Can a Porcelain Tile Floor Be Buffed?

Polishing Porcelain Tile Floors

• According to the North American Tile Cleaning Organization, polishing a porcelain tile floor "is not as simple and straightforward as polishing other stone tile floors such as marble, granite or travertine." Rather than use a floor buffing machine, certain types of tile require machines specifically designed for polishing tile, while others never require polishing. Applying wax to a tile floor and then buffing it may cause additional maintenance as the wax attracts dirt to the grouting and scuff marks become more obvious.

Factory-Polished Porcelain Tiles

• Denser and harder than stone or ceramic tiles, factory-polished porcelain tiles are polished at the manufacturing plant using silicone carbide polishing machines. The North American Tile Cleaning Organization states that the hard and dense qualities of these tiles require polishing after installation by industrial grade silicone carbide polishing machines. The tiles cannot be polished with ordinary diamond polishing machines due to their hardness. You will need to hire a professional with the appropriate machine and technique to polish these floors.

Factory-Sealed Porcelain Tiles

• Factory-sealed porcelain tiles may have an uneven gloss, which is not something that buffing or polishing can change. The only way to make factory-sealed porcelain tiles appear completely uniform is to apply a product that removes gloss, which negates the reason most consumers purchase glossy tiles. Contact the tile manufacturer for the gloss-removing product. Because removing the gloss makes the tiles appear dull, the uneven gloss on these tiles might be preferable.

Glazed Porcelain Tiles

• Due to its lack of slip-resistance, glazed porcelain is more often used for walls and countertops than flooring. These tiles have a glaze applied to them at the manufacturing plant. Both glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles are nonporous due to the glazing process, making them low-maintenance. Glazed finishes do not require polishing and the glazing never wears off.