comparing porcelain tiles-similar but different price

16 years ago

I'm looking for 20 x 20 beige-ish porcelain floor tiles with movement (I call them "swirls")for about 2000 square feet. I have narrowed it down to three slightly different porcelain tiles from three different places. I really could be happy with any of them but the prices are different.

Is there a quality difference in the tiles? They are all rectified porcelain-not ceramic. The prices are 2.00, 2.50, and 3.50 per square foot.

Each place told me there is no difference in quality, it is just design, etc. The hardness and quality is the same and none are "seconds."

Is that accurate? Is the cheaper one also cheaper quality? Is there something else I should be aware of? Also all of these are smooth on top, not the kind with "dings" although they look similar to that. Thanks! (also posted on flooring forum but this one gets more activity)

Featured Answer

shaughnn

16 years ago

Hi there BuddysMom,
Mongo got most of the points covered but here are a couple of other things to consider as well.
Flatness - Rectified tiles have been re-milled for squareness, but the face of the tile can still have cups or bows which will ruin an offset pattern quicker than you can say Bisazza! Making the tile flat also requires more machining and that will usually translate into a higher price point.
Glazed vs. Through-body - Does the color extend into the body of the tile or is it a glaze applied to the surface? Through-body tiles can be polished like stone tiles for more attractive corners, stairs, and even your own baseboard.
Composition of tile finish - There are some really exotic finishes on some pretty affordable tiles lately. Some are metallic glazes or metallic gases fused to the hot tiles. Others are extremely delicate appearing yet still durable. There are embossed textures, stamped patterns and mixed sheens. Sometime similar effects are accomplished by very different means, and the costs will reflect these varied approaches.
Best of luck,
Shaughnn

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Comments (7)

MongoCT
16 years ago
Porcelain is porcelain. Rectified is rectified. If they also have the same hardness/wear rating, etc, the same thickness, the only other thing I'd be concerned with off the top of my head would be the repetition of pattern throughout the boxes if there is one.

Some tiles have a limited number of individual tile "patterns" within a series. With a large expanse of tile flooring you want to make sure there are a sufficient number so you don't see a repetitive pattern of like tiles dancing across the floor.

And the quality of the pattern, depending on how the "swirls" are made. Though I haven't seen this in a few years, a while ago some lesser priced tiles would have the design silk screened on top, and if you looked with a critical eye you could see the subtle mesh pattern from the screen.

Again, that's dependent on the design being printed.

With them all being rectified, uniformity of size should not be an issue.

Bill or Shaughnn might have better info for you, they know a heckuva lot more about tile quality than me.
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Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
16 years ago
I guess the last thing to look at is "Calibre." In other words, are the sizes consistant? Take 6 or 8 tiles and stack them on end...rotate a few of them. Are the edges the same or can you feel variations in size? The cheaper tiles often are as much as 1/8" difference. If there is a considerable difference, your tile man will be "Hating life" in trying to get consistancy with the grout lines...
debbie1000
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks. I just spoke to another tile person today and he mentioned that. Said that some tiles are made in China and the dimensions are not always consistent. He said tiles made in Spain or Italy are considered "better."

Interesting that the cheapest one of the bunch doesn't have where it was made stamped on the back of the tile. I'll need to go back to the store and see what I can find out.
shaughnn
16 years ago
Laz,
BuddysMom stated in the original post that all of the tiles she is considering are "rectified". "Calibre" tends to indicate the degree of quality; usually indicating "Firsts".
Shaughnn
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