Full-body porcelain tile is one of the latest innovations in the porcelain tile industry, known for its exceptional quality and durability. These tiles offer many advantages, such as a wide variety of designs, aesthetic appeal, and more.
Produced using advanced technology, porcelain tiles are highly resistant to breakage, scratches, and wear, making them a great choice for both indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as high-traffic public and commercial areas. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at full-body porcelain tiles and how they differ from standard porcelain tiles.
What Is Full-Body Porcelain Tile?
Full-body porcelain is a newer type of tile compared to traditional porcelain products. While it's categorized under porcelain tiles and shares a similar manufacturing process, the raw materials used in full-body tiles are different.
The key feature of full-body porcelain tiles is that the color of the surface and the inner body are exactly the same. This means if the tile chips or breaks, the color remains consistent throughout, making the damage less noticeable. This is not the case with standard or slab porcelain tiles, where surface and core colors differ.
Key Differences Between Regular Porcelain and Full-Body Porcelain Tiles
Full-body and regular porcelain tiles are both used in construction and interior design, but they differ significantly in structure, resistance, application, and appearance.
1. Structure and Color
Full-body tiles are manufactured using specific formulations and materials that result in uniform color throughout the tile. So even after cutting or wearing, the color stays the same.
Regular porcelain tiles, on the other hand, have different surface and body colors. So when chipped or cut, the color difference between the surface and interior becomes visible.
2. Application and Design Variety
Due to the specific materials used in full-body porcelain tiles, their design and color options are more limited. However, their uniform body color makes them ideal for both indoor and outdoor high-traffic areas.
Advantages of Full-Body Porcelain Tiles
Full-body porcelain tiles are considered a high-tech version of porcelain and come with numerous benefits, including:
Smooth Edges and Precise Dimensions
Manufactured using advanced technology, these tiles have consistent dimensions and smooth edges, making installation easier and resulting in a seamless, elegant finish.
Scratch and Impact Resistance
With a dense and hard surface, these tiles withstand pressure, scratches, and physical contact extremely well—ideal for maintaining appearance and extending lifespan.
High Chemical Resistance
These tiles are highly resistant to chemicals, alkalis, and acids, making them perfect for places like laboratories, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Uniform Color Through the Tile
The surface and core of full-body tiles are the same color, so wear, cutting, or chipping doesn’t affect the look.
Low Water Absorption
Full-body porcelain tiles absorb less than 0.1% water, making them an excellent choice for wet environments like pools, bathrooms, and showers.
Stain Resistance
Their dense structure makes them resistant to stains, making them suitable for heavy-traffic areas.
Temperature Resistance
They can withstand extreme heat or cold without cracking or losing quality.
UV Resistance
Full-body porcelain tiles resist fading when exposed to sunlight, making them ideal for outdoor use.
Disadvantages of Full-Body Porcelain Tiles
Despite their many advantages, full-body porcelain tiles do have a few downsides :
Heavier and Thicker
These tiles are thicker than standard porcelain, making each square meter heavier and more difficult to transport.
Requires Skilled Installation
Cutting and installing these tiles requires experience and should be handled by a professional team.
Where Are Full-Body Porcelain Tiles Used?
Thanks to their strength and durability, full-body porcelain tiles can be used in both indoor and outdoor spaces, including :
- Sidewalks and pathways
- Parking lots
- Courtyards
- Mosques
- Shopping centers
- Metro stations
- Commercial buildings
How Much Do Full-Body Porcelain Tiles Cost?
Full-body porcelain tiles are usually imported and priced higher than regular porcelain tiles due to their advanced manufacturing and consistent body color. They are commonly imported from countries like Spain, Italy, China, and India. Given the fluctuations in foreign exchange markets, their prices can vary widely, so there is no fixed number.
Types of Full-Body Porcelain Tiles
There are several types of full-body porcelain tiles, including :
- Standard full-body tiles
- Rustic full-body tiles
- Fully polished full-body tiles
They typically come in sizes like 80x80 cm, 100x100 cm, 120x60 cm, or even larger. Customers can choose the size that best fits their design and installation needs.
What Are Full-Body Porcelain Slabs?
Large-format porcelain tiles are referred to as slabs. Full-body porcelain slabs are simply large-sized full-body tiles that are especially popular in modern construction. Though they are more expensive, they add significant luxury and visual appeal to any space.
Final Thoughts
As explained, full-body porcelain tiles are highly durable and uniquely manufactured so that the surface and body color are identical. They offer exceptional resistance to wear, impact, moisture, and discoloration. Though more expensive than regular porcelain tiles, they’re a smart investment for high-end, high-performance applications.
Available in various styles such as rustic, standard, and polished, and in different sizes, full-body tiles allow for flexible design choices that enhance the beauty and functionality of any environment.