What Is The Difference?
The difference may come from their technical difference or simply the visual difference. Manufacturers produce some tiles to be suitable for walls only because of their technical specifications.
What Is Difference Between Wall And Floor Porcelain Tiles?
Some manufacturers label porcelain tiles as a ‘wall tile’ or a ‘floor tile’. Why? It may just be that they look better or are more practical there. For example, in a bathroom application, as mentioned above, many decide to use the same type of tiles. But they often buy a 300x300mm size for the floor and a 300x600mm size for the walls.
Where To Buy Quality Wall & Floor Tiles
TFO is the best place in Sydney to shop for the latest and the greatest wall and floor tiles. TFO sells about 35,000 square metres of tiles every single week, making it the biggest single tile outlet in Sydney. Because we don’t have a maze of middlemen, we save and we directly pass the savings on to you.
Appearance of Tiles
Both floor and wall tiles come in a wide variety of designs, colours, shapes and sizes. That means there is no significant difference between the two except one of them is stylistically smaller and thinner than the other.
Slipperiness
Every type of tile has a Coefficient of Friction or COF rating that determines their slipperiness. Tiles with higher COF have greater levels of friction making them much easier and safer to walk on without any slippage. Therefore, floor tiles usually have a higher COF rating. Meanwhile, tiles with lower COF are relatively more slippery.
Strength and Hardness
The Porcelain Enamel Institute or PEI rating is yet another important factor in the wall vs floor tiles debate. This rating determines the strength and rigidity of tiles. The Porcelain Enamel Institute classifies tiles into five categories to measure how much wear and tear they can withstand without breaking or cracking.
Durability and Maintenance
As mentioned above, wall tiles are stylistically thinner than floor tiles. This means they are easier to crack under pressure compared to the floor tiles, which are usually stronger and thicker than their counterparts.
Heat and Moisture Resistance
Whether you opt for ceramic or porcelain wall tiles, they are both almost equally resistant to heat and moisture. This is because your walls do not come in contact with water and hot objects as frequently as your floors do.
The Lifespan of Different Types of Tiles
If maintained properly, a good-quality tile can last for up to 50 years or more. In practice, both wall and floor tiles have a similar lifespan. However, since wall tiles are thinner, they are prone to breakage if installed on floors. Thick floor tiles may also crack if something extremely heavy falls on them.
Installation of Wall vs Floor Tiles
The installation process of floor tile vs wall tile is pretty similar. If you are going the DIY route, you must start with an underlayment of cement backboards. Next, apply a thin-set adhesive with a notched trowel on the subfloor and wall to install the floor and wall tiles respectively.
Appearance
- Wall Tile
There is no appreciable difference in the appearance of ceramic and porcelain wall tile vs floor tile, but stylistically, it is general practice for wall tiles to be relatively small in comparison to floor tiles. Because of its visible nature and the difficulty of installing wall tile on a vertical surface, wa…
Water and Heat Resistance
- Wall Tile
Ceramic and porcelain wall tiles have the same good resistance to water as do floor tiles. However, in countertop applications, wall tiles are slightly thinner and therefore may be a little less resistant to the heat of hot skillets and pans. - Floor Tile
Floor tiles are typically thicker than wall tiles, and hence may have better resistance to heat when installed for countertop applications. This is not relevant for wall and floor installations, however.
Durability and Maintenance
- Both wall and floor tiles have the same maintenance profile. The tiles can be cleaned with simple soap and water. Grout between tiles should be kept clean and may need to be replaced every few years if it cracks or becomes discolored.
Installation
- Both floor tiles and wall tiles are installed using similar processes. First, an underlayment of cement backer board is installed against the subfloor or wall studs. The tiles are adhered to the backer board using thin-set adhesives applied with a notched trowel. Once dry, the joints between tiles are filled with a paste-like, mortar-based grout, which is sealed once it dries and hardens.
Cost
- Costs for ceramic and porcelain wall tiles are generally fairly comparable to the costs for floor tiles.
Lifespan
- Wall Tile
A well-installed and well-maintained tile job can last 75 years or more. You are more likely to replace tile because you are tired of the look than because the material wears out. However, if wall tile is mistakenly installed in a floor application, it may crack relatively quickly. - Floor Tile
Floor tiles, as heavier, stronger materials, will theoretically last longer than wall tiles. In practice, however, both materials are likely to last a lifetime.
The Verdict
- The only important advice is to make sure that tiles installed on a floor have a hardness (PEI) rating and COF friction rating that are appropriate to that use. Any type of tile can be applied to a wall, but it is important that floor tile is rated for that purpose.
Top Brands
- Daltileoffers many great tile products in both standard ceramics and stone-look porcelains.
- Marazzi Tileis a premium foreign tile manufacturer, but one that has very broad U.S. distribution—even in big-box home improvement centers.
- Acme Brick Tile & Stone, formerly known as American Tile, offers a wide, affordable selection of all types of tile.