The most important difference is this – Natural Stone is a product of nature, and Ceramics are man-made. Most man-made materials cannot compare in durability to natural ones. While damaged ceramic tiles usually need replacing, natural stone usually needs minimal restoration if stained or scratched. Other differences are explained below:
CERAMIC
- Homogenous composition
- Low absorbency, thin and lightweight, corrugated backing
- Acid resistant
- Have only one plain finish and practically no edge finishes.
- The sizes in ceramics are restricted and patterns are very uniform and geometric.
NATURAL STONE
- Unique composition
- Differs from category to category
- Acid sensitivity varies from stone to stone.
- Have a whole spectrum of finishes like Polished, Honed, Antiquated, Tumbled, Leather, Rugged (Split face, River Rough, River Wash, Flamed) and more. Different types of edges like beveled, bull-nosed etc. are possible.
- No size restriction. Available in huge slabs as large as 125' X 75' or in small