Today there is simply an endless selection of tiles available, seemingly in every type of colour, pattern and texture. A fully competent tiler will need to gain as much experience as possible in working with the different types of tiles, once embarked on a professional tiling course, in order to understand their different composition, which determines the body colour, texture and density.Ceramic, Porcelain and Glass are the three basic types of tile and the difference between ceramic and porcelain is key knowledge.Ceramic tiles - are generally made from red or white clay, mixed with various minerals and water and fired in a kiln. Since ceramic material is porous, the top surface - referred to as the design layer - is usually sealed with a glaze, since it determines the tile's finished colour, design and texture. Used in both wall tile and floor tile applications, ceramic tiles are softer and easier to cut than porcelain and are usually suitable for very light to moderate trafficGlazed ceramic tile is very durable, and when properly installed and cared for, it will last longer than any non-tile material used for the same purpose. Generally possessing a relatively high water absorption rating makes them less frost resistant. However it will not burn, emit toxic fumes or scorch, absorb odours, nor support allergens or bacteria. Being more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain, when coated with a Grade III or higher glaze, ceramic tile becomes highly resistant to scratching and moisture.Porcelain tiles - are made by finely-ground sand from porcelain clays at high pressure and temperature, which produces a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain tiles making them frost resistant or frost-proof. Available in matte, unglazed or a high polished finish, glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and more wear and damage resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tiles. This makes them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic. Full body porcelain tiles carry the colour and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile making them virtually wear-resistant and are suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic in commercial or industrial applications.Not all porcelain tiles are the same colour all the way through as the newest types have a design layer glazed to produce a specific coloured finish, and a surface chip would reveal the tile's different body colour and thus, need replacing. Polished porcelain tiles can have tiny pores open up during the polishing process. Consequently, it is now considered obligatory to seal porcelain tiles, especially the cheaper - and more porous - polished types. There is also marble imitation porcelain, which can be actually more expensive than marble, and has to be fitted and cared for just like marble by being sealed, grouted and sealed once more.Porcelain is a denser material and is stronger than its ceramic counterpart, but the hardness makes the tiles a little more challenging to install, requiring special tools for cutting and shaping.A comprehensive range of tiling courses at AbleSkills newly extended professional tiling centre enables candidates at all levels of previous experience and ability to train and qualify to be a competent tiler, whether for home based projects, say on a Wall and Floor tiling Diploma or a 5 Day introductory tiling course, to the various City & Guild NVQ tiling course options of differing durations, from 3 weeks through to a?