Porcelain is an engineered material made by firing fine clay and minerals at high temperatures until water absorption drops to 0.5 percent or less, the industry threshold for true porcelain. When that material is manufactured in a long, narrow shape instead of a traditional square, it becomes what people search for as porcelain plank flooring, a wood-look format available here as an 8x48 inch size in our Velocity Plank line. Below, our team covers how porcelain plank flooring performs and how to keep it looking its best.
Explore more on our porcelain offerings:
What Are Porcelain Planks Used as Flooring?
Our current porcelain plank flooring offering is Velocity
Plank, sized 8x48 inches and available in six colors: Birch, Chestnut, Pine,
Poplar, Teak, and White Oak, so the wood look can be matched to a range of
interior tones. The larger 8x48 size covers more square footage per piece than
a smaller format would, which means fewer grout lines across a room.
Manufacturers can have their product independently certified through the
Porcelain Tile Certification Agency to confirm it meets the water absorption standard
referenced above. For general education on porcelain finishes and performance,
our porcelain tiles
page covers the material in more depth.
How Do Porcelain Planks Perform as Flooring?
This format works both indoors and outdoors, but installation has to match the application. Indoor and outdoor surfaces expand and contract at different rates as temperatures shift, so porcelain plank flooring that crosses from an interior room into a patio typically needs a movement joint at that transition. Color and finish affect how the surface holds up under direct sun, so shade selection matters in rooms with strong exposure, and standing water shouldn't sit on the floor for long periods, particularly in entryways and bathrooms. Slip resistance comes down to the finish rather than the shape: honed or textured surfaces grip better in wet areas, while polished surfaces can be slicker when wet and suit drier rooms instead.
For homes in Reno, Minden, Fernley, and Sacramento, the high-desert climate brings hot, dry summers, cold winters, and wide swings between day and night temperatures, conditions where frost resistance matters most for covered patios, sunrooms, and other spaces exposed to the outdoors. In the Sacramento area, strong summer sun makes UV performance more relevant for west-facing rooms and covered outdoor living spaces, while wetter winters put more weight on slip-resistant finishes near entryways.
Beyond these general characteristics, a few industry ratings help compare specific porcelain plank flooring products, as tracked by the Tile Council of North America:
|
Specification |
Standard or Rating |
Why It Matters |
|
Water absorption |
0.5% or less (ASTM C373) |
Classifies the material as impervious, supporting use in moisture-prone rooms |
|
Slip resistance, wet DCOF |
0.42 or higher (ANSI A326.3) |
Common benchmark for interior floors that may get wet |
|
Wear resistance, PEI rating |
3 or higher for floor use |
Indicates resistance to surface abrasion in foot-traffic areas |
|
Surface hardness |
Approximately Mohs 7 for glazed finishes |
General indicator of resistance to surface scratching |
|
Frost resistance |
Rated frost-resistant per ASTM C1026 when absorption is 0.5% or less |
Relevant for planks installed outdoors or in unheated spaces |
These ratings vary by manufacturer, color, and finish, so check the specific product's technical data sheet before ordering. Wear resistance also depends on ongoing maintenance; felt pads under furniture legs help protect porcelain plank flooring from scratches over time.
Caring for Porcelain Planks Used as Flooring
Our team has been helping homeowners, designers, and contractors select flooring since 2005; read more about that history on our about us page. Porcelain plank flooring is part of our larger porcelain tile flooring collection, and the same material comes in large-format porcelain floor tile for bigger rooms and open layouts. Our complete guide to porcelain tile covers the material in more depth, and Why Tile offers additional general background. Current discounts on select porcelain plank flooring can be found on our overstock sale page, or visit any of our showrooms across Nevada and Northern California to see samples in person. Samples of select porcelain plank flooring options are available for $1, so you can check color and finish in your own space before ordering a full quantity.
Read our blogs for more ideas:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, porcelain plank flooring is available for pickup at any of our showroom locations. We recommend booking an appointment ahead of time so our team can have your selection ready when you arrive.
We ship porcelain plank flooring in addition to offering in-store pickup. Shipping times and costs vary by order size and destination, so our team can provide a quote based on the size and quantity needed for your project.
Larger planks like 8x48 can still work in smaller rooms, though they may need more cuts around fixtures and corners. Our design team can help you decide whether this size fits your space well or whether a different porcelain format would work better.
A wet DCOF of 0.42 or higher, based on ANSI A326.3, is a common benchmark for interior floors that may get wet. A honed or textured finish generally performs better on this measure than a polished one, which suits drier rooms better.
Day to day, sweeping and an occasional damp mop with a neutral cleaner is usually enough. Grout lines need more attention since they're more porous than the tile itself, so periodic inspection and resealing matter more than the surface cleaning routine.