Buying Guide · Tiles
Types of Tiles Explained: Vitrified, Ceramic, Wooden & More
"Tiles" covers a dozen very different products. Picking the wrong type for a space leads to cracks, slips or a quick-dated look. Here's a plain-language map of the main types and where each one belongs.
Ceramic tiles
Made from clay with a glazed surface, ceramic tiles are affordable, come in huge design variety, and are easy to cut. They absorb slightly more water and are softer than vitrified, so they're best for walls and lighter-traffic floors — bathroom and kitchen walls being the classic use.
Vitrified tiles
Fired at higher temperatures, vitrified tiles have a dense, near non-porous body that makes them stronger, harder and more stain- and water-resistant than ceramic. They're the default for floors and high-traffic areas. Within vitrified there are a few important sub-types:
Glazed Vitrified Tiles (GVT/PGVT)
A printed, glazed design layer on a vitrified body — this is where you get marble looks, stone looks and intricate patterns. Polished (PGVT) versions are glossy; matt versions are more practical underfoot.
Full-body vitrified
The colour runs through the entire thickness, so chips and scratches barely show. The most durable choice for very high-traffic and commercial floors.
Double-charge vitrified
Two layers of pigment pressed together give a thick, hard-wearing surface — a strong value option for busy floors where you still want a clean finish.
Wooden-finish tiles
Vitrified tiles printed to look like timber planks. You get the warmth of wood with far better resistance to water, scratches and termites — practical for living rooms, bedrooms and even semi-wet areas where real wood would struggle.
Outdoor, parking & elevation tiles
Driveways, porches and parking need thick, high-grip, heavy-duty tiles built to take vehicle loads and weather. Elevation tiles are designed for exterior walls and façades. Using indoor floor tiles outdoors is a common and expensive mistake.
Finishes and the slip factor
Beyond type, finish decides safety and feel: glossy/polished looks premium but is slippery when wet; matt and anti-skid finishes are safer for bathrooms, balconies and around water. As a rule: glossy on walls, anti-skid/matt on wet floors.
One more thing people forget: tiles need the right adhesive, grout, spacers and levellers to look good and last. The best tile laid with the wrong adhesive or uneven spacing will disappoint. Buy the laying materials with the tiles.
How to choose without guesswork
Match the tile to the room, traffic and wet/dry condition first, then choose the design. Large-format tiles make small spaces look bigger but need a flat base and skilled laying. Seeing full panels laid out — not 4-inch samples — is the only reliable way to judge a tile. At BGH you can compare Qutone, Creanza, Letoza, Lemzon, Ispira and Kerakoll ranges across floor, wall, full-body and wooden finishes in one place, with design help to plan the whole space.
See full tile panels before you decide
Compare ranges in person at our Bathinda showroom, or send your requirement on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between vitrified and ceramic tiles?
Ceramic is glazed clay that absorbs a little more water — good for walls and light-traffic floors. Vitrified is fired denser and near non-porous — stronger and more stain/water resistant, ideal for floors and high-traffic areas.
What are full-body vitrified tiles?
Tiles where the colour runs through the full thickness, so chips and scratches barely show. The most durable option for very high-traffic and commercial floors.
Which tiles are best for bathroom floors?
Anti-skid / matt-finish tiles with good slip resistance. Glossy tiles suit walls but get slippery underfoot when wet.
Are wooden-look tiles a good alternative to real wood?
Yes — wooden-finish vitrified tiles give the timber look with much better water, scratch and termite resistance, which suits Indian homes.