When designing or remodeling your home, flooring is one of the most significant decisions you will make. It affects the aesthetic and sensory aspects of your interiors, and also contributes to durability and maintenance. With so many choices today, full body tiles and glazed vitrified tiles (GVT) are two popular options that can create confusion for homeowners.
Both tiles are considered to have a vitrified body, meaning they provide a body made from the heat-formed melting of clay, silica, and quartz. The differences lie in the manufacturing processes and uses. This blog will go over the differences between full body tiles and glazed vitrified tiles in detail, provide a simple comparison table, and help you make a decision on what to use.
What Are Full Body Tiles?
Full body tiles are considered vitrified tiles, where the full body (through the thickness of the tile) is the same color, pattern, and composition. This means that when the surface gets chipped or scratched, the uniform body continues, which reduces how noticeable the chipping damage is. Full body tiles are durable, strong, and can handle heavy foot traffic well.
These tiles are commonly found in both commercial spaces and outdoor areas. They are additionally suited for residential use in areas with full foot traffic. Full body tiles have a simple and uniform look, which allows for a clean, classic appearance.
What Are Glazed Vitrified Tiles (GVT)?
Glazed vitrified tiles, or GVTs, are vitrified tiles that have a glazed (glass-like) surface. Manufacturers can now use digital technological advances for glazed vitrified tiles to print limitless designs, colors, and textures. GVTs can imitate marble, wood, granite, or abstract art, giving a homeowner endless design potential.
Since only the top surface is glazed, you can expect the deeper part of the tile (the inner layer) to look much different when chipped. GVTs are typically chosen for their aesthetic appeal and not for their functionality.
Full Body Tiles vs. Glazed Vitrified Tiles: Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s a simple side-by-side comparison to make things clearer:
| Feature | Full Body Tiles | Glazed Vitrified Tiles (GVT) |
| Composition | Uniform color and pattern throughout the tile body | The top surface is coated with a glaze, and the inner body is usually plain |
| Durability | Highly durable, scratches and chips are less visible | Durable, but chips/scratches expose the inner body |
| Aesthetic Variety | Limited to solid or subtle patterns | Wide range of designs, colors, and finishes |
| Maintenance | Easy to maintain, dirt is not easily visible | Also easy to clean, but requires care to avoid chipping |
| Applications | Best for commercial areas, outdoor spaces, and heavy traffic zones | Best for homes, offices, hotels, and places where design is key |
| Cost | Usually more expensive due to durability | Generally more affordable than full body tiles |
| Slip Resistance | Can be textured for better grip | Available in matte, glossy, and textured finishes |
| Longevity | Extremely long-lasting even in rough conditions | Long-lasting, but the glaze can wear out in heavy traffic |
| Finish | Usually matte or rustic | Glossy, matte, high-gloss, or even 3D designs |
Also read: Full Body Tiles vs Double Charged Tiles: What’s Best for You?
Which One Should You Choose?
Knowing the difference, it is up to you to choose between full body tiles and glazed vitrified tiles. It will depend on what you specifically want to apply.
- Go with Full Body Tiles when:
- You need flooring for high-traffic areas such as malls, airports, factories, parking lots, and outdoor patios.
- The most important thing to you is durability, and you want tiles to look the same after years of abuse.
- You prefer clean, minimal, and uniform, not decorative patterns.
- Go with Glazed Vitrified Tiles when:
- You are in the process of creating interiors where aesthetics is important, living rooms, bedrooms, lobbies, etc.
- You are looking for flooring options that can mimic natural materials like marble or wood, minus the maintenance.
- You want affordable, stylish-looking floor tiles.
Many homeowners and businesses combine both: using full body tiles for outdoor or commercial spaces and GVTs for residential interiors. A reputed company like Famous Vitrified Private Limited offers both varieties, ensuring that you don’t have to compromise between durability and style.
Conclusion
Both full body tiles and glazed vitrified tiles have their advantages. Full body tiles will prove quite durable and long-lasting. Glazed vitrified tiles perform relatively better in offering design flexibility and visual appeal.
In the end, factors to consider when choosing tiles are where they will be located, how much foot traffic the surface will see, and your design choices. To keep the right balance between quality and design, it was probably a good choice to pick a brand like Famous, which manufactures both full body tiles and GVTs to cover all needs.
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