The choice of tiles is a determining aspect after renovating a kitchen or bathroom. The market offers multiple designs and colors, but as far as its production is concerned, there are two main types: red-paste or stoneware tiles and white-paste or porcelain tiles. When choosing between one or the other, in addition to being beautiful, you must take into account its price, the characteristics of the place where it is going to be installed and its resistance. But what are the differences between both types of tiles?
The main difference between a red body tile and a white body tile lies in the materials used to make it. Those with red paste owe their color to the clay used for cooking, which acquires a more yellowish or reddish tone depending on the iron oxide it contains. As it is a soft material, it is recommended to use stoneware to cover areas where wear is less.
Meanwhile, those with white paste use clays that do not oxidize during this process due to their high iron content. This quality gives the porcelain a very characteristic radiant shine that promises a better finish. Its resistance to foot traffic and its ability to absorb enamels make it an ideal anti-corrosion resource, for example, for coating an outdoor pavement.
Porcelain is a much more dynamic material at the interior design level, since it has a multitude of designs such as marble imitation, which will add extra elegance to your rooms. However, their finishes are usually rectified, while the beveling of the red-paste tiles makes them much more visible.
The clay used to make red body ceramics is abundant in Spain, which is used by local manufacturers to make this material cheap and accessible. On the contrary, porcelain is imported from other countries, which raises its price in the market considerably.
Stoneware is suitable for tiling or paving interior rooms, and that is why they are distributed in medium or small sizes. On the other hand, white-paste ceramic is a more versatile material, but one that is usually conditioned by a much larger format. These pieces can be more than one meter long and usually have a straight finish without joints, so their placement is more complex and requires some experience.
