Are Porcelain Tiles Better than Marble Tiles?

Sometimes we can say: yes, they are better. And sometimes, we must say, no, they are not. The correct answer to this question depends on where and how you are going to use porcelain and marble tiles.

Confused? Let me break it down in gradually under the following subsections and help you understand why porcelain tiles work better under certain circumstances, and why they don’t.

Water and Moisture –

If the area is exposed to water and moisture, porcelain tiles will be a better material here for their superior degree of moisture resistance, water resistance, and waterproofing.

On the opposite, marble tiles have a porous surface and they allow seepage of water and moisture through their pores. Although water and moisture cannot damage marble, the surface underneath suffers a lot because of excess moisture.

Due to overabundance of water and moisture, the substrate under your marble flooring can lose its strength sooner than expected, and this condition often becomes a ground for floor damage. As a solution, you should use polished and sealed marble tiles that have their pores blocked.

Slippery –

But polished marble tiles become dangerously slippery when wet. So, polished marble tiles don’t exactly make a great choice for bathroom, laundry, and kitchen flooring.

You should rather use slip-resistant porcelain tiles that don’t even when they are wet.

Cleaning and Maintenance –

Marble requires carefully cleaning and upkeep. You have to handle marble with care. If not, it will lose its beauty, shine, and charm – reasons you invested in it. Even while cleaning, you will have to make sure that the cleansing solution does not contain any acid or vinegar.

If there will be chemical in your cleaning solution, it will cause discoloration and might even cause flaking on your expensive stone flooring.

On the other hand, porcelain tiles do not require that level of care and attention. You are only required to remove dust and mop your porcelain floor everyday with any type of floor cleansing solution.

So, now you know why porcelain tiles are better than marble tiles under some conditions.

Want to ask any question about porcelain or marble before you make any buying decision, just drop a line in the comments section below.