Porcelain Tile

Porcelain is the right tile for high-use flooring and any other surface that sees a lot of use or abuse. It’s a bit more expensive than standard ceramic but makes up for the cost in durability because it wears very well in high-traffic areas. Porcelain tiles come in dozens of different finishes and colors, including ersatz stone tiles made to resemble many different types of stone. These “stone” porcelain tiles are a good choice if you like the look of stone but don’t want to deal with the color and pattern variation of natural varieties.

Some porcelain tiles are “full-body” or “through-body” tiles, referring to the fact that the surface color runs throughout the body of the tile. This is an added bonus if you ever happen to scratch or chip a tile as the damage will not be very noticeable. If you choose porcelain tile for your project, make sure to check on the availability of trim because some porcelain tile lines have limited trim options. Also be aware that there are special requirements for setting porcelain tiles properly. These tiles can also be hard to cut cleanly, so you’ll need to rent or buy a water saw.

Full-body tiles have the color throughout. Scratches won’t show as they would on surface glazed tile.

Ersatz stone tiles made of porcelain come in a wide array of colors.

Excerpted from Tiling Complete, 2nd Edition by Robin Nicholas and Michael Schweit.

Available in the Taunton Store and at Amazon.com.