No. The words are often used interchangeably, but that’s not quite correct. While porcelain is made up of some ceramic materials, both are different and, hence, behave differently is various installations.
The bottom line is that porcelain is always waterproof. Ceramic can be waterproof, but only if it’s glazed. Most experts advise glazing, or resealing, every two years.
Ceramics are available in a large assortment of colors, shapes, sizes, patterns, and designs. Porcelain is milky white, translucent and has that Italian “porcellana” cache associated with things like fine china.
New Braunfels Flooring & Design Center offers design consultation, whether it’s in your house or our showroom. When it’s in-house, it also gives the professionals an opportunity to measure and examine the room so they can provide the best information possible. Our inventory also includes carpet, hardwood, vinyl and waterproof WPC and our showroom is in New Braunfels, TX. We also serve Canyon Lake, San Marcos, McQueeney, Seguin, and Schertz.
The clays are denser, heavier and more durable. There’s also a “through-body” composition, meaning that if you chip it, it will be the same color all the way through. That makes it invisible, no one will ever notice. That’s opposed to ceramic which, if you chip it, might be a different color underneath, so you’ll have no choice but to repair it.
While both are fired at high temperatures, porcelain is even higher and longer, giving it more density.
It’s recommended for high moisture, heavy traffic areas, such as the kitchen, bath, showers, or tubs. There’s some debate about this, but many experts do think it is fine for outdoor use, on patios, decks, walkways, or pools.