Vitrified Tiles or Ceramic Tiles – Which Tile Is Good for Living Rooms?

Sep 2022

Are you planning to give your living room new flooring? If yes, then you might have gone through various tile designs and types. And while checking out the tile types and designs, did you make out which tile is vitrified and which is ceramic? Both ceramic and vitrified tiles seem alike, however, there are various points that make them different. And today, we shall talk about both tile types and discuss which would be better to install in your living rooms.

Talking about the composition of the tiles, both tiles are made with superheating earthen mixtures. However, compared to ceramic, vitrified are made with additionally assorted minerals. And hence, the vitrified tile is comparably better than the ceramic ones as they can be used for multipurpose as well as are durable. The ceramic tile is cheaper and hence, is widely used for indoor floors, especially in areas where the moisture level is low.

Here is the basic difference between the tiles:

• Vitrified Tiles – They have a glossy appearance and are quite durable, water-resistant, scratch-resistant, and UV light-resistant. They are very costly.
• Ceramic Tiles – They are less resistant to all the elements, however, they give a natural outlook to the floor. The best option for low-budget flooring.

Hence, both floor tiles have a slight difference. Again, they have their individual pros and cons, need different caring options, etc. due to which it is important to go for material selection while making a choice. For learning which is the best option for your living rooms, scroll down.

What are the differences and similarities between vitrified and ceramic tiles?

When it comes to the living room, bathroom walls, kitchen, and flooring, both tiles are commonly used materials. No doubt, they might look very similar, but they still have certain differences. Let’s understand the differences among the tiles.

#1 Composition of the tiles

Both vitrified and ceramic tiles are made out of clay. Clay is a soil type that hardens when baked at high temperatures. But the main difference is the texture base they make for creating the tiles. Where on one side ceramic tiles are designed with merely a clay-based mixture, the vitrified tiles are created using various other minerals along with the clay. The vitrified tiles are made by mixing clay with other essential minerals like silica, feldspar, and quartz. And the mixture of all these minerals made the texture, nature, and finishing of the tiles completely different from the ceramic tiles.

#2 Textures of the tiles

One can surely not make the difference by simply viewing the tiles as they look very similar. For understanding the texture difference, one has to touch the tiles. The vitrified ones are designed with a very smooth finishing as various minerals are added during their formation. On the other hand, the ceramic ones give a natural outlook and are slightly rough on touch. They are similar to natural stones. Hence, after touching the tiles, one can make out the difference between the textures of the tiles.

#3 Slippery or non-slippery

As mentioned above, the vitrified tiles are made with a combination of various minerals and hence, have a glossy, smooth, and sleek finishing. And due to these features, the vitrified tiles are impervious to water absorption. Liquid substance hence gets collected on the top of the tiles which makes the tiles slippery. On the other hand, due to this nature, they are very easy to clean. To your surprise, the vitrified tiles are also available with non-slip finishes to keep you safe whenever liquid spills on the tiles. Ceramic tiles are non-slippery by nature as they are rough and permeable.

#4 Durability

The ceramic tiles are made with a single layer of clay. Hence, they are at high risk of discoloration when directly exposed to UV rays. They easily get stained also. And this reduces the durability of the ceramic tiles. But the vitrified tiles are made with various minerals along with clay which makes them durable. Again, there are fewer chances of the tiles getting scratch marks, stains, or other damage. Hence, when it comes to durability, vitrified tiles win the race.

#5 Cost

When it comes to the cost, ceramic tiles are an ideal choice to go with for people looking for a budgeted tile installation process. However, the vitrified tiles are a little costlier as they are made with a combination of various minerals which increases the production cost and the cost of the final product. Hence, if anyone is considering the price of the tiles while selecting the living room tiles, they are sure to go with ceramic tiles which are less expensive.

#6 Cleaning and Maintenance

Once the installation of the tiles is over, the next in the list is to care for and maintain the tiles. The best vitrified tiles are non-porous by nature, and hence, they are very easy to clean and maintain. They can easily be cleaned using general cleaning ingredients like bleach, vinegar, etc. The ceramic tiles are rough by nature, thus you might need to add some effort to cleaning them. Again, the ceramic tiles have deep grouts which make the cleaning process hectic as you might need hydrogen peroxide and a toothbrush for complete cleaning.

So, what do you think is the best choice for your living room? Well, coming to the material, the vitrified tiles give you superior flooring base material. Where ceramic tiles are affordable but need extra cleaning efforts, the vitrified tiles are durable and easy to clean. Hence, if you are looking for flooring which is cheaper and you are ready for regular cleaning of the tiles, ceramic tiles are the right choice for your living room. Opposite it, if you are ready to spend a good amount on the tiles, which need limited maintenance and are easy to clean, vitrified is the right choice for your house. Hence, before selecting the tiles, make sure you work on how active your living room would be for selecting the right tiles for it.