Comparison of Ceramic Tile VS Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring and ceramic tile flooring offer benefits for consumers, however, as the technology develops, more often than not, vinyl flooring performs better than ceramic tile.

To best illustrate the comparable characteristics of vinyl flooring and ceramic tile, let’s look into some quantifiable qualities: Look & Style, Durability & Stability, Environmental Impact, Applications, and Cost.

Look & Style

Ceramic floors last forever. While that may sound like a selling point, but if you are a style-conscious designer, you may see the flaw. Fashion trends changes quickly. However, if you have ceramic floors, changing with the trends just isn’t an option. Ceramic flooring is expensive, messy and time-consuming to install and remove. Conversely, vinyl flooring is easy to install and replace tile-by-tile. And with a various selection of looks and styles, vinyl flooring is the best solution.

Cutting ceramic tiles requires expensive tools and skills resulting in professionals to spend a lot of time. Vinyl flooring, on the other hand, can be cut easily with a straight edge by an utility knife, and installation time is not too long.

Durability & Stability

Before discussing the durability and stability of vinyl flooring vs. ceramic tile, we should define the terms, as they seem similar.

Durability: Hardness of the flooring—especially its topmost wear layer. The more durable a flooring solution is, the more use it can take.

Stability: Governed by the thickness of the whole and makeup of layers and quality of materials. Stable flooring material holds its shape and size against moisture as well as climatic changes.

Ceramic tile, if taken care of, will essentially last forever. However, in the all too common event that it is damaged—ceramic is quite a hassle to repair. Although ceramic is a hard, durable material, many circumstances can cause significant damage. If tiles are not installed correctly (for example improperly set mortar or incorrect grouting) the grouting will fail and the tiles will separate, become loose and even crack.

Ceramic’s strongest characteristic in this section is its stability. Moisture and environmental changes will not affect the flooring. It will not expand or contract. However, the stability of ceramic is also its downfall. Because there is no flex in ceramic flooring. It is far more prone to cracks and other damages than vinyl flooring. While vinyl material flooring is extremely hard and durable—well suited for heavy commercial use—it has a degree of flex. This flex allows it to absorb and dissipate the force from some dropped heavy objects. 

Environmental Impact

The impact of vinyl tile vs. ceramic tile comes down to their life cycles. The argument is simple. Because of the method used to remove ceramic tiles (smashing into pieces), this type of flooring is not recyclable. To reuse the ceramic, every speck of mortar would need to be removed—a process not worth anyone’s time. 

And even then, you are left with broken bits only good for filling. So broken ceramic is usually just thrown into a landfill. In addition, the removal of ceramic tile directly impacts the environment of the area in which it was laid. Thick clouds of toxic dust are harmful to breathe in and nearly impossible to prevent.

Vinyl tiles are typically recyclable and can be made from recycled material. In addition, vinyl made by Parterre uses one of the most abundant materials on earth as the main ingredient: salt. In using salt, Parterre reduces negative impact to ecologic.

Applications

In the event that a ceramic tile becomes compromised, action must be taken right away. Jagged edges threaten the movement of everyday life, and people will be easily cut. Meanwhile, it allows moisture and other foreign material to move under and between tiles. But the shortcomings to ceramic application do not end here.

Anyone who has ever installed or removed ceramic knows how messy it can be. Not any of plastic wraps, fans or precautions will stop the dust from penetrating a work zone. The removal and installation take days, but the cleanup takes weeks. Even minor, one or two ceramic tile replacements require large hammers, chisels or power tools and the complicated mixing of and setting to mortar and grout.

Vinyl tile is just the opposite. Installing vinyl tile is a simple process; your professional installers will have no trouble quickly and efficiently installing the flooring. Removing vinyl flooring is an even easier process. 

As for the functional applications for both, there is little competition. Whether in a high-traffic commercial setting or high moisture area like a restaurant or supermarket, vinyl tile performs well. 

Cost

The prices of vinyl flooring vs. ceramic tile are comparable at some levels and quite unequal at others. The cost of ceramic varies widely based on which tile you choose, but won't be as affordable as vinyl flooring in most cases. Vinyl flooring often uses recycles materials which means you pay less. Vinyl flooring is a favorable option for anyone who is concerned with choosing a high quality green flooring option while remaining within budget.

To summarize, easy to install and disassemble, repair, easy to clean, more reliable durability and a wider range of look and design options make vinyl flooring an easy no-brainer.

      Since 1998, PROTEX is the high class professional PVC flooring producer from China with extensive manufacturing and export expertise.

We are unique since we have our own resin plant, print film plant, SPC flooring plant and also a WPC flooring plant.

Our main products are:

spc rigid core flooring

pure spc max flooring

wpc waterproof flooring

wpc wood flooring

gray vinyl plank flooring

vinyl tile planks

If you are interested in any flooring products, please feel free to contact us !