Ceramics or natural stone. What should you choose?

Ceramics

Ceramics are made from clay. The raw material is baked at a high temperature and is rock hard. It is a man-made material and originates from countries such as Italy and Spain. Ceramics are now used as an alternative to natural stone. Ceramics can be provided with any desired design by means of printing technology. So any type of natural stone can be ‘copied’.

There is one ‘but’: nature cannot be copied when it comes to variation. Take tiles for pavement, for example. Every tile is different with natural stone. With ceramics, one design consists of different prints per tile. Varying from a minimum of 6 to sometimes up to 20 prints. But because you can turn tiles during processing, this still provides a very natural image. The amount of prints differs per ceramic manufacturer.

Why do ceramics usually come from abroad?

This has to do with the basic raw clay material. In the Netherlands only less suitable material is available. In turn, we are big in clinkers of clay and concrete. Italy is a leader when it comes to design development. Lifelike copies of natural stone often originate in design studios in Italy.

Natural stone

Natural stone is a collective name for all types of stone that come from nature, such as lava stone, granite, slate, marble, quartz or limestone. Natural stone is beautiful and ‘the real thing’ is actually always the most beautiful. But it also has a number of disadvantages.

Weathering and traces of use

Natural stone is often also called ‘freestone’. This name is a bit misleading because many types are not hard at all. Natural stone is often porous and sensitive to acids, for example, if it contains a lot of lime. The striking appearance of natural stone is partly due to the fact that it is not scratch-resistant and starts to “live”. However, this process never stops. Some people love this, other people are bothered by it.

Ceramics as an alternative

So it is an alternative to natural stone. The looks of natural stone are matched but extra functionalities are added. Ceramics are insensitive to almost all acids / chemicals and are scratch-resistant.

Characteristics of ceramics

keramiek, natuursteen, geoceramica

The benefits of ceramics

Ceramics are rock hard and durable
Ceramics are stain- and acid-resistant
Ceramics are very low-maintenance
Ceramics are guaranteed colour-fast and UV-resistant
Ceramics are resistant to heat and frost

Also ideal for the application in public spaces.

Specially developed for the public sphere, GeoCeramica® Heavy Duty is an extra thick (8cm) tile with high rigidity.

More about GeoCeramica® Heavy Duty

Characteristics of natural stone

Natural stone is beautiful, versatile and alive.

The disadvantages of natural stone

Natural stone is fragile and scratches quickly
Natural stone requires a lot of maintenance, such as special cleaning products
Natural stone is damaged quickly, which affects its appearance
Natural stone retains heat: risk of fire

natural stone tiles

Ceramics for customers

Outdoor ceramic tiles

In the garden market natural stone is also displaced by ceramic tiles. In terms of price, ceramic tiles and natural stone tiles do not differ much from each other. The costs are also comparable with regard to processing.

Since 2010, MBI represents the Italian brand Mirage for 2cm ceramic outdoor tiles. And since 2016, GeoCeramica® has been on the market, a ceramic top layer inextricably linked to a concrete base.

Read more about GeoCeramica®

array(43) { [0]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(44) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/construction/products/" ["title"]=> string(16) "Facade_solutions" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Designer (Construction)" } [1]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(53) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/brochures/?cat=for-construction" ["title"]=> string(9) "Brochures" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Designer (Construction)" } [2]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(51) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/?cat=construction" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Designer (Construction)" } [3]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(52) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/construction/3d-visualisation/" ["title"]=> string(16) "3D_visualisation" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Designer (Construction)" } [4]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(30) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/" ["title"]=> string(7) "Contact" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Designer (Construction)" } [5]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(43) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/#distributors" ["title"]=> string(18) "Local_distributors" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Designer (Construction)" } [6]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(55) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/infrastructure/products/pavement/" ["title"]=> string(8) "Pavement" ["parent"]=> string(20) "Designer (Landscape)" } [7]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(55) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/infrastructure/toplayer-textures/" ["title"]=> string(24) "Product_lines_(textures)" ["parent"]=> string(20) "Designer (Landscape)" } [8]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(55) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/brochures/?cat=for-infrastructure" ["title"]=> string(9) "Brochures" ["parent"]=> string(20) "Designer (Landscape)" } [9]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(60) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/?cat=garden+infrastructure" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(20) "Designer (Landscape)" } [10]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(30) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/" ["title"]=> string(7) "Contact" ["parent"]=> string(20) "Designer (Landscape)" } [11]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(47) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/brochures/?cat=for-garden" ["title"]=> string(9) "Brochures" ["parent"]=> string(17) "Designer (Garden)" } [12]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(45) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/?cat=garden" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(17) "Designer (Garden)" } [13]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(45) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/garden/products/paving/" ["title"]=> string(17) "Decorative_paving" ["parent"]=> string(17) "Designer (Garden)" } [14]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(43) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/#distributors" ["title"]=> string(18) "Local_distributors" ["parent"]=> string(17) "Designer (Garden)" } [15]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(53) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/?cat=infrastructure" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Municipality/Government" } [16]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(55) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/infrastructure/products/pavement/" ["title"]=> string(8) "Pavement" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Municipality/Government" } [17]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(46) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/news/?cat=infrastructure" ["title"]=> string(11) "Latest_news" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Municipality/Government" } [18]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(55) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/infrastructure/products/pavement/" ["title"]=> string(8) "Pavement" ["parent"]=> string(16) "Civil contractor" } [19]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(51) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/dop-performance-declarations/" ["title"]=> string(24) "Performance_declarations" ["parent"]=> string(16) "Civil contractor" } [20]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(30) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/" ["title"]=> string(7) "Contact" ["parent"]=> string(16) "Civil contractor" } [21]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(34) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Construction contractor" } [22]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(44) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/construction/products/" ["title"]=> string(16) "Facade_solutions" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Construction contractor" } [23]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(30) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/" ["title"]=> string(7) "Contact" ["parent"]=> string(23) "Construction contractor" } [24]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(47) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/brochures/?cat=for-garden" ["title"]=> string(9) "Brochures" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [25]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(58) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/construction/products/facing-bricks/" ["title"]=> string(13) "Facing_bricks" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [26]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(50) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/products/garden/geoceramica/" ["title"]=> string(13) "GeoCeramica®" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [27]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(39) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/maintenance-tips/" ["title"]=> string(17) "Maintenance_tips_" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [28]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(54) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/products/garden/geosteen-paving/" ["title"]=> string(15) "Concrete_paving" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [29]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(59) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/products/garden/mirage-ceramic-tiles/" ["title"]=> string(18) "20mm_Ceramic_tiles" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [30]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(43) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/#distributors" ["title"]=> string(18) "Local_distributors" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [31]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(45) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/?cat=living" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(8) "Consumer" } [32]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(50) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/products/garden/geoceramica/" ["title"]=> string(13) "GeoCeramica®" ["parent"]=> string(18) "Gardener/Installer" } [33]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(52) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/garden/installing-geoceramica/" ["title"]=> string(24) "Installing_GeoCeramica®" ["parent"]=> string(18) "Gardener/Installer" } [34]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(54) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/products/garden/geosteen-paving/" ["title"]=> string(28) "GeoSteen®_(concrete_paving)" ["parent"]=> string(18) "Gardener/Installer" } [35]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(55) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/products/accessories/wall-blocks/" ["title"]=> string(11) "Wall_Blocks" ["parent"]=> string(18) "Gardener/Installer" } [36]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(45) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/?cat=garden" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(18) "Gardener/Installer" } [37]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(32) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/brochures/" ["title"]=> string(9) "Brochures" ["parent"]=> string(18) "Gardener/Installer" } [38]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(43) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/contact/#distributors" ["title"]=> string(18) "Local_distributors" ["parent"]=> string(6) "Dealer" } [39]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(44) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/construction/products/" ["title"]=> string(21) "Construction_products" ["parent"]=> string(6) "Dealer" } [40]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(38) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/garden/products/" ["title"]=> string(15) "Garden_products" ["parent"]=> string(6) "Dealer" } [41]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(34) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/inspiration/" ["title"]=> string(11) "Inspiration" ["parent"]=> string(6) "Dealer" } [42]=> array(3) { ["link"]=> string(32) "https://www.mbi.nl/en/brochures/" ["title"]=> string(9) "Brochures" ["parent"]=> string(6) "Dealer" } }

Searching for something else?

We will help you on your way.

I am a

and am looking for

MBI for Infrastructure

Ceramics versus natural stone