Tile Information

Natural Stone

Why natural stone? For a number of solid, natural reasons. Natural stone is strong and stable to live with. It exudes a rich, organic, beautiful surface and has a confident, timeless “presence” in any room. Recent advances in the stone industry’s equipment technology have greatly impacted the process of extracting stone from the quarry and installing it in a home. Indeed, nothing compares to the beauty of natural stone, and nothing can create pride quicker than when you walk into your home with a natural stone floor. And while it is typically more expensive than ceramic tiles, natural stone will virtually always increase your home’s resale value.

Ceramics

Tile terminology can be confusing. Most types of tiles that are made from clay or a mixture of clay and other materials, then kiln-fired, are considered to be a part of the larger classification called “Ceramic Tiles”. These tiles can be split into two groups, porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles. These non-porcelain tiles are frequently referred to as ceramic tiles by themselves, separate from porcelain tiles. Ceramic tile is a natural product made up of clay, a number of other naturally occurring minerals, and water.

There are 2 main types of ceramic tile construction: glazed and unglazed.

When you look at a glazed tile from the side you can see 2 layers. The body of the tile, or largest layer, is called the. The top layer is called the glaze.

“Ceramic” or non-porcelain tiles are generally made from red or white clay fired in a kiln. They are almost always finished with a durable glaze which carries the color and pattern. These tiles are used in both wall tile and floor tile applications, they are softer and easier to cut than porcelain. Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are usually suitable for very light to moderate traffic and generally have a relatively high water absorption rating making them less frost resistant and they are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles. Glazed tiles are coated with a liquid glass, which is then baked into the surface of the clay. The glaze provides an unlimited array of colors and provides a hard non-porous, impermeable surface after firing. Something to consider for those more active areas of your home like, kitchens and bathrooms. Tiles that are fired once after the glaze is applied are called monocuttura tile or single fired. The other type is called biocuttura or double fired tile. Biocuttura tiles are first fired after the green tile is dried and then fired again after the glaze is applied.

The unglazed tiles are pretty much the same as the glazed tile, except that their surface is not coated.

A glazed tile is already stain proof, so there is no purpose to putting on a sealer. You may put a penetrating sealer on your unglazed tile or your grout joints. The penetrating sealer is an invisible, stain resistant shield that is absorbed into the surface.

Porcelain

Aside from the 2 types of ceramic tile, glazed and unglazed, there is another category that continues to gain popularity – beautiful, elegant, porcelain tiles. A porcelain tile is generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in 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. Glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and more wear and damage resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tiles, making them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic. Full body porcelain tiles carry the color and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile making them virtually impervious to wear and are suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic commercial or industrial applications. Porcelain tiles are available in matt, glazed, structured, unglazed or a high polished finish.

Mosaics

In addition to ceramic tile styles, manufacturers also offer decorative inserts, medallions and mosaics that are used to create intricate patterns and beautiful borders. Tile sizes 50mm X 50mm and smaller are usually referred to as mosaics and are often used with different colors to create a pattern or decorative inset. Some of these smaller tiles also come in different shapes. They can be made of glass, metal, ceramic, porcelain and other durable substances.

Grouts

Grout color and thickness will change the appearance of the floor and room dramatically. Using a white or a light colored grout highlights the color in tile. Choosing a dark grout with a light tile, or light grout with a dark tile will emphasize the geometric pattern of your layout. So be wise and plan accordingly. Most grouts also contain a biocide, which provides it with a resistance to a broad spectrum of moulds and bacteria; they are available in a range of different colors also. Grout can also be used as an adhesive and grout at one time, when mixed with additives.