Cost Difference Between Vitrified & Ceramic Tiles

Manufacturing Process

• The manufacturing process for vitrified tiles is a bit different than the process for regular ceramic tiles. While regular ceramic tiles are a mixture of clay and water, vitrified tiles are made from clay mixed with quartz and feldspar before fired in a kiln. The quartz and feldspar melts during the firing process, creating a glass inside the tile. This glass gives vitrified tiles a stronger composition that will resist absorption. As such, the manufacturing process is more expensive with the additional elements, but only by a few dollars per tile.

Consumer Prices Differences

• The cost of regular ceramic tiles falls with a wide range, usually costing anywhere between $8 and $20 per tile as of 2011. The cost is dependent on the size of the tile and the type of ceramic tile chosen. The manufacturing process will help dictate the price point, as well as the retailer's buying habits. A popular tile will usually cost less because a manufacturer can produce more of these tiles in one run, reducing his costs. Likewise, the bigger an order a retailer places, the bigger his price break. Often, such savings are reflected in consumer pricing.

  Vitrified tiles are susceptible to the exact same pricing mechanisms, but they are manufactured with additional materials that make the manufacturing process more costly. This cost is passed onto the consumer and amounts to a couple additional dollars per tile on average, depending on manufacturer and the retailer.

Installation Costs

• The installation process for vitrified tiles will cost a bit more than regular ceramic tiles. While the installation of vitrified tiles is exactly the same as with ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles require a stronger adhesive. These adhesives will add a couple dollars per tile to the materials and labor costs in the installation process.

Vitrified Tile Applications

• For indoor tiles, both vitrified and ceramic tiles do just fine, with moisture rarely a major concern. Outdoors, however, is a different story. Regular ceramic tiles are unsuitable outdoors because of the tendency to absorb water, which can freeze in the winter and can break or crack the ceramic. Vitrified tiles solve this problem because they are not as absorbent. This means they are nearly frost-proof and over the long term will save you a bundle in replacement costs over laying ceramic tiles outdoors.