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It’s a debate that’s raged for years: natural stone vs. porcelain, authentic materials vs processed ones. Many people take one side or the other and it’s easy to see where the temptation lies. On the one hand, natural stone has an inherent beauty to it. It’s a look that combines the outdoor world with the indoor world and brings a little part of nature into your home. Alternatively, porcelain can be designed in any colour or pattern we want. It may be a more synthetic look but it’s also one we have far more control over.
The truth is that there are pros and cons to both materials. In this article, we’re going to bury the hatchet and talk about when porcelain and natural stone are and aren’t appropriate.
Table of Contents
The Benefits of Porcelain
The real advantage of porcelain is that it can be shaped to benefit any situation and can be made in any colour. That being said, you might also want porcelain because of its extreme durability, low maintenance, and versatility. Porcelain is also easy to clean and relatively cheap to replace.
All in all, it’s a good all-purpose tile, though it does lack some of the beauty of natural stone and is also quite a bit harder, making it difficult to cut and install.
The Benefits of Natural Stone
Natural stone is also pretty durable and, for many, has a far more authentic look to it. Each tile is different, with a unique, beautiful stone pattern on everyone.
On the other hand, some types of natural stone (such as marble and limestone) are quite porous, meaning they can absorb liquids and stains. This makes them a lot harder to clean. They can also get quite expensive depending on which stone you choose.
At the end of the day, every individual has their own taste and, as we said at the beginning, some materials are better suited to some jobs. Natural stone can make for great floor tiles but won’t always double up for wall tiles where porcelain potentially could. If you’re looking to bring a beautiful, classy and classical look to your home, then you should definitely consider getting natural stone tiles. If you’d like something a little more modern or versatile then porcelain is the way to go. Either way, what’s important is that you choose the material that’s right for you.
