What is the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile?

Ceramic Tile Ceramic is nonporous, which makes it a highly stain resistant decorative and building material. Ceramic can be fabricated to an extremely high polish, matte, or textured finish. The beauty, versatility, and durability of ceramic make it ideal for heavy traffic commercial and residential installations. Ceramic tiles are characterized by a dark red or terra cotta back with a fine glaze over them. They are fired at a lower temperature which means they can be more brittle and contain only a surface glaze. However, there are many good quality ceramics with PEI ratings of 3 or 4 that can provide excellent durability. They will have a higher absorption rate so be careful not to use them outdoors. From a design perspective though, you may want to choose ceramic because many designs and colors that are not available in porcelain tiles are available in ceramic tiles. The main advantage of ceramic tile is that it is easy to cut and handle. Score and break cutting boards are ...  more