Natural Stone Tile vs Ceramic Tile

Appearance Natural stone will inevitably harbour flaws and fissures and uneven tone, as well as some pitting in certain types of stone, such as granite. Every piece is unique and large pieces will not have a consistent appearance across the surface. Ceramic, on the other hand, can offer you a reliable consistency and uniformity in appearance.

Maintenance Stone flooring generally requires more maintenance. Aside from needing a grout release before installation, stone floors will also need a sealer applied after installation. This sealer will need to be penetrating or impregnating and be re-applied regularly over the course of the stone floor’s lifetime. Lastly, stone floors will need to be professionally deep-cleaned on a periodic basis.

Installation Stone and ceramic floors are installed in different ways. Ceramic floors, conversely, are installed using a thin-set method, using a 3/16" or greater grout joint. The differences in installation are also reflected in costs with natural stone tiles and even tiles being more expensive than ceramic to install. This is because of the greater difficulty in stone floor installation, especially the tighter grout joint.

Moisture Stones are more porous so they “breathe”, absorbing moisture from the atmosphere - and any spills! Thus, they need to be finished with a penetrating sealer which will still allow them to exhibit their natural breathing properties but at the same time, prevent any staining. Moisture transmission can cause stone, especially larger stone pieces, to discolour due to the hydrostatic pressure within the slab.

Resistance Although natural stone is expected to be harder, it is not as resistant as ceramic in certain situations. For example, many types of slate are not frost-resistant and will literally “Crack” in freeze-thaw conditions and thus are not suitable for outdoor use in winter weather. Note, of course, that some slates are weather resistant – which is why slate roofs are often used in countries with cold climates. Similarly, some ceramics are not suitable for outdoors use but anything with less than 3% absorption rate can be safely used outdoors, for example porcelain tiles which tend to have a 0.5% absorption rate.    

Another situation where natural stone may not perform as well as ceramic is in resistance to wear and tear. Granite, for example, is the hardest type of stone but a natural porcelain tile can actually be up to 30% harder than granite. Furthermore, polished stones can be scratched and dull easily, and become difficult to clean.

Lastly, many household products will actually stain or etch stone, whereas it will have almost no effect on ceramic tile. Even something as simple as a glass of ice cold water can leave a ring mark on white marble, while vinegar, ketchup, mustard and fruit can stain many natural stones.

Cost Perhaps most obviously, there is a difference in cost between natural stone and ceramic with the former usually much more expensive, especially when considering the more “exotic” options such as granite and marble. This is partly because stone has a higher perceived intrinsic value and therefore gives more of a “premium” luxury look – and partly also because of the additional difficulty of installation.

 In many instances, particularly if you are on a tight budget, ceramic might be the better choice. However, it is undeniable that it is hard to match the timeless beauty of natural stone.