If you are looking for longevity and durability with the least amount of maintenance, you should be shopping for a porcelain tile. Porcelain is by far the most durable tile on the market, but beware not all porcelain is created equal! Below is some information on the properties of porcelain tile to assist you in your shopping.

Porcelain tiles are typically made with "porcelain" clays that have specific properties. Typically, these tiles are dense and by definition, they have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Non-porcelain tiles have water absorption greater than 0.5%.

There are both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles. It is important to know the difference, as the glazed variety is usually a little easier to clean. Typically, glazed porcelain tiles have filled in microscopic holes that could be present in the unglazed tile. On the other hand, unglazed porcelains may have better slip resistance.