Decorating Your Home

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Porcelain Flooring

Porcelain floor tiles are a common type of ceramic flooring material. Due to the distinctive material qualities that porcelain tiles possess, floors made out of them offer your home a unique set of advantages and drawbacks. Companies like Art Tile Co. Inc. will be able to help you pick out and install the tile of your dreams! Understanding the characteristics of porcelain flooring can help you decide if they are the right fit for your home's flooring needs:

Advantages of Porcelain Flooring

Durability: The main advantage of installing porcelain flooring is that it is a highly durable material that is able to withstand a great deal of physical pressure without breaking. In addition, porcelain is highly stain resistant and will be able to withstand exposure to dirt, liquids and other contaminants without becoming marred.

Low Maintenance: Because of its high durability, stain resistance, and lack of absorptive qualities, porcelain tile is extremely easy to clean. You can make use of almost any general purpose cleaner to remove caked on dirt and debris, though you should stay away from highly acidic cleaners which can bleach the coloring out of your floor tiles.

Fireproof: Another major advantage of porcelain flooring is the fact that they will not burn. While this may not stop or prevent a fire, it can greatly slow down the spread, allowing your family members more time to safely get out of the house.

Ease of Repairs: Because porcelain flooring is installed in tiles, it is easy to repair individual sections that may become damaged or broken over time. Unlike other types of flooring materials, you are able to remove and replace individual tiles, saving you time and money in the long run.

Disadvantages of Porcelain Flooring

Installation: There are several downsides associated with porcelain flooring tiles. The first, and perhaps most obvious, is the fact that they are extremely heavy. This can make the installation process complicated and drawn out, and increase the amount of time that it takes to have your floor fully installed. This can increase the overall disruption to your day to day life, and can also have significant effects on the labor costs associated with your floor if you have your porcelain tiles professionally installed.

Cost: Another thing to consider when deciding whether or not to install porcelain flooring is the cost of the material itself. Because of its attractive aesthetic and highly durable nature, porcelain is a fairly expensive building material, depending on the thickness and type of porcelain that you choose. When compounded with the added labor costs of installation, the high initial price point of porcelain tiles can make them a poor choice for homeowners with a tight budget.


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