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Porcelain, Ceramic, Slate or Glass: A Tile Durability Test

Harriet Goodacre

June 15, 2020

When choosing tiles for your home, the expected wear and tear is an important consideration when choosing which material to favour. Some high traffic areas will see more wear over a period therefore it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of practicality and aesthetics. We take you through those key tile materials you’re most likely to select for your home to see how they differ.

Porcelain

Are Porcelain Tiles Good?

Porcelain is super hardy and durable and comes in so many guises that you can virtually achieve any look. Thanks to the latest technology, printed porcelain effect tiles can now mimic not only the look of natural materials but also the feel of them to.

From honed marble to heavily grained wood effects, porcelain tiles can now transform the look of your home into a natural haven without the hassle and upkeep associated with natural materials.

Do porcelain tiles chip easily? As long as porcelain tiles are in a good condition before laying and laid correctly then no chipping should occur over time. If something extremely heavy were dropped on them then they could crack and chip, but this would be the same for any flooring under those conditions.

Ceramic

What Is A Ceramic Tile Used For?

Most commonly, a ceramic tile is used for decorative wall tiles. With a wide range of colours and prints available, both ceramic and porcelain tiles can be used on the wall to create stunning features.

How durable is ceramic tile then? If you’re looking for a new kitchen floor, then ceramic is probably best avoided as it’s not as durable as a porcelain tile. However, if you’re looking for more decorative, colourful wall tiles then ceramic is a great choice. Although not as hardy as porcelain, if you’re considering using a ceramic on the floor then it’s still a better option over laminate flooring or vinyl flooring, particularly if you have pets. Modern luxury vinyl flooring (LVT) is more scuff resistant than its laminate and vinyl counterparts, but they can be damaged easier by water so ceramic would be the safer choice.

Blush pink metro tile laid in a basketweave pattern with a brown contrasting grout line

Which Is Better Porcelain or Ceramic Tile?

Whether or not a porcelain or ceramic tile is better all depends on the end usage of the tile and your budget. If you’re looking for a floor tile in a heavy traffic area, or an outdoor tile, then porcelain would be required as they are much harder and durable than ceramic. See our helpful guide on porcelain versus ceramic for more detailed information of the pros and cons to each tile type.

Glass

Another alternative to porcelain or ceramic for your walls is glass. Glass tiles are usually in the form of intricate mosaics which appear fiddly but are actually quite easy to fix thanks to their mesh backing fixing. They bring colour and pattern as well as a different texture to your walls and are a great way of breaking up neutral schemes, whether it be an interesting feature for your backsplash or a zoning border in amongst your main wall tiles.

In terms of overall maintenance, we ask if glass tiles are durable and yes, if laid correctly, then glass tiles can be very durable as well as easy to clean. They only require a light cleaning and can be buffed to shine with little effort. However, if something hard does hit the tiles with force then they will crack but this is likely with most tile types.

Intricate glass mosaic made of jewel toned pieces

Natural Stone

When considering durability, we’d always recommend a porcelain effect tile over natural stone. This is because certain natural stone requires heavy maintenance to keep it looking good but also materials like marble prefer specific conditions and are therefore not always the best choice for your project. That being said, granite and slate are two of the hardiest natural stones that have fewer porcelain replicas available so they are worth considering if they fit with your desired aesthetic.

Granite

What is the most durable floor tile available? Granite.

This natural stone is extremely durable and is a great option for indoor and outdoor use, particularly useful if you want to extend your living area out onto your patio with a seamless effect. As it’s a natural stone it does require regular upkeep to ensure it stays in top condition, this includes sealing the surface at least every 12 months.

However, glazed porcelain flooring tiles are a great, low maintenance option too as they don’t require annual sealing to upkeep their finish, this often means they are more budget friendly too. You can find a range of realistic stone effect tiles that mimic the unique formulation of cut granite.

Slate

Slate is a fine-grained, metamorphic rock. It characteristically splits into thin slabs easily but is slate tile durable? Although as a single tile slate can be quite brittle, once laid and sealed it can be a very durable material. A slate tile floor will last for years if properly maintained.

From black to oiled blues and purples through to bright copper, natural slate can have multiple colours running through it which can be amplified by using a colour intensifier after fixing. This material is typically suited to a country or rustic aesthetic, usually found on a traditional kitchen floor.

However, for a modern alternative, try a porcelain replica like Staunton as it won’t require the upkeep that a natural slate floor does.

Now you know the benefits of each material and how to style them, choose a few samples to see how your favourite tiles look at home. Still struggling to visualise the space? Try our Tile My Home Visualiser tool.

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