Faience vs. Vitreous China for Toilet - What is The Difference?

Faience, a glazed ceramic made from earthenware, offers a decorative and porous option for toilets but is less durable and more prone to staining than Vitreous China. Vitreous China, composed of refined clay and glazed with a glass-like coating, provides superior strength, non-porous surface, and long-lasting resistance to scratches and chemicals for toilet manufacturing.

Table of Comparison

Introduction to Faience and Vitreous China Toilets

Faience toilets are crafted from a type of glazed ceramic known for its porous surface and decorative appeal, often featuring vibrant colors and intricate designs. Vitreous china toilets, made from ceramic coated with a durable, glass-like enamel, offer a non-porous, smooth surface that resists stains, scratches, and water absorption. The choice between faience and vitreous china toilets significantly impacts hygiene, durability, and maintenance requirements in bathroom fixtures.

Material Composition: Faience vs Vitreous China

Faience toilets are made from a type of tin-glazed earthenware, characterized by a porous ceramic body coated with a glossy, opaque glaze that provides decorative appeal but less durability. Vitreous China consists of a refined clay body coated with a dense, glass-like vitreous glaze, resulting in a non-porous, highly durable surface resistant to stains and scratches. The key difference in material composition lies in Faience's tin glaze with moderate water absorption versus Vitreous China's vitrified glaze that creates a stronger, less porous, and more hygienic finish ideal for toilet use.

Durability and Strength Comparison

Faience toilets, made from glazed earthenware, offer moderate durability but are more prone to chipping and cracking compared to vitreous china. Vitreous china, composed of coated porcelain with a glass-like finish, provides superior strength and resistance to scratches, stains, and impact, making it the preferred material for long-lasting toilet fixtures. The higher density and vitrification process of vitreous china enhance its durability, ensuring better performance in high-use environments.

Water Absorption Rates

Faience typically has a higher water absorption rate, ranging from 5% to 10%, which makes it more porous and susceptible to stains and bacteria buildup. Vitreous china, by contrast, features a very low water absorption rate, often below 0.5%, due to its glass-like enamel coating that provides superior durability and hygiene. This low porosity in vitreous china reduces water retention, making it the preferred material for toilets in terms of sanitation and longevity.

Stain and Scratch Resistance

Faience toilets, made from glazed earthenware, typically have a porous surface prone to staining and scratching over time, which affects durability and cleanliness. Vitreous china, composed of fired clay coated with a glass-like enamel, offers superior stain resistance and scratch durability due to its non-porous, smooth finish. This makes vitreous china toilets more resistant to discoloration and abrasions, maintaining aesthetic appeal and hygiene with less maintenance.

Aesthetic Differences and Finish

Faience toilets showcase a glazed earthenware finish with intricate, hand-painted designs that create a rustic, artisanal aesthetic appealing for traditional and vintage bathroom styles. Vitreous china toilets feature a smooth, glass-like, non-porous surface that provides a sleek, modern look with superior durability and stain resistance, making them ideal for contemporary and high-traffic bathrooms. The glossy finish of vitreous china enhances brightness and ease of cleaning, while faience offers unique decorative appeal with varying color tones and textures.

Cost and Price Comparison

Faience toilets generally have a lower initial purchase cost compared to vitreous china, making them a budget-friendly option for homeowners. Vitreous china offers superior durability and a smoother, non-porous surface that reduces maintenance expenses over time despite its higher price point. When assessing long-term value, vitreous china's resilience and stain resistance often justify the upfront investment relative to faience.

Maintenance and Cleaning Requirements

Faience toilets, made from glazed ceramic with a porous texture, require gentle cleaning agents to prevent surface damage and frequent maintenance to avoid staining and mineral buildup. Vitreous China, characterized by its smooth, non-porous vitreous glaze, offers superior resistance to stains and scratches, reducing cleaning time and the need for harsh chemicals. Regular wiping and mild detergents maintain the glossy finish of vitreous china while faience demands careful, consistent upkeep to preserve its appearance and functionality.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Faience toilets, made from porous clay materials, require more glaze coverage to prevent water absorption, leading to increased energy consumption and raw material use during production. Vitreous china, a dense and non-porous ceramic, offers superior durability and longer lifespan, reducing the frequency of replacements and minimizing landfill waste. The manufacturing process of vitreous china typically involves lower water absorption rates and higher firing temperatures, resulting in more efficient resource use and enhanced environmental sustainability.

Which is Better: Choosing the Right Material for Your Toilet

Vitro-china offers superior durability and a non-porous surface that resists stains and bacteria, making it the preferred choice for toilets over faience, which is more porous and susceptible to chipping. The vitreous china finish also provides a smoother, glossier appearance and is easier to clean, enhancing hygiene and longevity. Selecting vitreous china ensures better performance and maintenance, making it the optimal material for modern toilets.