When it comes to tile, there are two kinds that are quite similar'natural stone and ceramic. They're both hard surface materials with comparable characteristics and durability. They're both also made from natural materials, installed the same and require the same level of care. Natural stone and ceramic tile each have their own benefits and drawbacks, depending on where they're installed. But, which one should you choose? Well, let's learn about each one to help you make the right decision!
Natural stone tile is exactly how the name sounds. It's a non-man-made, all-natural material straight from Mother Earth! There's a variety of different natural stones, like slate, granite, marble, limestone, travertine and sandstone. To learn more about each one, check out our other blog, here.
Ceramic is a tile that's typically made from red or white clay that has been fired in a kiln. Ceramic tile is available in two forms'glazed and unglazed. The vast majority of ceramic tile is manufactured with glaze to create an impervious seal over the natural clay material surface. The glazed surface is tough, waterproof and highly stain-resistant. Also, doesn't need any sealer or protective finish of any kind.
Unglazed tile is really ceramic in its natural state. It's very porous and will easily absorb liquids and stains. To avoid any of those risks, it's highly recommended to properly seal the tile right after it's installed with a quality chemical ceramic tile sealer.
Durability
Ceramic tile comes in a variety of hardness ratings. For ultimate durability, look for tile with a higher PEI rating, ideally a PEI of 3 or above. Lower PEI ratings are better for backsplashes and applications that won't endure foot traffic.
As a general note, natural stone is more durable than ceramic when cared for properly and the wear and tear adds to the characteristics that give stone its appeal and charm.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Basic maintenance is necessary to keep both natural stone and ceramic tile looking like new. Both require regular cleaning but the way to do it varies between the two.
Natural stone materials are porous and require a sealant or glaze to help fill the pores and make the material resistant to water and stains. The sealant will need to be reapplied periodically, depending on what type of natural stone material you go with. When it comes to everyday maintenance, stay away from acidic cleaners, as it could damage the stone itself.
Ceramic tile that's glazed is ready to use without an additional coating. If you're worried about staining, you may want to add a sealant over the grout to keep it as clean as the surrounding tile. Unglazed ceramic tile will need a sealant or top coat to protect it from staining, much like natural stone. The durable glaze on ceramic tile makes it suitable for use with a wide variety of cleaning products.
Color Variations
The style of your home will help dictate either natural stone or ceramic tile flooring, and which material will best achieve that look for the space. Natural stone comes in a wide variety of natural color variations, ranging from crisp whites to deep beige and brown tones. The material chosen will help to dictate the color of the flooring.
Because ceramic tile is man-made, it can come in countless color and pattern variations. It can even be made to resemble the look of natural stone or hardwood planks. The versatile color selections of ceramic tile make it easy to find a ceramic tile that coordinates with an interior décor.
Cost
Because natural stone is, well, natural, it's one of the more expensive tile options. Their luxurious look makes the expense worth it if the budget allows for it.
Ceramic tile is one of the most affordable options available today. The prices do range depending on the style, finish and grade of the ceramic tile chosen. Unglazed tiles are less expensive than glazed tiles but require an additional finishing process during the installation process.
Installation
Tile installation gets a lot of DIY attention and air time on home renovation shows, but the reality is, it's not as easy and fast as it looks. It takes a lot of time, patience and skill to successfully complete, and maintain the integrity of the finished project. So, it's definitely worth spending the extra money on having a professional take on the installation. When the job begins the tile installers will spend the time laying out the tile to approximate the final design. So, this really isn't a con, it's more of an important recommendation.
When it comes to deciding which material makes the best choice for your space, it's all about understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each. Before you look at the materials themselves, consider the overall design of the space, how many people use the space and what the space needs to hold up to on a daily basis. Choose your tile carefully and don't skimp on cleaning and maintenance to ensure that your space will look gorgeous for years to come.
To make it even easier, keep in mind these takeaways as you make your way through our tile department of one of our locations:
Planning to bring some aesthetic changes to your space by adding natural beauty and timeless elegance?
Stone has always been considered a precious material with a rich history and has always been a part of our interior and exterior spaces.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from NANOGRESS PORCELLANATO.
If you want natural beauty in your space with the technical properties of porcelain, you must check out natural stone-look porcelain tiles. By utilising state-of-art-technologies, Lioli Ceramica is able to reproduce natural stone-effect porcelain tile precisely.
High-end stone look-alike porcelain tiles bring more advantages than any natural stone like marble, granite or limestone. Here we'll discuss everything you need to know about stone-look porcelain tiles and look at some favourite Lioli's stone series porcelain tiles. Read on to learn how to bring your space to life!
Stone-look porcelain stoneware brings the inherent beauty of stone into our homes. The combination of advanced technology and authenticity makes them indistinguishable from natural quarry material. Choosing tile for the interior and exterior is like simultaneously giving your space a face-lift and a new soul.
Porcelain tiles that look like stone offer a very realistic appearance of stone, like typical veins, and grainy and irregular texture, thanks to advanced technology that make them perfect for every space. The roughness, grains, veins and shades of each layer are properly specified to give stone-effect tiles all the stone's inherent beauty.
Indeed, the technical characteristic of porcelain tile provides an unparalleled level of resistance to impact, wear, weather, and chemical damage, making it a rock-solid covering in the truest sense. Thus, porcelain stone-look tiles capture the charm of stone flooring shaped by time in an innovative and modern way.
Stone-look porcelain tiles are more fabulous and gorgeous than any natural stone, and stunning stone-effect tiles look incredibly realistic. Advanced technology makes it possible to achieve small details of natural stone - the veins, roughness, and irregular surface found in marble or granite to create porcelain tile that looks as beautiful as stone.
These features add to the stone's aesthetic and make each tile unique with its natural variation.
Natural stones easily get scratches and stains; thus, using them in high-footfall areas will not take long to get worn out. On the other hand, porcelain tiles are man-made. These tiles are consistent and extremely durable than natural stone. They are increasingly designed to intimate natural stone effects with the durability of porcelain tile.
Natural stones like marble or travertine require a lot of upkeep and maintenance like sealing, polishing and cleaning to keep them looking their best. In comparison, stone-effect porcelain tile requires very little upkeep than natural stone.
TIP: Simply mop them with lukewarm water and a cleaning agent twice a week. They are easy to maintain and will maintain their beautiful appearance for a long time.
Read to know how to clean porcelain tile with do's and don'ts.
Natural stone flooring is a timeless beauty and elegance and adds immersive value to space. However, natural stone can be costly for the interior and also has a high-maintenance cost.
Porcelain tile that looks like stone is a much more cost-effective choice with easy maintenance, durability and aesthetic look.
The process of natural stone extraction is long and complicated and leaves negative environmental impacts. On the other hand, stone look-alike porcelain tiles are manufactured with clay and other minerals in state-of-art-technology in the most eco-friendly way.
Natural stone expense extends to the installation phase too. It always requires a professional to install them. Installing stone-effect porcelain tile is a bit challenging because of its hard nature material. It requires a little bit of skill and the right tool to install.
Lioli Ceramica harbours the power of innovation and unmatched artistry to design superior-quality tiles. Our tiles are made with state-of-the-art technology and backend by robust R&D Technology to surpass the expectation of our customers.
It's important to choose the perfect tile for your home. So here are some factors to consider while choosing a stone-look porcelain floor tile.
As mentioned, different types of porcelain tiles are better for different spaces. Each type of tile has its own set of advantages and disadvantages in damp areas. Consider where you will install your stone-look porcelain floor tile and see what damage it will face. Find the right type of stone porcelain tile material that balances the required strength and desired look.
Stone-look porcelain tile offers the authentic style of each stone material, is long-lasting and easy to clean. The elegant & luxurious look of marble stone, rustic matt & neutral yet contemporary stone tile adds a sense of luxury to your setting.
The shade of tile is also important when choosing stone tile as it affects the aesthetic immensely. For example, grey shade is popular for refined & elegant, black is associated with luxury & sophistication, and white emotes comfort & peace.
As you know, stone look porcelain tile is available in various formats and designs. If you are looking for a seamless and impeccable look, then large-format porcelain tiles are the ideal choice. Large format tile has narrower joints than usual to help to create an undefined and flawless look. Installation of large format porcelain tile must be difficult, but the required skill and DIY tricks assist you in achieving the best result.
Note:- Always choose brand porcelain tile for better durability and more aesthetic features.
The company is the world’s best rock looking tile supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.