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Types of Tile |
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Natural Stone
Tile can be cut
from natural stone, such
as marble or granite,
offering a distinctive
and beautiful look. |
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Ceramic Tile |
Ceramic tile is the
oldest known flooring
material. It has been
made the same way for
centuries: a mixture of
clays and other natural
materials that are mined
from the earth, shaped,
colored and fired at
high temperatures.
Various clays are
blended to a fine powder
and pressed together to
form the body of the
tile. The pressed clay
body is then dried to
reduce the moisture
content. In the case of
glazed tile, one surface
is coated with a colored
glaze made from a glass
derivative called Frit.
The glaze is permanently
fused to the surface of
the tile by firing in
kilns at 2000 degrees
Fahrenheit, forming a
finished product that is
hard, with an
impermeable surface. |
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Porcelain Tile |
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Porcelain is a form of
ceramic tile made from a
very fine mix of clay
and minerals — far
different from regular
ceramics — formed under
extremely high pressure
and fired at higher
temperatures than
standard ceramic tile.
The result is a material
that is stronger and
more durable than
standard ceramic and
very resistant to
moisture and stains. |
Superior porcelain tile
is especially resistant
to scratching, staining
and fading, and it never
needs sealing.
Through-body porcelain
tiles are colored
throughout the entire
tile, so there is little
danger of color loss due
to wear.
Porcelain represents the
best overall value in
tile because it is: |
- Available in
various styles and
faithfully
replicates natural
stone;
- Non-porous
(unlike standard
ceramic tile or
natural stone);
- More durable and
stain resistant than
natural stone; and
- Significantly
more affordable than
natural stone.
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Selecting Tile |
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Selecting tile boils
down to aesthetics and
practicality. There are
unlimited design
possibilities. But
before choosing a style,
the homeowner should
consider where it will
be used (floor or wall,
inside or outside) in
order to ensure that the
tile selected is
appropriate. |
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Glazed, Smooth
Tiles |
Glaze is a surface
coating made from a
glass derivative and
comes in finishes from
matte (dull) to high
gloss (shiny).
Generally, the lower the
sheen, the better the
grip (or slip
resistance). Less glossy
surfaces are also less
likely to reveal
scratches.
The main benefits of
glazed tile are more
color choices and stain
resistance. The downside
to glazed tile is that
it can chip. Higher
gloss, smooth surfaces
are also more slippery,
so they shouldn’t be
used in high traffic
areas. |
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Unglazed Tiles |
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Unglazed tiles are
better suited for high
traffic and wear areas
because they are more
durable than glazed
tiles and chips are less
noticeable. Texturing
also increases slip
resistance. A downside
to unglazed tiles is
that they often contain
nooks and crannies which
can make cleaning more
difficult. |
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Room Size |
Room
size helps determine
tile size. As larger
homes have become more
popular, so have larger
tiles. Larger tiles tend
to visually expand a
smaller area, and unify
a larger area. From a
design standpoint,
larger tiles also mean
fewer grout lines and a
more tailored, less busy
look.
However, in a small
room, using a larger
tile could result in
numerous cuts and use of
partial tiles, which can
detract from the desired
look. |
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Grout Color |
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Grout color is one
more opportunity for the
homeowner to define
their style:
- Matching the
tile color creates a
more seamless floor.
- Complementing or
accenting the tile
with a shade
slightly different
from the color of
the tile adds depth
to the tile design
without creating a
bold outline.
- Using a
contrasting color
emphasizes the
pattern created by
the tile.
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