porcelain tile vs. stone:
high quality flooring - without the headaches

  

By: Lisa M. Cupolo 

Professionals within the design field often find themselves faced with difficult decisions in regards to sacrificing aesthetics for value engineering reasons.  Although natural stone, such as marble and granite, are extremely attractive products, they also create several maintenance and cost hassles.

The Rojas Group, Inc. was recently confronted with this design challenge when completing the Granata Highlands project in Malden, MA.  The architectural firm sought the aesthetics of marble flooring for the lobby of this condominium project without the high costs associated with material, installation and the headaches of maintaining a marble floor on a daily basis.    

Improvements in the porcelain tile industry within the last few years have shown that technology can overcome cost and maintenance concerns associated with stone flooring.  New innovations in this type of flooring, known as engineered stone - a technological advancement that makes the aesthetic difference between stone and porcelain tile virtually unnoticeable - are introduced annually at an Italian tile tradeshow known as Cersaie.      

Representing 1000 manufacturers with approximately 1.5 million square feet of exhibits from 30 countries worldwide, Cersaie is a way for manufacturers to display their new porcelain tile products and has been held annually in Italy for the past 23 years.  Cersaie is a way for professionals to view the latest technologically advanced design trends in the porcelain tile industry, many of which have not been released to the public. 

Engineered stone is stain proof, highly scratch and chemical resistant, and practically maintenance free.  Porcelain tile is also five times stronger than stone, which significantly reduces the risk of breakage. 

According to a facilities management independent study completed by ZHA Incorporated, initial material and installation costs for porcelain tile are half the costs of stone products (approximately $7.50 square foot less).  When combining the material, installation and maintenance expenses of porcelain tile over a 15-year period, the cost is approximately $10.85 a square foot as opposed to $16.23 a square foot for granite and a shocking $47.91 a square foot for marble tile flooring.  Marble and granite flooring also requires top dressing, waxing and sealing.  In the course of 15 years, marble flooring will require replacement at least once.  In addition to this, porcelain tile involves a thin set installation whereas marble and granite installations require a mud set installation.  This increases the costs by approximately $2.00 a square foot because mud set installations utilize a significant amount of setting material. 

All of this was quite a revelation for the Rojas Group and is powerful

ammunition for other designers who are interested in not only initial costs in

their design, but in the real costs of a building's design elements.  Porcelain

tile has been a solution for developers and facilities management groups who

are concerned with saving thousands or even millions of dollars over the life span

of their buildings without compromising quality and design.  

Contact us today for effective solutions on your design challenges.