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Types of Ceramic Tiles
Glazed tiles -. Glazed Ceramic Tile is comprised of two basic elements, clay and water. Various clays are mined, ground and 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. Next, the surface of the tile is coated with a colored glaze. The glaze is then permanently fused to the surface of the tile by firing it in kilns at approximately 2000° Fahrenheit, to form the finished product.
Unglazed tiles are true inlaids. They are simply baked pieces of clay whose colors run throughout the body of the tile.
Features of Glazed and Unglazed Tiles:
Glazed Tiles - Many glazed tiles are not recommended for heavy commercial installations. They are generally suited for residential and light commercial use, although there are some exceptions. Technology for glazes has improved dramatically over the past few years. There are some new glazes on the market that are hard enough and durable enough for use in heavy commercial applications.
Advantages of Glazed Tiles:
The glaze offers the manufacturers the ability to produce an unlimited array of beautiful colors and designs.
The non-porous glaze creates a smooth surface that is virtually stain proof.
Unglazed Tiles - This type of tile is the work horse of the industry. They are generally thicker and denser than glazed tiles. They include such products as quarry tiles and porcelains. Generally, the color range of unglazed tiles is limited to the natural colors of the clay, ranging from light sand to red brick, but there are exceptions. Some manufacturers achieve a wide range of colors by mixing pigments in with the clay.
Two advantages of Unglazed Tiles
Advantages of Unglazed Tiles -Unglazed tiles possess superior strength for heavy-duty commercial and residential use. The rugged surface texture and matte finish of the unglazed tiles give them excellent "slip resistant" qualities for use in wet areas.
Description of Various Popular Tiles
Quarry Tile -Quarry tiles are unglazed tiles made from natural clays and shale. Their colors are usually limited to earth tones, ranging from red to light tan, although some manufacturers add pigments to the clay to offer a wider range of colors. Their body is both thick and dense, making them a popular choice for both heavy commercial and residential installations. Their surface generally has good slip resistant qualities.
Porcelain Tile is made from a blend of fine-grain clays and other minerals to produce a very dense body, which makes it highly resistant to moisture, staining and wear. Because of these features, porcelain tile will withstand years of heavy foot traffic in both interior and exterior applications while maintaining its color and beauty. They come in a wide range of colors which are achieved by mixing pigments with the clay. The special clays allow the product to be fired at extreme temperatures (2,500 degrees F) resulting in a denser and harder body than most other tiles.
Terra-cotta Tiles are either handmade or machine made pavers. The machine made terra-cottas are much denser than the handmade tiles and can usually be installed outdoors as they are frost resistant. The most popular handmade tile is Saltio tile from Mexico. Saltio tiles are crudely made, varying widely in size, shade, and texture from one to another. Occasionally, they will even come with animal tracks on the surface. These handmade tiles are very porous and must be waxed to prevent staining and wear. The colors range from terra-cotta to yellow to brown. Additional colors can also be achieved by using stains.
Mosaic Tiles are small tiles, less than 6 square inches in size. They come mounted on perforated paper sheets for easy installations. They are usually very dense products that are tough and stain resistant. Mosaics are ideal for shower floors because their small size gives them the flexibility to follow the contour of the floor as it slopes to the drain. The numerous grout joints also aid in slip resistance. The toughness and stain resistance also make them ideal for countertops. Note: While most quarry, porcelain, terracotta and mosaic tiles are unglazed, all of them can be produced with a glaze.
Stone (Marble & Granite): Stone tile is a natural product which is porous and will stain. Stone tile can be sealed with a special sealer to help with stain resistance. This product is available in a variety of colors as well as finishes which include: polished, unpolished, honed, and tumbled.
All of these tile options are available in numerous styles, colors, and designs. The variety of borders, medallions, and decorative pieces are virtually limitless.
Floor and Wall Tiles
Wall Tile - Ceramic wall tiles are normally less durable than tile designed specifically for flooring. Most wall tile is glazed with a semi-gloss or matte surface. The glazed surface has a very low slip resistance and becomes slippery when wet. Therefore, glazed wall tile is much more suited for wall or countertop applications rather than floors.
Floor Tiles - These tiles, glazed or unglazed, have the sufficient strength, impact, and abrasion resistance to withstand weight and foot traffic. They are usually thicker, denser, and heavier than wall tiles. If the substrate is strong enough to support the weight, floor tiles may also be used on walls and counter tops.
Floor tiles range in size from less than one square inch with mosaics up to 24" x 24". Although the most popular sizes in the United States for floor tile are still 13" x 13" and 12" x 12", there is a growing trend towards large tiles.
Quality of installation is as important as the product chosen to insure the desired look, proper performance, and longevity of your chosen floor covering. Dalene Flooring is the only NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) Five Star Contractor in Connecticut. Maintaining this certification ensures that Dalene Flooring is an active participant in the NTCA and their training programs to maintain the highest level of knowledge regarding tile and the proper installation methods. Dalene Flooring currently holds a position on the NTCA Board of Directors as well.
