We will discuss here the difference between ceramic and granite tiles. As we know all the house should be the most comfortable place for people who live there. Creating a comfortable home atmosphere is not easy, so you have to be careful and careful in making decisions.
One part that can make the house comfortable is the floor. Choosing the right material for flooring will determine how your home will look.
Of the many materials you can choose from, two of them are ceramic and granite. These two materials are the most popular in the manufacture of flooring. Some people even think that these two ingredients are the same.
This is because granite and ceramic have the same level of beauty. Even from a distance, the two do look alike. However, there are some differences between ceramic and granite that you need to know.
Difference Between Ceramic and Granite Tiles
Here are the points that will help you to understand the difference between ceramic and granite floor tiles.
Production Raw Material
The first difference between ceramic and granite is the material. The basic material of ceramics is molded clay. To form ceramics, clay that has been formed will be burned. After being burned, the ceramic will be given a polish on the top. The more the combustion process, the better the ceramic results will be. Some ceramics are also given additional accessories such as listello and inserto to add to their beauty.
Granite is made of natural rock, derived from magma that has cooled and is under extreme pressure. Granite floors have been used since antiquity. The function of the floor of the granite material can also give the impression of a spacious room. This is what makes many people finally decide to use granite as a flooring material for their homes.
Differences in Surface Texture of Ceramic and Granite Tiles
Having different basic materials, of course, makes ceramics and granite have different surfaces. The difference between ceramic and granite on this one is sometimes a determinant, which one suits one’s taste. Ceramic has a variety of color levels, ranging from the darkest to the lightest. This shows how well the water absorption rate of the ceramic is.
Of course, you’ve seen builders before installing ceramics usually soaking ceramics in water, right? This is done to increase the level of water absorption in the ceramic pores. Dark-colored ceramics have a lower resistance to water than light-colored ceramics.
While granite is a rock, so it automatically has a rough and hard surface. But when it comes to flooring, some sellers have smoothed the surface of the granite so that it only looks rough when it isn’t.
Granite also has good resistance to water, making it suitable for floors that tend to be damp. This is the most prominent difference between ceramic and granite. You can tell right away when you see the ingredients.
Durability
The next difference between ceramic and granite is its durability. Ceramics are easily scratched. That is, when something scratches the ceramic surface, it will have a mark. Ceramic is lighter than granite so it is also less resistant to impact. If you need a floor that is resistant to impact or friction, then choose granite.
Granite material is stronger in terms of weight so it is resistant to impact. Granite also has a hard surface so small friction won’t damage it.
Based on the differences between ceramic and granite above, of course, you already have an idea about what type of material you will choose. You can choose the material for this floor according to your needs.
Appearance Difference between ceramic and granite tiles
In terms of appearance, ordinary ceramics have endless variations – both in terms of color, finishing, motif, and style. For this matter, granite ceramics can be said to be more limited when compared to ordinary ceramics. This is because granite ceramics are made of natural stone, so their appearance is more often characterized by irregular patterns and varying colors. Granite tiles also have a flash or regular finish.
Also read: How to Tell the Difference Between Ceramic and Porcelain Tile
Ask if you like the appearance of a floor that is not too uniform or random or choose a plain ceramic floor from end to end. Take a look at the respective samples of ordinary ceramic and granite tiles before making a decision.
Treatment
Maintenance of tile floors is related to the availability of time that you want to set aside every day. Granite tile is one of the most durable floor design materials of all. Granite tiles are also more difficult to break, crack or damage than ordinary ceramics. However, granite tiles are more “porous” than ordinary ceramics, so they are more likely to leave stains.
As a solution, you can do the sealing process first for granite ceramics. This protection generally also has to be done every few years for granite tile floors.
Granite and Ceramic Cost
One of the determinants in choosing a floor design is usually cost. Granite tile will certainly be more expensive than ordinary tile floors, but there are also ordinary ceramics with super quality which can be more expensive than granite tiles. This means price variations can be adjusted according to the quality of the object again. But generally, good-quality granite tiles will still be more expensive than high-quality ordinary ceramics.
So, a wise buyer should be able to analyze the choice of ceramics carefully, especially in terms of quality. If you want granite ceramics but are constrained by costs, you may try a combination solution with ordinary ceramics. For example, using some granite tiles as a variation in the corridor, but still using ordinary tiles for flooring at home.
Granite and Ceramic Installation
In addition to the cost of purchasing the ceramic itself, consider the significant installation costs later. Ceramic granite installations are usually more expensive than ordinary ceramic tiles because the installation technique is more difficult and requires precision. In addition, it takes a special machine for cutting granite ceramics.
Making Process
Ceramics are made of clay that is shaped with a certain model, then burned. Then the burnt ceramic is coated with a glaze on the surface. After that, ceramic patterns/patterns are made on a layer of glaze and then burned again until cooked and ready to use. The purpose of the double-fired tile is to increase the hardness and strength of the ceramic. This is why, the bottom of the ceramic is always red, typical of clay with different motifs and colors on the top.
Sometimes this ceramic is given additional accessories called listello and inserto to add to its aesthetic value. After the addition of these accessories has been successfully carried out, the ceramic needs to be burned again (third fliring tile) so that the additional material can stick firmly. Theprocess of making several types of ceramics requires a combustion stage of up to 4-5 times, especially for premium quality ceramics. The more ceramics are burned in the furnace, the stronger the results so the price will be more expensive.
Meanwhile, granite is a material formed by nature. Nature has made granite for a very long time. Manufacturers then print the granite into a certain shape. After the desired shape is finished, the raw granite material is then immediately burned until it is cooked. That is why all layers of granite have the exact same color and pattern. If the front is black with white spots, then you can also be sure that the inside to the back is black with white spots too.
Granite is also commonly referred to as single-fired tile because it only goes through one stage of combustion. The motifs or patterns found on the granite floor are formed naturally. The typical motif is dotted in black, white, brown, gray, and blue colors. This also happens to marble. Only for marble, the motifs/patterns are in the form of vein lines of irregular shape and size. While ceramics have a variety of motifs. Besides having a motif similar to granite, currently, some ceramics lookThe processlike marble, wood, terracotta, concrete, and others.
Physical Properties
If you pay close attention, the ceramic body has a variegated red color. Ranging from red-brown color to a whitish red color. Please note, the brightness of the color indicates the level of water absorption by the pores it has. Ceramics with dark red bodies have a higher water absorption rate than ceramics with red bodies that tend to be white. That is why, ceramics that have a dark red body must be soaked in water first before being installed on the floor or wall.
The next physical characteristic of ceramics is the presence of a white line (window frame) that is not covered by coloring material around the edges. This ceramic also does not lookprocess likeave a flat surface. The surface of this ceramic is a bit wavy due to the uneven glaze layer. You also have to know if some ceramics have gone through the cutting process first and some are straight. These cut ceramics have a uniform shape and the corners are more angled.
Also read: What Is the Difference Between Steel and Stainless Steel?
Compare this with granite which has a much flatter surface and is not bumpy because the cutting process is carried out using special machines with advanced technology so that it can produce really flat, straight, and precise cutting results. The sides of the granite are cut first before being packaged so that they are the same size, have a precise shape, and have right angles. This makes granite able to be installed in a tighter arrangement with a thin grout so that the results are better than ceramic. You can follow the installation guide in our previous article.
Power and Strength
If you compare the strength between ceramic and granite, which one is stronger against friction and impact. The answer is granite is the winner. Granite has the characteristics of a material that is much harder and heavier than ceramic. The result of the pressure is able to beat the ceramic which incidentally has lighter weight. The thin glaze layer on the ceramic also makes it easy to scratch and erode over time. You have to be serious when caring for ceramics so that their charm does not fade quickly. In contrast to granite which is very strong and more sturdy.
But in terms of resistance to dirt and stubborn stains, ceramic is superior to granite. The main reason is the presence of a very slippery glaze layer with super small pores on the surface of the ceramic, making these stains not easy to stick. If there are stains that contaminate it, ceramics are easier to clean. While granite is easy to get dirty because it has large enough pores. But you can overcome this by routinely doing the polishing process on the granite. The polishing layer will protect the granite from dirt particles. If you take good care of it, this granite can last for hundreds of years.
