Comparing Natural Stone and Ceramic Hard Tile

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Comparing Natural Stone and Ceramic Hard Tile
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• The key similarity is they both are hard surface
  flooring options which are durable, reliable and
  can last for years in numerous environments
• The key difference is a melted glass glaze that
  can be applied to ceramics in order to protect
  them from damage and stains
• Natural Stones are mountain born stones like
  granite, slate, limestone, sandstone
• Ceramics are categorized as unglazed ceramic,
  terra cotta, glazed ceramic

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Ceramic Tile Versus Natural Stone

• Maintenance Sealing
• Cleaning
• Durability
• Decorative Flooring Considerations

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Maintenance

• Ceramics
• When it comes to porosity and vulnerability to
  water, unglazed ceramic is going to be similar to
  a mid-range Travertine material
• It needs to be sealed on a regular basis to
  protect it from stains
• With glazed ceramic, you dont have to worry
  about water penetration at all, and sealing is
  unnecessary, except for along grout lines
• Natural Stone
• Have to be sealed, although harder options such
  as granite and slate can sometimes weather fine
  after only an initial application

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Cleaning 

• Ceramics
• With glazed ceramic, you can use virtually any
  cleaning agent that you want to completely
  sanitize the area
• With harsher chemicals, you should be careful not
  to degrade the grout lines too much and make sure
  the space being cleaned is well ventilated
• Natural Stone
• Exist as a chemical base
• The use of any acidic cleansers need to be
  avoided as they will cause a reaction in the
  stone which can result in a permanent stain

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Durability

• Ceramics
• The structural strength is based on how hot the
  fires were when it was baked in the kiln
• Higher temperatures will result in more durable
  materials, such as porcelain, and a glaze can
  help prevent scratches
• Natural Stone
• The structural strength varies by type of
  material
• Granite and slate being much harder than marble
  or limestone

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Decorative Flooring Considerations

• Ceramics
• Glazed ceramic is generally going to be the right
  choice if you want a low maintenance, stain
  resistant, hassle free floor
• Ceramic is not a completely natural product, and
  while it can mimic the look of stone, it is not
  able to fully reproduce it
• Natural Stone
• Mountain born stones
• Completely natural product
• People often opt for the less durable natural
  option, in order to increase the authenticity of
  the environment they are building

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Ceramic Tiles Pros Cons

• Pros
• Identifiable color pattern
• Due to their uniformity, ceramic tiles are
  typically very easy to clean
• Usually have smoother textures and a color
  pattern
• Allows sealant or cleaning products to be evenly
  distributed very easily
• Less expensive than natural stone
• Cons
• Less weather resistant
• Frost can cause ceramics to crack or break

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Natural Stones Pros Cons

• Pros
• Uniqueness
• Very resistant to weather and wear
• More valuable than ceramic tile
• Installing natural stone drives up the market
  value of a home
• Cons
• More expensive
• Harder to maintain
• Unevenness makes it tougher to apply sealant and
  cleaners evenly

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• It is important to consider all of these facts
  when settling on a type of flooring
• Ceramic tile and natural stone can both be
  beautiful options, but their beauty will be
  overshadowed by issues if they are installed
  incorrectly or in an unsuitable area
• Be sure to take into account how you will be
  using the tile before making your final decision

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Natural stone supplier in Oman

• Natural Stone Company LLCcontactus_at_naturalstoneom
  an.com
• P.O Box. 272, SeebPostal Code - 111Sultanate of
  Oman