How to Select Porcelain Tile

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are cousins, both made from clay and hardened by being baked or fired. The difference is in the clay and the manufacturing process -- porcelain tiles are baked at temperatures up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which produces a very hard tile. Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are used in homes on floors, countertops and walls, but porcelain is preferred in areas subject to moisture, like kitchens and bathrooms. Porcelain also is the choice around swimming pools. Adding porcelain tile can increase a home's value.

Check Standards
The first step in selecting porcelain tile is to match the tile to the use. Floor and counter tile must be resistant to spills and stains and floor tile cannot be slippery. The American National Standards Institute and American Society for Testing Materials test tile for hardness, fluid absorption, chemical resistance and other factors and issue ratings for use.

Find the Class
Porcelain tile is rated in five classes for abrasion, or resistance to wear. Class 1 is not recommended for floors or tough use. Classes 2 and 3 are for light to medium traffic, such as kitchens and bathrooms with little or no exposure from scratching dirt. Class 4 is most common in houses for medium to high traffic, such as entryways, halls and busy kitchens. Class 5, the top, is for heavy traffic and commercial use.

Glazed or Unglazed
Porcelain can be either glazed or unglazed. Unglazed tile is solid, with consistent color throughout the tile and will retain color even as a surface wears. Unglazed is available in various finishes, from rough to polished. Glazed porcelain has a protective coating on top of the dense tile body, which can be produced in a variety of colors or decorative patterns. The glaze can be a shiny or matte finish.

Check Absorbency and Slippage
Tiles for kitchen, bathroom or other floors subject to moisture or porcelain used in and around swimming pools must be nonabsorbent so water and other fluids do not penetrate and stain it. These tiles should be "nonslip," with a finish that has a "coefficient of friction" of 0.06 or higher. That is a measurement of how much effort is required to move an object across a tile.

Pick Right Color
Color and design are obviously important, because porcelain tile will last a long time and making changes will require replacing tile. Both glazed and unglazed porcelain are available in a variety of colors and glazed porcelain frequently has decorative flourishes or ornamentation. Size is also a factor; floor tiles typically are larger, counter tiles smaller and wall tiles can be any size. Porcelain tiles also come in various shapes that can be arranged in patterns.