Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles are one of the most durable types of tiles. They’re also one of the most common types of tiles and come in various styles. There is a porcelain tile suitable for almost any use, whether that’s on the floor or wall or even outside. They usually come with a PEI rating to help determine how durable they are. They also come in a huge range of sizes from porcelain mosaics tiles to subway tiles to 24” x 48” tiles. You can check out our selection of porcelain mosaic tiles here.

 It is important to know the durability of a porcelain tiles to understand how much foot traffic it can withstand. Certain porcelain tiles, while suitable for floor use, may wear differently if used in a commercial setting versus a residential setting. Manufacturers of tile use PEI rating to determine whether porcelain tiles are best for floor, wall, residential, or commercial use. This is one distinguishing factor between ceramic and porcelain tiles. Typically, ceramic tiles do not have a PEI rating or may be suggested for wall use only. However, if a PEI rating is listed for porcelain tiles, you can typically use it for heavy traffic if the PEI rating is a 4 or 5. You can read more about PEI rating in our blog post here.

 Porcelain tiles can also come in a few finishes that might also determine where they should be used and can influence the design choices. Some of the common finishes that you might see for porcelain tiles are matte, glossy, and polished.

 Porcelain tiles also have various edges. A couple of the most common edge types are pressed and rectified. Most porcelain tiles are pressed which causes the edges to have some imperfections. This is very common with tile and just means that some extra space might need to be made in between tiles so that the variation isn’t as noticeable. A rectified edge means that the edge of the tile is cut to be straight and allows for the tiles to be installed closer together. This is especially helpful if you are aiming for a seamless look. Rectified tiles can be installed closer together so that the grout lines aren’t as noticeable.

 One more aspect to consider when choosing a porcelain tiles is whether it is a color body or not. If “color body” is noted on a tile description, it means that the color is throughout the entire tile. So this can be helpful to consider for tiles that may be prone to chipping or cracking in very high-traffic areas.

 Porcelain tiles also come in a wide range of colors, patterns, styles, and sizes. We offer several different styles that look like marble, wood, stone, encaustic, and cement. We also have sizes ranging from 4” x 12” tiles to large format 24” x 48” tiles. There is a porcelain tile for every design!

 One of our favorite marble-look porcelain tile series is Penthouse. This stunning, luxurious porcelain tile series has a large range of sizes in four colors and two finishes. The 4”x12” tiles are great for a sophisticated brick look. Some customers have used these smaller formats for shower walls. The larger options like the 12” x 24” tiles are great for larger spaces, whether it’s bathroom walls or kitchen floors. Both options come with a matching porcelain mosaic tile which can be used as a kitchen backsplash or shower floor. These wall and floor combinations make designing a unified space easy to do. The four colors make it easy to mix and match too.

 Wood-look porcelain plank tiles are a great choice for areas that need to be durable and spill-proof. These wood look planks are ideal for designs that want the rustic, warm look of wood but need some extra protection from spills, stains, etc that might ruin traditional wood flooring. We carry a few different lines of wood look planks. They come in various sizes and colors. One of our best sellers is the Gramercy 6”x24” porcelain plank tile. We also have longer wood look porcelain plank tiles like our Nashville 6”x33” or even our Olympia 7”x45” tile. These porcelain wood look tiles can be used on floors in basements, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. They can also be used on a statement wall in the living room or even as a kitchen backsplash.

 Porcelain floor tiles that look like concrete are great for mid-century modern and contemporary designs. Because a lot of them are grey or black, they’re also a great neutral that can really stand the test of time. One of the concrete look tiles that we offer is the Slate 32”x32” porcelain tile. The convenient large-format size will make it easy to cover large areas like kitchens, basements, or living rooms. We offer the Bowery collection as well which has a matching 12”x24” field tile and porcelain mosaic. If you’re looking for a warmer toned option, consider the Driftwood series for a warm rustic look.

 Another popular choice for porcelain tiles is encaustic look tiles. These often have intricate or bold designs on them. They are a popular choice in modern farmhouse designs. Consider using Venice 10”x10” porcelain tiles for a fun, bold statement in your bathroom or kitchen design. Or you can consider a smaller tile like our Ellis Taco 6”x6” tiles which are sure to add a pop of pattern and color to your backsplash or shower walls.

 A classic choice of porcelain tile is a stone-look tile. These mimic the veining inherent in natural stone floors but are much easier to install. They come in an array of veining intensity, colors, and even textures. We offer a very elegant line, Montague, that has very light details and sophisticated subtleties. On the flipside, we have a more natural look with our Houston line which actually has a matching ceramic wall tile. We think either of these are a timeless choice when it comes to porcelain mosaic tiles.

 There really are so many types of porcelain floor tiles. We’ve barely scratched the surface of the different features, types, sizes, and designs in which porcelain tiles are available. We hope that you can look through our extensive selection of porcelain floor tiles and find what you are looking for. We offer a wide selection of marble look, stone look, encaustic, wood look, and porcelain mosaic tiles to choose from. We can’t wait to see how you use your porcelain floor tiles!