Tile and Stone Buying Guide

Porcelain

PROS

• Offers the look of stone without the maintenance hassles.
• Can be used indoors and out.
• Very durable and scratch-resistant, making it ideal for high-traffic areas
• Low moisture absorption makes it a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
• Features color throughout the porcelain tile (rather than just on the surface, like most ceramic tile) so scratches are less noticeable.

CONS

• Lower-price lines feature limited sizes and colors.
• Some tiles are susceptible to staining, depending on the manufacturing process. (Polished porcelain tile will likely need to be sealed before grouting to increase stain resistance.)
• Often seen as less glamorous than real stone, but new, sophisticated designs are changing this perception.

PRICE

$3 - $25 per square foot, uninstalled.