Using Glazed Porcelain Tiles in Kitchens and Bathrooms

Apr 2025

When you plan to install or renovate a kitchen or bathroom, selecting the appropriate tiles not only improves the aesthetic appeal but also creates some overall difference to the space—glazed porcelain tiles have the expertise to do that. They not only look sleek and contemporary but are also durable enough to withstand everyday wear and tear, splashes, and spills.

Lavish Ceramics provides a wide variety of premium glazed porcelain tiles to attract every eye. Therefore, we have come up with this blog post to investigate why glazed porcelain tiles are a preferred choice among designers and homeowners, especially in moisture-prone areas like restrooms and kitchens. 

What are Glazed Porcelain Tiles?

Glazed porcelain tiles are a type of ceramic tile that is prepared from fine, thick clay fired at very high temperatures. Their polish coating makes them different from others, which is a protective coating of liquid glass that is applied on the surface before final firing. This polished coating gives the tile its finish (matte or glossy), color, and ability to withstand damp scratches and stains. 

Known for its aesthetic versatility, longevity, and minimal water absorption, glazed porcelain floor tile makes itself ideal for high-traffic spaces, kitchens, and bathrooms.   

Generally, there are two primary categories of glazed porcelain tiles based on their surface finish. 

• Glazed polished porcelain tiles: These tiles are a type of PGVT tile well known for their upscale and lustrous appearance, which makes them ideal for creating an opulent look in subtle or decorative settings. Its smooth, glossy finish brightens up rooms instantly; however, it can also show water spots or smudges easily. 
• Glazed matte porcelain tiles: These are a type of GVT tile that is best known for its slip-resistant surface, which makes them ideal and more practical for damp or high-traffic regions like living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. As they have a slightly textured and nonreflective finish, they easily hide smudges and dirt.

Benefits of using Glazed Porcelain Tiles

Glazed porcelain tiles are a popular choice for contemporary or luxurious houses, as they offer an ideal balance of design, strength, and functionality. Here are the benefits of using these tiles in high-traffic spaces for contemporary or luxurious houses.

• Water and stain resistant: These wall tiles are ideal for damp spaces like kitchens and bathrooms because of their glazed surface, which keeps moisture and stains out. 
• Minimal upkeep: These tiles are simple to clean with a mild cleanser or a damp cloth, thereby saving a lot of time in regular maintenance. 
• Highly durable: Due to their high-temperature firing, glazed porcelain tiles are impervious to heavy foot traffic, scratches, and wear. 
• Design versatility: Available in several finishes, colors, and patterns, these tiles fit all design preferences. 
• Slip-resistant: They come with numerous variations, including textured and matte finishes (GVT tiles), offering a secure surface to damp-prone areas. 
• Value over time: These tiles provide high-end performance and durability over several years due to their low maintenance and resilience requirements. 

While glazed porcelain tiles come with a range of benefits, they also have a few limitations to be taken into account before installation. 

• Might be slippery: If highly slip-resistant PGVT tiles are not selected, these blessed surfaces might become slippery when wet, making them less suitable for bathroom and kitchen flooring. 
• Cold and hard flooring: Porcelain tiles are not suitable to install in colder areas or climates, as they tend to feel cold and rigid, making it uncomfortable to stand for a long time without floor heating or rugs. 
• Difficulty to cut: Its tough and dense composition makes it difficult to cut, requiring a diamond blade or saw, making DIY installation challenging. 
• Grout maintenance needed: While tile maintenance is low, grout lines might discolor or peel off over time, requiring periodic sealing or cleaning. 
• Heavier than other tiles: These tiles are heavier than vinyl or ceramic, complicating wall installations and requiring reinforced subfloorings occasionally. 
• Costly: Although an affordable option for the long run, the purchase cost of these tiles and professional installation might be expensive, especially PGVT tiles. 

How Glazed Porcelain Tiles are Transforming High-Moisture Spaces?

Glazed Porcelain Tiles create a giant impact when installed in high moisture areas like utility spaces, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, or spas, with standing water moisture without compromising on aesthetics, convenience, and functionality. 

Because of the non-porous surface, they can effectively prevent water percolation, protecting floors and walls from mildew, mold, and prolonged damage. Moreover, their slip-resistant capacity is a plus, adding safety in damp areas and a varied range of patterns, textures, and colors that allow homeowners to create beautiful interiors without thinking about wear and tear. 

Tips for Installing Glazed Porcelain Tiles in High-Traffic Regions

To guarantee a perfect, durable finish, it is important to install glazed porcelain with proper precision and appropriate technique. Here are some important tips to consider when dealing with matte or glazed porcelain surfaces. 

• Ensure the wall or floor is dry, clean, level, and structurally sound. Over time, shifts in the structure might cause fractures due to misalignment. 
• Choose a specially designed adhesive for glazed porcelain tiles, as these are denser and porous, creating an ideal binding agent for proper installation. 
• Create a dummy tile layout pattern first and perform tile placements and cuts before applying any adhesive to avoid wrong edge cuts, resulting in an improper look.
• To maintain uniform grout lines, use tile spacers, which help with expansion and contraction and improve appearance; they prevent tile damage in the later stage. 
• As porcelain tiles are hard, consider a diamond blade or wet saw for proper, smooth cuts. 
• When grouting on GVT tiles, use a moist sponge to wipe out excess grout before it dries on the tile surface. 

Conclusion 

Glazed porcelain tiles are an ideal choice as they are simple to maintain, fashionable, durable, and suitable for damp areas. These tiles can handle regular usage without compromising their appeal, whether you keep your bathroom wet every time or cook 24 x 7 in the kitchen. 

So, if you are looking for a beautiful yet functional update for your damp spaces, glazed porcelain tiles from Lavish Ceramics are definitely worth considering. After all, making a smart and long-term investment is truly transformative!