What Is The Difference Between Glazed And Unglazed Ceramic Tile

The glass is what makes glazed tiles so highly moisture and stain resistant and what gives them their colour.

What is the difference between glazed and unglazed ceramic tile.

You have the option of glazed or unglazed porcelain and there are important differences between the two. Unglazed also called full body or through body porcelain tile is porcelain tile that has been kiln fired without a protective enamel or glass layer over the top. When it comes time to plan out your home renovation project you re faced with finding a balance between the practical and the decorative. The finish of porcelain is smoother than that of ceramic.

Luckily with ceramic and porcelain tile you get both despite this not all ceramic and porcelain tiles are the same glazed and unglazed tile options have their differences that offer distinct advantages for different spaces. Manufacturing process both glazed and unglazed porcelain tile is made through pressing and tightly firing clay silica and other natural materials at very high temperatures. A matter of form and function choosing the right tile for a project is all about balancing form and function. Ceramic tile can be slightly more prone to water infiltration than is porcelain tile though these differences are fairly minimal if the ceramic tile is glazed.

Not all porcelain tiles are the same though. Glazing is the only real difference between glazed and unglazed tiles. How do you choose between glazed vs unglazed ceramic tiles. Ceramic tile often has a glazed surface coloring so chips may reveal a different color underneath.

In this way the basic difference between the glazed tiles and unglazed tiles is the coating on them. After the ceramic tiles are fired a thin coat of liquefied glass is applied over the top surface. The process of firing the tiles infuses the glaze into the top layer of the clay of the tile. The unglazed surface of ceramic tile will feel coarse.

Glazed vs unglazed porcelain tiles. Aesthetics are important but equally important are slip resistance abrasion resistance and maintenance. Turn over a piece of loose tile. A broken or chipped piece of unglazed porcelain will have a uniform color throughout its thickness.

Unglazed ceramic and porcelain tiles gain their colour from mineral deposits that were present in the clay from which the tiles were composed or by the addition of natural pigments. Porcelain tile is a man made material used in both floor and wall applications in homes and offices. These tiles are not as stain resistant as glazed tile but because the color goes throughout they are better in high traffic areas. Ceramic tile is fired at lower temperatures generally no more than 1 650 degrees fahrenheit.