If you’re looking to increase your knowledge of ceramic tile, you’ve
come to the smart place.
To begin, understand that ceramic is dynamic. Its unique character, texture and
natural materials add energy, excitement and enchantment to any room.
Its multitude of styles, shapes, patterns, colors and finishes offers you a home
from elegant, quiet and sedate to vibrant, emotional and provocative.
Ceramic tiles are created from natural products extracted from the earth that are
shaped into tiles and then fired in kilns at extremely high temperatures.
There are three main types of tile: glazed, unglazed and porcelain.
When you look at a glazed tile from the side you can see two layers. The body of
the tile is called the bisque. The top layer is called the glaze.
Glazed tiles have a hard non-porous, impermeable surface after firing.
They are more stain resistant than unglazed tile and are easy to clean. Typically,
they have a matte, semi-gloss or high-gloss finish.
Unglazed tiles are solid colored all the way through and do not have a
top layer of glaze. This is often referred to as through-body construction.
They have no added surface applications and are typically more durable than glazed
tile. Thus they are more suitable for interior and exterior applications.
Porcelain tile is made up of 50% feldspar and is fired at a much higher
temperature than ceramic tile, making porcelain tile much harder and denser.
Porcelain can be used indoors and outdoors as well as in commercial areas.
Because the color in porcelain tile goes all the way through, they are non-porous,
resist scratching and can withstand temperature extremes.
Ceramic tile is manufactured in sizes ranging from one inch to twenty-four inches
square.
Currently, the most popular ceramic floor tile are the larger sized tiles such as
13” by 13”, 16” by 16”, 18” by 18” and larger
sizes.
Using a large size tile in a small room will visually increase the size of the space.
Fewer grout lines will help create a cleaner surface appearance.
Applying a tile size that’s too small creates more grout joints that may make
the floor look too busy, depending on the size of the space.
In answer to consumer demand, manufacturers have created tiles that offer textures,
colors and patterns resembling natural stone products.
Of the sought after looks in ceramic and porcelain tile, slate, travertine and marble
are just a few.
To further enhance the natural look, tile can also be made to feature heavy textures,
chiseled and hammered edges, and even resemble tumbled stone.
Manufacturers also offer decorative inserts, medallions, and mosaics that are used
to create intricate patterns and beautiful borders.
Tiles size 2” by 2” and smaller are usually referred to as mosaics and
are often used with different colors to create a pattern or decorative inset.
And now, a word about grout. Grout is a type of cement that is used to fill the
space and provide support in tile joints.
There are two types of grout commonly used in home installations; Portland cement
based, and epoxy based.
Grout can be pigmented to give a nearly infinite range of colors, shades and hues.
Pigment is added to the cement at the job site when the grout is mixed.
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.
Finally, be calculating! The ceramic tile “cost per square foot” is
just one component of the entire project cost.
We will be happy to calculate the total cost, including furniture removal, demolition
and disposal of the old floor covering, subfloor preparation, product delivery,
installation and materials required to complete the installation.
There’s a lot to keep to keep in mind before you buy ceramic tile, but it’s
well worth the effort.