Porcelain tile - Italian vs Chinese?
Question:I need advice and tips preferably from experienced installers or someone who has dealt with this matter...
I need to install a new floor in my apartment, so today I went to get a few quotes on porcelain tile.
I like the rectified one, polished.
So at the showroom, the guy showed me 2 kinds in 24' tiles... Italian and Chinese.
Both looked very similar to me... just differences in colors.. BUT.
The Italian tile = $9 /sf
Chinese tile = $1.99 /sf
That is a HUGE difference in price specially that i need to cover 850 Square Feet of floor.
So what is the deal?... why would i want to buy the Italian tile over the Chinese one?
Actually.. there was Marble cheaper than the Italian porcelain, for $6 bucks... but i don't like the maintenance idea with Marble, so it is not an option for me.
Please... would you educate me a little bit so i know what i will be doing when i decide to go and buy anything..
Thanks a lot.
Answers:
I think the price might have to do a bit with labor cost...maybe..As far as i know, both would work fine,
Office manager
Slab fabrication and tile installation company
CA
P.S. Take the $ u save a hire a good installer.
I would buy the Italian one. Also try mexican porcelain tile too, but Chinese? Mmmm not me. They make inferior products.
in my professional opinion i prefer the Italian tile or a possible domestic tile.
reason: Italian tiles are of better quality.
i would even choose a good Mexican tile over the Chinese product. i speak from a wealth of experience in tile work not to mention a long visit to the east, the Chinese people have a very different work ethic than most all of the real civilized world, believe what you will my friend you get what you pay for.
think about digging out and replacing 20% of these chinese tiles and if you have ever done this you know how fun this is .
sorry if this is not the answer you wanted but it is the most honest.
More Related Questions & Answers...