Whats the difference between Italian porcelain and Chinese porcelain tile?

Answer 1

I have just spent two weeks shopping for tile and have discovered Chinese porcelain tile. Many salespersons and tile installers told me there was no difference in Italian and Chinese tile. The fact is that many Italian companies have relocated to China or have subsidiaries there. One salesperson who visited a Chinese tile factory saw his Itlalian tile company representative obviously arranging to have Italian tile made in China. I decided to use Chinese porcelain tile and it will be installed in January. If I have any problems, I will post the results. Both tile installers from whom I got bids had no problem with the tile and in fact thought it was a good quality and an excellent reproduction of marble.

It is cheaper than Italian tile of the same grade, but isn't everything made in China.

It was the Chinese who introduced porcelain to the West many years ago and we still call fine dinnerware China, so after centuries of making porcelain dishes, what could be wrong with floor tile.

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I have discussed the differences between the Italian, Spanish, Turkish and Chinese tiles with a number of salespeople. I am told that the Italians founded the porcelain tile and they are the most expensive. The Italian marble tiles are super expensive and ceramic tiles are not recommended for high traffic areas so the porcelain tile is an excellent choice. There are polished, glazed and matte. be sure to find out the difference and to choose what's best for you. The quality of the Spanish porcelain tiles are supposed to be of similar quality. The Turks got smart and instead of working for the Italians they began producing their own tiles and they are among the world's largest tile makers. The advanatage of tiles from these countries is that they adhere to a strict code of standards . The Turkish porcelain tiles are pof excellent quality and are less expensive that the Italian and Spanish tiles. The Italians also produce tiles in China in order to bring the cost down. These tiles also follow the same codes. The Chinese tiles can be as much as 1/2 the price of even the Turkish tiles but as they are not required to follow a code of standards, you must be careful, as they may not be as good quality.

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I just had some porcelain tile installed in my shower and bathroom floor. I noticed when it chipped it was a different color underneath. Not like my porcelain tile in the kitchen and main bathroom. So when I checked a box of left over tile, it was made in China. After, comparing the 2 tiles, the more expensive ones I bought, to the ones made in China, the color does not go all the way through as does the more expensive porcelain. One of the reasons I liked porcelain tile was the color goes all the way through and if chipped, no one is the wiser. So I hope the cheap China tile holds up well and doesn't chip easily, as it will be quite noticeable. As always, you get what you pay for.

NEW USER:

I just used different tiles for 2 bathrooms in my house.

After shopping for 3 months for tiles and designs and qualities I have learned the following information.

I was looking for spanish porcelain tiles. I fell in love with Porcelanosa (one of the nicest, most unique and well known) They have the thickest and heaviest tile in the market. Their prices vary and if you find the right distributor you will get a great price. Porcelanosa is rather expensive, but their styles are 1 of a kind and their colors and textures cannot be matched or found anywhere else even remotely similar.

Italian porcelain is nothing special. It is nice, and might have some beautiful designs but the spanish tiles are far better and much alike in prices.

I then found an array of Chinese Porcelain. The display looked of spanish quality and honestly after learning so much about all the different kinds I can honestly say the Chinese was way too impressive to pass up on for $1.50 per sq less than Spanish tiles.

The difference:

Spanish tiles: Very thick, and very high quality colors and textures, it looks as if the designs are natural. The cornes and edges of the tile are fine cut and very straight and sharp. Their are no rough edges or chips on a spanish tile. Underneath a spanish reads MADE IN Spain.

Chinese tiles: Also thick in depth and pretty designs, but they like creativity in the tile. Unlike the spanish tile you can only create a color and design, not a theme. Spanish tiles look very European and mdoern designed. The Chinese tiles are great for a bathroom with modern furniture but cannot create a theme. They mock a European look but for the few extra $$ you will get European taste and theme with the spanish tiles. The Chinese tiles are a little bit easier to cut and a few percent more delicate and can chip away if not cut professionaly.

For the price difference I would recommend the Chinese tiles without thinking twice.

If you want to spend the extra money then you will appreciate the spanish tiles more. Use Porcelanosa spanish tiles and you will not go wrong.

In my opinion The Chinese tiles are not bad. The Italian tiles are too thin and are just as delicate as Chinese tiles. No difference and the Chinese are less in price.

If you would like to see photos, contact me.

Thanks

R

Answer 2

nothing,just different names