Whether working on a new bathroom or choosing the tiles for the lobby or the laundry, people spend so much time deciding between natural stone and porcelain tiles.
They choose based on their usage or perceived needs for the space, with or without the room's intended use. Porcelain tiles are especially preferred for homes with children and beloved, lovely pets. It is easy to maintain. Natural stones seem suitable for a house without pets created for senior citizens.
To assist you in making the right decision, here are the distinctions between natural stone and porcelain stones and why porcelain tiles are better than natural stones.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain is an artificial tile product made with very special clay. These are manufactured using clay, feldspar, and kaolin, which undergo a very high baking process, making the tile hard and compact. Porcelain tiles are produced in different colours and various types of finishes.
Natural Stone Tiles
Natural stone tiles are more or less natural and can be divided into granite, marble, limestone and slate. These materials have been used for centuries to design elegant and sustainable living spaces outside the homes.
Porcelain Tiles vs. Natural Stone Tiles
To understand why porcelain tiles are better than natural stone, you will learn the difference between porcelain tiles and natural stone.
- Durability
Natural Stone Tiles
The natural formation of stones takes thousands of years, and they are passed over due to their existence in society for such a long time. This makes the stone solid and able to withstand pressure, making it hard-wearing. It has been used for constructing residential and commercial buildings for the years.
If you need it where traffic is high, you need a thicker slab to support the traffic; hence, using granite stone is encouraged. It uses granite stone, which is 25mm thicker and is exterior-suitable, strong, and durable.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tile comes from clay, sand, and minerals burnt at high temperatures and are stronger and less porous, with every piece measuring 20mm in thickness. It is suitable for taking the weight of vehicles and does not melt or get damaged by any extremes of temperature or weather!
- Maintenance and Care
Natural Stone
Natural stones should be cleaned and maintained constantly for aesthetic beauty and value. This comprises daily or weekly use of pH-neutral cleaning solvents and occasional sealing to prevent staining. Sealing is likely to be done in the future, depending on the stone type and frequency of use. Caring for natural stone also improves its appearance and durability and guarantees it will remain a beauty spot in your region for a long time.
Porcelain Tile
Compared to nearly all other types of stone tile, porcelain tile is almost impervious to scratching and requires very little maintenance. The material has a non-sticky property, which allows it to withstand the pressure of stains, scratches and moisture; hence, it can be cleaned with water and mild soap. It gives the appearance of natural products while being very hardy and not requiring frequent maintenance.
- Moisture Resistance
Natural Stone Tiles
Natural stone tiles are made from a porous material. These make the stone to be vulnerable to penetration of moisture and also prone to get stained. However, sealing natural stone tiles will overcome these problems. Thus, it enhances the machine's durability, making it more durable.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles especially boast about how it is produced. It isn't going to fix the minor imperfections of a natural product. Flexible and Semi-flexible tiles are more moisture-resistant than natural stones, especially porcelain tiles. Many must possess a feature that makes these tiles ideal for the wet sections. It is quite suitable for a low-maintenance, damp zone.
- Cost Considerations
Natural Stone
The cost of natural stone is highly relative to several issues, for instance, the type of stone used, whether it is a marble, granite or travertine, plus the stone's quality or the difficulty of acquiring it and the distance from the source of supply to the building site. Still, because of their higher initial cost, natural stones might be termed long-term investments as they enhance the worth of a house or property due to their natural and attractive beauty.
Further, issues such as installation difficulty and the need for ongoing maintenance can potentially increase the cost for natural stone projects, meaning homeowners must consider immediate expenses and potential benefits to make a reasonable decision.
Porcelain Tile
For this reason, porcelain tile offers an extensive range of prices that enables it to accommodate a variety of prices while still maintaining the beauty of natural stone. Becoming slightly less expensive initially can attract homeowners desperately searching for superior quality materials under a limited financial capacity.
Natural stone flooring may be costly initially compared to carpet or laminated flooring. However, its enhanced beauty will keep it shining for years, making it a worthy investment for people who desire quality. Lastly, the initial cost compared with overall performance and lifespan is the key to determining the feasibility of using one or the other material in the construction project.
Conclusion
It is okay to ask which is best between the two offerings. Or "Why are porcelain tiles superior to natural stones?" From the overall article, you understood that Glossy Finish Porcelain Tiles are stronger than natural stone because slabs are denser, withstand high temperatures, and are not easily stained or scratched.
Among all available materials, porcelain is preferable because it creates a great range of varieties, has the longest and water-repellent surface, and only requires a little attention and care for a long time. Similarly, natural stone provides exquisite and aesthetically pleasing floor appearances. It needs resealing and maintenance, and while this is simple and done very fast, it requires 2-3 years.
When choosing tiles for this purpose, consider how you will use the particular space and the appearance you desire. Neelson Porcelain Tiles manufacturer in India, has an excellent range of tiles you might require when choosing tiles for your construction project.