Shower wall tile - ceramic or porcelain?

9 years ago

I was wondering for the application of a tile to the wall of a shower, which one is better?

Ceramic?

Porcelain?

Or does it "not matter" if its only a wall tile?

I was trying to find some smaller porcelain tiles but they all seem to be coming in 12 x 24 these days and I was aiming for something just a smidge smaller but cant seem to find any.

Featured Answer

MongoCT

9 years ago

For bathroom tiling purposes, consider them to be the same.

Porcelain tile is a ceramic tile in that they are from the same family. You could consider porcelain to be a finer grade than ceramic tile, in that porcelain is typically harder, more dense, more difficult to cut, and has a lower water absorption rate.

As to the manufacturing process, a lot of ceramic is stamped out into the tile size, then glazed and fired. Tiles can have differential shrinkage during the firing, so ceramic tiles can be off a bit in one dimension versus the other.

A lot of porcelain is "rectified tile", it is fired in large sheets, then cut to size after firing. As such, it's generally more uniform in size, and the edges will be perfectly square "sawn" edges. With the tile size being uniform, they can be set closer together with smaller grout lines.

None of those qualities are really make or break differences for interior residential bathroom applications.

Exterior? You'd want to lean towards porcelain due to its lower water absorption and its subsequent ability to handle freeze/thaw cycles.

So...a list of basic differences for you.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Babka NorCal 9b
9 years ago
Both are very easy to clean and don't need to be sealed. I don't know where you are looking, but porcelain tiles come in all sorts of sizes. I have 2"x2" on my shower floor and 24" squares on my bathroom floor.

-Babka
doctheokie
9 years ago
Crossville has a collection called Basalt that comes in a 12x24 or a 12x12
Related Professionals
La Verne Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Covington Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cloverly Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Folsom Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Martha Lake Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · New Port Richey East Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Panama City Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Toms River Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · San Bernardino Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Saratoga Springs Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Tallahassee Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Martinez Glass & Shower Door Dealers · East Moline Cabinets & Cabinetry · Tinton Falls Cabinets & Cabinetry · Wells Branch Cabinets & Cabinetry
houses14
9 years ago
Mongoct,

Much appreciated for your insight!

I am choose American Olean Hennessy Place polished porcelain 12 x 12 for all baths, shower wall and its floor, laundry room. Do you have experience with this tile?

Thank you!
Babka NorCal 9b
9 years ago
The manufacturers specs says that this tile is not for use in wet or slippery conditions. I'm sure your tile installer could cut them into smaller pieces so you wouldn't slip in the shower. Beautiful tile!

-Babka
StoneTech
9 years ago
All tile is ceramic, but not all ceramic is porcelain. Fired at a hotter temperature and is less water absorptive.
mrspete
9 years ago
I am removing a bathtub with some problems, replacing it with a big walk-in shower, and I've JUST returned from buying the tile.

When the installer and I talked, he told me just what sizes to buy, and the ONE THING he insisted upon was that I choose porcelain tile -- not ceramic. In the event, it was easy: Everything I liked WAS porcelain.