5 Difference between Vitrified Tiles and Semi Vitrified Tiles

The main difference between Vitrified tiles and Semi vitrified tiles is water absorption. Vitrified tiles have a water absorption of less than 0.05 Percent, whereas semi vitrified tiles have water absorption between 2 to 5 per cent of their weight.

There is a lot of confusion about vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles (porcelain tiles) in India. But outside India, the porcelain tiles and vitrified tiles are the same. So the common word used in this is porcelain tiles. It is having a water absorption of 0.05%. 

Both the tiles can sometimes look similar depending upon the manufacturer. For example, some Manufacturers in Morbi are also manufacturing white body semi vitrified tiles that look similar to vitrified tiles. The only difference is water absorption and raw materials composition. 

Vitrified tiles are resistant to scratches, stains and durable. They are formed using the Vitrification process. The tiles are passed through the kiln at a temperature around 1200 C.

Semi vitrified tiles and vitrified tiles both are made using the vitrification process.

Classification of vitrified tiles

Vitrified tiles are classified into four categories as

• Nano Vitrified Tiles
• Double Charge Tiles 
• Glazed Vitrified Tiles 
• Full Body Vitrified Tiles 

To know more visit – Types of Vitrified Tiles.

Difference between Vitrified tiles and Semi vitrified tiles 

1- Water absorption – water absorption is the main difference between vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles. In India, the vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles are differentiated based on Water Absorption. Many companies are manufacturing semi vitrified tiles having W.A near about 3 per cent.

• Vitrified tiles- Water absorption is less than 1(0.05) %.
• Semi Vitrified tiles– Water absorption is between 2 to 6%

Water absorption Test 

Both the tiles are kept on the backside surface. The backside of the tile is held on the top. Now take a glass of water and pour it on the top surface of the tiles. 

If the tiles easily and quickly absorb the water, those tiles are semi vitrified tiles as the water absorption of these tiles is between 2 to 5 per cent. 

If the tile does not absorb or absorb little water, then those tiles are Vitrified Tiles, as the water absorption of vitrified tiles is less than 0.05 per cent. 

2- Colour 

The other way tiles can differentiate the difference between vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles is the tile’s backside colour.

The other difference is the colour of the tile’s body. The vitrified tiles have white colour, grey colour body, and semi vitrified tiles have dark grey or brown type colour body. But in some cases, both tiles look the same in colour.

There are different body compositions for vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles. 

3- Surface Glaze Coating 

The Glaze surface layer is also different between vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles in India. You may have noticed that the surfaces in glazed vitrified tiles are smoother and better than semi vitrified tiles.

There is also a difference in surface glaze coatings such as Engobe and T.R. you can check by focusing the light on the surface of tiles. 

• Light Focus Test 

If you place both the tiles in sunlight or lightroom, you will notice minor surface waviness in semi vitrified tiles, which has a glaze coating different from vitrified tiles. 

In the case of Vitrified tiles, you will get a clear and even surface of the tiles. 

4- Price 

There is a price difference for both vitrified and semi vitrified tiles. However, semi vitrified tiles are cheaper than vitrified tiles and more expensive than regular ceramic tiles. 

The price of semi vitrified tiles is less than vitrified tiles due to the lower cost of Raw materials, Glaze and digital inks. 

The price for Glazed vitrified tiles stars from Rs 25 – 50 per square feet for 2×2 Feet. 

The price for semi vitrified tiles starts from Rs 20-30 per square feet for 2×2 Feet tiles. 

5- Quality 

There is also a quality difference between vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles. Vitrified tiles have better quality than semi vitrified tiles. 

Nowadays, semi vitrified tiles are available in various finishes such as matt, glossy and sugar finish. However, the Water absorption depends on multiple tiles, raw materials, Kiln temperature and other factors.

It would help if you saw the tiles box to see the difference between semi vitrified tiles and glazed vitrified tiles.   

The semi vitrified tiles are suitable for indoor usage. 

They are cheaper than vitrified tiles and readily available. It is popular due to the pricing factor and durability.

Related Post – Difference between Double Charge tiles and Glazed Vitrified tiles

What are common in Vitrified and Semi Vitrified Tiles? 

Both vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles are made using the vitrification process, making tiles stronger, resistant to scratch and stains. The standard and popular sizes are 600×600 mm or 2×2 Feet. 

Both tiles are made using digital printing technology. The manufacturing process of vitrified tiles and semi vitrified tiles are 95 per cent similar.  

It is durable, resistant to scratch, easy to clean, anti-skid and durable. 

• 600 MM X 600 MM (24 X 24)
• Packing Details:
• Four pcs per box
• 1.44 m2 coverage
• 8 to 9 mm thickness
• Total coverage area – 15.5 Square Foot. 

How to identify tiles from Vitrified & Semi vitrified tiles

There are two main ways by which differences can identify tiles based on Water Absorption and tiles surface view as the explanation in starting of article.

The vitrified tiles or semi vitrified tiles can be identified by some tests such as Water Absorption, Strength, surface test, MOR strength, Colour of tiles body, packing details on tiles box.

Porcelain Tiles in reference Indian Ceramic Industry. 

The actual porcelain tiles are called vitrified tiles over the world. But there are two types of vitrified tiles in India, known as vitrified tiles (W.A. less than 0.05) and porcelain, Semi vitrified tiles (WA between 2 to 5 %).

But this confusion has arisen due to porcelain tiles manufacturers. Different factories of tiles are manufacturing other vitrified tiles such as

• Matt Porcelain tiles – this type of tiles have water absorption between 3 to 5 per cent. In this, there are only matt designs available. This type of tiles is more prevalent in India as they are cheaper than glazed vitrified tiles. In Morbi, many factories make glossy porcelain tiles different from polished glazed vitrified tiles (PGVT).
• White Body Porcelain tiles– the only difference is that the colour of the tile’s body is near white. Nowadays, many manufacturers make porcelain tiles in white bodies, which have a water absorption of 3-5 per cent. 
• Digital Floor Porcelain tiles– the sizes available are 400×400 and 600×600 mm. 

Conclusion 

Vitrified Tiles are also known as porcelain tiles outside India. Tiles can differentiate based on Water absorption. Generally, vitrified tiles have less than 0.5 % water absorption, and the Semi Vitrified tiles have about 2 to 5 % water absorption.

Vitrified Tiles – W.A. less than 0.05

Semi Vitrified tiles | porcelain tiles (Indian) | digital porcelain tiles | white body vitrified tiles have – W.A. between 2 to 6 per cent. 

I hope you liked this article regarding the difference between Vitrified Tiles and Semi Vitrified tiles. 

If any errors or changes are required, please comment below or send us details in our mail. Thanks for your support.