Choosing Bathroom Tiles: Ceramic, Porcelain and Slip Ratings
By Wall Boulevard
Ceramic and porcelain look similar on a showroom wall and behave differently once they are down. Ceramic is made from clay fired at lower temperatures, which keeps it affordable and easy to cut and install. It absorbs more water and will crack under heavy point loads, so it belongs on walls and in areas with lighter foot traffic. The trade-off is range: ceramic comes in the widest spread of colours and patterns.
Porcelain uses a denser clay fired at higher temperatures. The result is a much harder tile with a low water absorption rate, less likely to chip or crack and more resistant to mould and mildew. That makes it the right choice for bathroom floors and anywhere that gets constant traffic. It costs more and it is harder to cut, so allow for a tiler with the right blades and tools.
Slip resistance is the specification that gets skipped most. In Australia tiles are slip tested to AS 4586. The wet pendulum test gives a P rating from P0 to P5, and the higher the number the more grip underfoot. For most bathroom floors P3 is the usual minimum. Where soap and water sit on the floor, a shower base or a pool surround, go to P4 or P5. The rating is on each collection page. Ask us for the rating of the tile you like.
Finish matters as much as the rating. Matt outperforms gloss underfoot once there is water about, and natural materials like slate and limestone carry their own texture. For a quick check in the showroom, spray a sample with water and run a hand across it. Remember that porous tiles and stone need sealing to keep water out.
Size changes how a bathroom reads and how much work it is to clean. Large format tiles mean fewer grout lines, a flatter modern look and less scrubbing. Mosaics do the opposite: more grout, more visual interest, and more grip, which is why they earn their place in small bathrooms and shower bases.
Layout is free design. A straight lay is the traditional option, herringbone adds depth and movement, and a diagonal set can make a narrow room feel wider. Mixing shapes, colours or materials gives contrast, and a border or feature wall in an accent tile adds character without committing the whole room to it.
Colour and finish rarely photograph accurately, so see the tile in person before you commit. Wall Boulevard ranges include Kit Kat, Enzo, Terrazzo, Stage, Tundra, Fashion, Kempsey, Nova, Travertine and Cromatica.
Talk it through with us at either store. 19 Mantell Street, Coburg North VIC 3058, (03) 8683 6514. 1/8 Lakewood Blvd, Carrum Downs VIC 3201, (03) 9005 5027.
