What Material Is Best for You?

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Ceramic Generally made from red or white clay mixtures and are finished with a glaze for the color and pattern. They can be used in both wall and floor applications and are softer and easier to cut than porcelain. Ceramics are suitable for light to moderate traffic as they are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles. Ceramics are also usually more cost effective.
Porcelain Generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in tile that is denser and more durable than ceramic. Porcelains are much harder and can handle more wear and damage than ceramic tile. Full body porcelain tiles will have color through the entire thickness of the tile making porcelain virtually impervious to wear and tear. These characteristics make porcelain suitable for any application, although typically cost approximately 10% more than ceramic. Porcelain tiles are available in matte, unglazed or high polished finishes.

Sweeping and vacuuming is the best way to clean your tile floors and must be done prior to mopping
Ceramic tile floors should be damp-mopped regularly using the manufacturer’s recommended grout and tile cleaners
Textured tiles may require mild scrubbing with a soft brush or electric polisher/scrubber
For soft water situations you may need to use an all-purpose cleaner
Consult the cleaning products instructions to make sure the cleaning product is compatible with your type of tile
Avoid using steel wool, scouring powders, or other abrasives
Don’t use bleach or ammonia based cleaners
Do not clean glazed tile with oil-based cleaners
Tile can crack under extreme force or pressure
Take the proper precautions when moving heavy objects across your tile floor
Keep extra tiles after the installation for future repairs
Areas exposed to water need to be caulked on a regular basis
Seal your grout for added protection if not using a presealed grout
Consult the manufacturers’ recommendations