Your outdoor space has plenty of options in terms of design and one of the most versatile materials that you can pick for it is tiles. Outdoor tiles offer a large range of durable options but among the different selections, porcelain and ceramic are often noted as the more popular choices that you can make out of the different tile types. Both porcelain and ceramic tiles offer durability that can work well for your outdoor space but choosing between the two may ultimately depend on what factors of each tile appeal to you better.
What Porcelain Tiles Have to Offer
Porcelain tiles are a dense, fine-grained, smooth type of tile that mostly receives a surface glazing treatment that involves a coating of liquified glass material. As an outdoor tile, there are different pros and cons to this type of tile including the following:
Advantages
Considered one of the smoother materials for tiles, porcelain has the ability to resemble other materials like wood or stone. Produced in a way that results in it being highly dense and heavy, porcelain tiles are more impervious to water and is excellent against heat. In terms of durability, porcelain tiles deal with damage well. Even when chipped, the colour continues all the way through; as a result, the damage is nearly invisible.
Disadvantages
While porcelain makes for a sturdy material, its thickness makes it less than easy to install. Should you need to cut it, you will need to use special tools. A recommended tool for this would be a wet tile saw. Another downside of porcelain is that with high durability and low porous features, this tile is one of the more costly materials to choose from.
What Ceramic Tiles Have to Offer
This type of tile is mainly produced using natural red, brown or white clay, baked at high temperatures to reduce water content, and then the patterned glaze is applied. As a tile, it most often comes in one colour and provides a classic look. In terms of benefits and drawbacks, they are as follows:
Advantages
One of the benefits that make ceramic so popular is its versatility in use. Whether you are aiming to have it for your indoor or outdoor space, ceramic gives different options for use and even offers a textured surface option for further visual appeal. More than its flexibility, you’ll find that ceramic is easy to cut for installation. With these different features, one point that makes ceramic popular is how affordable it is.
Disadvantages
When compared to porcelain, ceramic is not as durable of a material and is advised to not be used for areas with high traffic. Another downside with ceramic tiles for your outdoor space is that it is more porous and therefore has a higher water absorption rate. If you are looking to have this type of tile applied to your outdoor space, you will want to have it applied to a shade structure like a patio or pergola if you’d like.
The main common factors between the two tiles are that they are easy to maintain and can last long with the proper care. If you are still unsure whether either tile would work best for your outdoor space, there are different professional service groups that can offer quality options and reliable professionals to consult. One such service you can consider is Mandurah Landscaping. There are a number of different benefits in choosing this service including open communication that can help determine the best tiles for you
Conclusion
Tiles are a versatile material that can be applied to either your indoor space or outdoor space. With a range of design options available, there is no shortage of what style you can go for. Out of the different types, porcelain and ceramic are often considered popular options. When comparing the two, each has its own pros and cons depending on how durable the material is or what style you are looking for. Call our landscaping experts today to see how we can help!
