porcelain tiles may not be perfectly uniform in size, due to distortion during firing. This can make installation rather challenging, and you would be well advised to hire a professional. But this in turn means the cost of installation must be part of your buying decision, and, for the reasons noted above, they often carry higher prices than other flooring materials to begin with.
Cleaning porcelain floors is usually as simple as using a damp mop and all-purpose cleaner, especially if the tile and grout have been sealed after installation. Use warm water and a clean, nonabrasive cloth, mop, or sponge. Cleaning products for porcelain tile help remove soils that sweeping, vacuuming, or damp mopping leave behind.
With a good glaze, stains are rare, and porcelain's very low moisture absorption rate make it an excellent choice for bathrooms and kitchens. The low absorption rate also helps ensure high air quality in your home, because the floor tile will not absorb chemicals and other unwanted substances.
The Floor Store is a direct importer of an extensive selection of tile and natural stone, including many colors and styles of porcelain tile.
The Floor Store has six Bay Area locations, in Albany, Concord, Dublin, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, and Pittsburg. Visit www.floorstores.com to find the store nearest you.
