Tile 101: Materials

It's the question we hear in the first five minutes of almost every project: "What's the difference?" Porcelain, ceramic, marble, and glass can all look beautiful in a photo; what really matters is how each one performs once it's installed on your floor, wall, or patio.

Here's a quick guide to every material we carry, so you can match the right tile to the right space.

Porcelain

What it is: A dense, low-porosity tile fired at very high temperatures. A true porcelain tests at 0.5% water absorption or lower, which is why it resists moisture, staining, and everyday wear far better than standard ceramic. It comes glazed or through-body, where the color runs through the entire tile so chips are far less noticeable.

Best for: Nearly anywhere, including commercial floors, high-traffic residential floors, wet areas, and increasingly exteriors as porcelain pavers.

Shop it: Ozean Collection for walls and floors, or Outdoor Earth Stone Pavers for patios

Ceramic

What it is: A lighter-bodied clay tile fired at lower temperatures than porcelain and almost always glazed for color and protection. It's more affordable and easier to cut, but softer and more porous.

Best for: Walls, backsplashes, and lower-traffic residential floors. It's not the first recommendation for commercial floors or exteriors.

Shop it: La Riviera Collection

Marble

What it is: Natural, metamorphic stone prized for its veining and luminosity. It's chemically softer and more porous than engineered materials, so it etches (dulls) on contact with acids like lemon juice or vinegar and needs sealing.

Best for: Statement residential floors, bathrooms, and accent walls. It's rarely the right call for a busy commercial kitchen floor without a clear maintenance plan.

Shop it: Angora Rhombus

Travertine

What it is: A porous, sedimentary stone with a naturally pitted texture. It's typically filled and honed for interior use, or left unfilled and tumbled for a rustic, naturally slip-resistant surface.

Best for: Mediterranean and organic-style interiors, and outdoor patios.

Shop it: Travertine look tile

Limestone

What it is: A soft sedimentary stone with a matte, uniform, quiet look. Like marble, it's porous and acid-sensitive.

Best for: Understated residential floors and walls, and spa-like bathrooms.

Shop it: Limestone look tile

Slate

What it is: A fine-grained metamorphic stone that naturally splits into textured layers. It's dense and low in absorption for a natural stone.

Best for: Exteriors, mudrooms, rustic interiors, and occasionally commercial exteriors.

Shop it: Rockmount Collection

Quartzite

What it is: A genuinely quartz-based metamorphic stone that is much harder than marble despite a similar luxury look.

Best for: High-end residential floors and walls, and commercial spaces that want a marble aesthetic with more durability.

Shop it: Quartzite look tile

Glass Tile

 

What it is: Tile made from molten or recycled glass. It's non-porous, highly reflective, and color-saturated.

Best for: Backsplashes, pools and water features, accent walls, and mosaics. It's not typically a floor material.

Shop it: Euphoria Collection

Cement and Encaustic Tile

What it is: Pigment is pressed, not fired, into a cement body, producing bold, matte, pattern-forward tile. It's more porous and softer than porcelain and requires sealing.

Best for: Statement floors in entryways, kitchens, and commercial hospitality spaces that want a bold pattern moment.

Shop it: Artistic Impressions Dali Juniper

Metal and Specialty Tile

What it is: Metal-faced or metal-look tile, generally used as an accent or trim rather than as field tile.

Best for: Commercial accent walls, bar fronts, and retail feature moments.

Shop it: Metalmood Collection

A Quick Way to Choose

Wet areas: Porcelain and glass handle moisture best.

Heavy foot traffic: Porcelain and granite are built for it.

Statement moments: Marble, quartzite, and encaustic bring the drama. Just plan on sealing and ongoing care.

Outdoors: Porcelain pavers, slate, travertine, and granite are the go-to choices.

Still deciding? Order samples to see and feel the difference in your own space, or browse every tile by material.