Porcelain tiles are tiles that have been fired at a high temperature. The high temperature hardens the tiles making them more dense and homogenous. This makes homeowners to prefer refin porcelain tiles over the other types of tiles because of its durability, easy to maintain, and its ability to resist wear. They can be square shaped, rectangular, chevron tile or herringbone, but their finishing will always fall in the categories that we’re describing below.
The following are some of the different types of porcelain.
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Matte [Unpolished]
Matte porcelain tiles are raw porcelain that is produced in a natural form after baking and firing in the furnace. The tiles don’t require treatment after firing; they are just packed.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Resistant to scratches
- Highly resistant in humid and dry environments.
Cons
- Requires a high level of maintenance because of the roughness.
- The shiny glazed versions can wear where there is high traffic.
Polished Porcelain Tiles
The porcelain tiles are polished after the tiles have been baked and they are out of the furnace. It’s important to note that polished tiles are different from glazed vitrified tiles because the process of manufacturing them is different in both tiles.
Pros
- They are easy to maintain because they don’t trap dust
- They are stronger than granites or marbles that require maintenance
- Thy look stunning
Cons
- They are costly
- They can be slippery in humid conditions
- They might be highly porous
- Some people may not accept the shiny appearance.
Glazed Porcelain Tiles
Glazed porcelain tiles are produced when the tiles are fired, and when they come out of the furnace, they are treated, and glazed finish is applied to them. The glaze finish makes the tiles stronger and impervious.
Semi-polished
Semi-polished tile is also known as a lappato finish. They mainly come in a material of glazed porcelain because the layer of the glaze is usually thin. The light polishing is done exactly as polished porcelain version, only that the brushing is a bit light or jut on the peaks of the tile surface to give it a shiny-rough appearance.
Pros
- They are not very slippery like full polished porcelain tiles
- They are inexpensive
- They have a stunning look
Cons
- They can give a heavy and busy look when used as an accent.
Prepolished/Honed Porcelain tiles
It can be produced in two methods. The first version can be obtained directly in the press [certain device] or right after the press [light brushing heads]. The other method can only be carried out with the full-bodied porcelains.
Pros
- They are anti-slippery in both humid and dry conditions.
- They are stain resistant
- They are affordable
- They are scratch resistant
- They are easy and simple to maintain
Cons
- If they are coated with the transparent glaze, they may experience wear and scratches.
Satin
Satin porcelain tiles are manufactured in the same way as the polished porcelain tiles, only that the last polishing pads is skipped. This means that the shiny mirror effect is avoided. The result is smooth, silky finish without the glossy look.
Pros
- They are more slip resistant than the polished porcelain tiles
- They have a smooth surface.
- They have a velvet look
Cons
- They require high maintenance
- The grinding marks may be visible.
