Different Types of Tiles

Tile is becoming a more popular floor covering choice for a number of reasons:

• Creates a rich, elegant style for any room
• Design options are limitless

- Colors and finishes range from rugged earth tones to stunning metallic and glass tiles.
- Grout, the color filler applied in the space between the tiles, can contrast or coordinate with   the tiles or nearly match the color.

• Practical: tiles durable surface is stain resistant and wont fade or burn.
• Tile is moisture resistent, so it is exceptionally easy to keep clean.

Types of Tiles

Natural Stone Tile Tile can be cut from natural stone, such as marble or granite, offering a distinctive and beautiful look. However, natural stone has its disadvantages:

• Its porous, so it stains easily;
• It can be very fragile and will break more easily than porcelain; and
• It is very expensive.

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.

Porcelain Tile

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.

Selecting Tile

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.

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 shouldnt be used in high traffic areas.

Unglazed Tiles

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.

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.

Grout Color

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.