What's the Difference between Ceramic and Porcelain tiles

Ceramic and Porcelain are both clay tiles, however despite the fact that both are man-made and created from clay, they are very different materials in looks, durability and how they are created.

In this article Northern Rivers Bathroom Renovations from Lismore NSW, explain the difference, Pro's & Con's of ceramic and porcelain tiles.
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The easiest and fastest way to tell a ceramic tile from a porcelain tile is to take a look at its edge. A ceramic tile, whether for floor or wall use, has a glaze on top of the surface, giving it, it’s colour and finish.

​Ceramic tiles come in two types, monocottura and bicottura. Both types are made with pressed wet clay, however monocottura is only fired once and bicottura is fired twice. A bicottura tile is much harder and denser than a monocottura tile.
 
Porcelain tile is made of clay dust not wet clay. The dust is dyed or pigmented into the desired colour, then compacted under extreme pressure, which makes the tile much denser and durable. The resulting tile is then fired to much higher temperatures than the ceramic tiles, resulting in a non-porous, hard and highly durable tile.

Porcelain tiles on bathroom wall in renovation by Northern Rivers Bathroom Renovations.

Pros & Cons

• Ceramic tiles only have the colour/ glaze on the surface of the tile. If you chip a tile, the biscuit/ clay underneath will show through. Porcelain tiles are coloured all the way through.
• Porcelain tile is considered impervious, meaning that it absorbs less than 0.5% water, making them a great choice for wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries. Ceramic tiles can absorb up to 7% water.
• The glaze on ceramics tile can crack and craze.
• Porcelain tiles can be used on the wall or floor. When using ceramic tiles, check their wear rating. Not all ceramic tiles are able to be used on the floor, some are suitable for walls only. 
• Porcelain is usually more expensive than ceramic tiles.