Products include but are not limited to: Ceramic versus Porcelain - Floor, Wall and backsplash

Ceramic - generally red or white clay

• Usually glazed
• Light to Moderate traffic
• High water absorption - more porous
• Generally more prone to chipping & cracking
• Thicker - more durable
• Soft, easy to cut and install

Porcelain

• Glazed or full bodied (often has textured surface) - through body color
• Light to Heavy traffic
• Harder product - low water content - less porous- can be installed outside
• Denser - less likely to crack
• Harder to cut and install

Installation

• Labor is intensive, especially with walls
• Thin Set - (over Cement board) versus Wet Bed- aka Mud Job
• Figure 10%-20% for waste includes breakage

Repair versus Removal and Replace

• Matching tile - less than 5 years at best
• Usually immune to water damage except for staining of grout and no-glazed porous tiles o Laid over existing - height issues

When comparing price and durability (Check PEI Ratings). Expensive and inexpensive styles are available in both types, and under normal circumstances, there would be no noticeable difference in wear between the two.