That means they have tiny little holes in them which actually help the tiles to compress themselves and therefore prevent them from chipping cracking or otherwise breaking.
Ceramic tile porous.
Ceramic tile may stain if the glaze on its surface crazes or cracks over time or if you purchased a crazed wall tile.
Porcelain tiles are composed of fine porcelain clays and fired at much higher temperatures than ceramic tiles.
The main reason for this is that ceramic tiles are actually slightly porous.
Both ceramic and porcelain are fairly stain resistant.
The safe tile treatment system creates microscopic channels for the water and oils to be disbursed from under foot.
Porous floors on the other hand include traditional unglazed tile and grout both tile and grout are porous limestone concrete and brick flooring.
Since unglazed floor tiles are very porous and susceptible to surface contaminants they require frequent cleaning to prevent becoming stained and damaged.
In this case the tile must be sealed to prevent stains from occuring.
Ceramic tile is more porous and therefore has a higher water absorption rate.
Combine that with deep set grout lines between the tiles and you are left with an uneven surface that requires an occasional deep cleaning.
Most ceramic and stone tile is porous meaning it has indentations and an uneven surface that can often be difficult to clean thoroughly with just a mop and a bucket.
Porcelain tiles are composed of fine porcelain clays and fire.
Porcelain clays are denser and thus less porous than ceramic clays.
This process makes porcelain tile more dense less porous much harder and less prone to moisture and stain absorption than ceramic tiles.
While this is true though it also means that small droplets of water can enter the surface.
Ceramic tile is not as tough as porcelain.
This allows your footwear to make contact with the surface of the floor at all times.
Glazed tiles are more resistant to dirt and moisture than unglazed tiles.
Due to its through body composition it is considered more durable and better suited for heavy usage than ceramic tile.
A nonporous floor does not absorb soils or moisture.
Properly maintaining porous floor tiles preserves their aesthetic appeal and allows them to last longer.
Avoid using it in high traffic areas.
Porcelain will always be stain resistant however because the material is non porous.
These would include such floors as glazed ceramic or glazed porcelain tiles.
When you step in water or oils on non porous hard mineral surfaces you are actually hydroplaning on a film of water or contaminants.
Resistance to water is perhaps the biggest factor in the ceramic tile vs.
It should not be used in outside applications.
This makes porcelain tile harder and more impervious to moisture than ceramic tile.