Which One is Best Ceramic tiles vs Vitrified tiles?

Looking for lavish tiles for your flooring but can't decide Ceramic tiles vs Vitrified tiles?

Revamp your interiors with Qutone's luxurious selection of tiles.

Flooring ranks at highest priority when you're planning to redo your home interiors. To make sure it makes a great base for the foundation of your home, the flooring should check certain boxes. It must surely check your boxes regarding durability, appearance, besides others, during the process of selection. While homeowners may love to leave the floor designing up to the hired construction company or interior design, it is always beneficial to learn a little about the options available in the market by yourself. This will help you make an informed decision in the process of selection so you don't get overwhelmed by the variety of textures, colors and costs of the tiles.

There are a number of options in the market if you're planning to renovate your flooring and walls with ceramic tiles. Different textures, or types of tiles accentuate the aesthetics of the space in different ways. Whether it's flooring tiles, or tiles for your living room, for the plethora of designs available, it is important to understand the properties of different types of tiles. Such as for maintenance, cost, durability, texture, etc.

In this article we discuss the most common debate in tile selection– ceramic tiles vs vitrified tiles. This is because of the common misconception that ceramic and vitrified tiles are the same. However, there are several distinct differentiating factors between these two that have been explored below.

Ceramic tiles vs Vitrified tiles

Ceramic is basically a mixture of sand, clay, minerals, and solvents. The end product is used to make a wide range of articles such as tiles, cutlery, and fine art. During the manufacturing process, ceramic tiles are subjected to very high temperatures, which makes them resistant to pressure, increasing their breaking strength.

Since they are water-resistant, they are a perfect fit for installation in bathrooms or any wet area. Compare to vitrified tiles, they are easy-to-clean which makes them a popular preference for kitchen areas too. Depending on style preferences, ceramic tiles can be installed on outdoor decks, patios, or courtyards.

Vitrified tiles, on the other hand, are also ceramic tiles made through a special process called Vitrification. These tiles are a mixture of  Silica, Feldspar, Quartz and Clay. In the process of manufacturing, it is pressed under very high hydraulic pressure and high temperature, which makes its porosity very low, and hence more water resistant.

Vitrified tiles are the modern day alternative for Natural stone, Marble, Granite, and Wooden flooring with attractive patterns and designs. They are often used in high traffic areas such as Restaurants, malls, airports, Hospitals, and Outdoors.

#1 Composition

In terms of composition, ceramic tiles are made simply by mixing clay and water, and then baking it in a kiln at high temperatures. Adding another layer of glassy liquid gives them a uniform glazy shine, although unglazed options are also available in the market. If you're going for an earthy aesthetic, ceramic tiles are the way to go.

A vitrified tile, on the other hand, is composed of silica, clay, and other solvents that develops a glossy substrate over the surface when the mixture is heated at a high temperature (similar to ceramic tiles).

#2 Surface finishing and Areas of use

A glazed ceramic tile can be used for countertops, flooring, walls and backsplashes,  as its variety of colour palette can lighten up the most mundane areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Patterned ceramic tile flooring can be used to create a decorative base for the interiors.

Vitrified tiles are widely used for flooring because they’re available in large sizes, and can be closely arranged because of great durability. They go well with marble and granite in terms of looks as well, making them a more affordable flooring option for those going for that look.

#3 Porosity of material (for wet areas)

Tiles work for flooring comes with a slight risk of slipping on wet floors. Ceramic tiles have high porosity because of which they are highly water absorbent. Vitrified tiles, on the other hand, are less porous in nature due to which they absorb less amount of water. 

If your house is generally susceptible to dampness or water, it makes more sense to just go with vitrified floor tiles that prevent water from seeping down into the floor.

#4 Need for Maintenance

In areas with higher footfall such as the kitchen and bathroom in your home, you might want to install a tile that will have a longer life and is easier to maintain. For these specific needs and concerns, ceramic tile flooring is quite popular. Dirt and grime that accumulates over the surface of the tiles can easily be washed off and cleaned with soap and water. Additionally, regular cleaning of ceramic tiles does not normally cause stains or scratches over the tile surface.

Vitrified tiles can also be maintained in a similar manner and they are highly durable too. There is no need to worry about stains and waterlogging in between tiles and the ultimate selection of tiles for your home will also depend on your budget.

#5 Cost in India

Both ceramic tiles and Vitrified tiles are cost effective compared to marble and stone options without compromising on functional aspects. Ceramic tiles are cheaper than vitrified tiles for a variety of reasons. Every tile undergoes careful quality inspection during manufacturing before it is packed and sold. In vitrified tiles the consistency of design, shape, and sizes are yet another important feature that keeps their price on the higher side.

Installation of Ceramic vs Vitrified Tiles

Ceramic tiles are both easy to install and replace when necessary. However, the only lurking problem is that they cannot be arranged toi close to each other which makes space for dirt and grime to settle into the gaps. Vitrified tiles need only about 48 hours to set before they’re ready to use. Such tiles have joints that are more tightly arranged than ceramic ones that makes vitrified tiles easy to clean.

Ceramic Tiles vs. Vitrified Tiles: Which One To Choose?

Now that you know and have an understanding of the distinctions between the two types of tiles, the decision is yours. Depending on your style, preferences, and budget, you can select a range of tiles that look and feel suitable for your humble abode.