Quick Answer: Is Porcelain Tile Harder To Cut Than Ceramic?

Which is easier to cut ceramic or porcelain tile?

NOTE – while porcelain tiles are harder and more dense, this also makes them more difficult to cut and shape. Ceramic tiles can be cut much more easily by hand using a wet tile saw or snap tile cutter, while porcelain tiles require much more experience in order to get a clean, accurate cut.

Is porcelain tile harder to install than ceramic?

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Porcelain Tile Known as the most durable type of tile on the market, porcelain is harder, denser, tougher, and less porous than ceramic tile. If you’re looking to take on a budget-friendly DIY installation project, ceramic tile might be the smarter choice.

Are porcelain tiles difficult to cut?

This makes porcelain exceedingly hard and difficult to cut with just a simple tile cutter. For this reason it is customary to use an electric tile cutting machine with a fine blade to stop chipping as the best way of cutting porcelain tiles.

What is the hardest tile to cut?

Best blade to cut porcelain tiles Porcelain is the hardest kind of tile and the hardest of the three materials mentioned in this article, so you will need a diamond blade for “ultra-hard materials”. A standard diamond blade will not get the work done, meaning that using one would mean wasting your money and time.

Does porcelain tile need to be sealed?

The surface of most ceramic and porcelain tile does not need to be sealed, although some require a light application of a penetrating sealer to fill the micro pores on the surface of the tile. However, the grout joint between the tiles is usually very porous and generally made of a cement-based material.

Does porcelain tile crack easily?

Hard, dense, and solid, porcelain is resistant to most heavy stresses and can even be used in commercial environments. Be aware, though, that the hardness of porcelain can make it slightly more brittle than standard tiles, which means they can be more susceptible to cracking.

How can you tell porcelain from ceramic?

Porcelain tile has the same color throughout the material. A broken or chipped piece of unglazed porcelain will have a uniform color throughout its thickness. Ceramic tile often has a glazed surface coloring, so chips may reveal a different color underneath. The finish of porcelain is smoother than that of ceramic.

Is porcelain tile slippery when wet?

Ceramic and porcelain tile floors can be notoriously slippery. There is a reliable way to find out how slippery floor tile will be under both wet and dry conditions. It’s a slip resistance rating system called COF (or coefficient of friction) published by tile manufacturers.

Is porcelain stronger than ceramic?

In general, porcelain tile is harder than ceramic and offers greater design flexibility. Due to its low moisture absorption rate (0.5% or less), porcelain is less likely to crack and is more impervious to stains.

What is the best way to cut porcelain tiles?

Porcelain tile is very hard; therefore, you need a powerful wet diamond saw when you want to cut your tile. However, it can be difficult to cut porcelain without chipping it.

Can you score and break porcelain tile?

When it comes to cutting tile, harder materials such as porcelain tiles can be difficult to score and break. To snap the tile, with a nice clean break, score along your tile, making sure to place the breaker bar at the end of the tile.

Will a glass cutter cut porcelain tile?

Do you want to floor tiles like a pro? With The Amazing Tile and Glass Cutter™ you can score and cut ceramic, glass, quarry, and even some porcelain tiles. You can cut tile at a professional level every time you use it.

What is the best blade for cutting porcelain?

Introduction: As mentioned elsewhere, the only effective way to cut porcelain, ceramic or vitrified paving is by using a diamond blade. It is not possible to accurately cut these types of paving with hand tools nor with basic abrasive blades, even if they are marked as suitable for cutting stone or hard materials.

Will a ceramic tile cutter cut glass?

Tile cutters are available in both electric and manual types, and are used to cut ceramic wall and floor tile. Glass tiles are more fragile than other tile materials, so while you can cut glass with a tile cutter, the glass may chip or crack easily.