1- Ceramic Tile

What Is Ceramic Tile?

Ceramic tiles are thin slabs of clay, water or other

inorganic materials, hardened at high temperatures in a
kiln and usually coated with some kind of glaze. Ceramic
is best known for its durability and relatively low cost
compared to natural stone.
What Are Ceramic Tiles Made Of?
Let’s start at the very beginning: What is ceramic tile and what
is this type of flooring made from?

In the ancient world, ceramics were simply materials made from

clay, such as pottery. A traditional example would be
earthenware pottery, which is the result of baking or “firing” clay
in a kiln at low temperatures — a cool 1,400 degrees
Fahrenheit, compared to more than 2,300 degrees for porcelain
tile

In the modern world, technological advancements have

expanded the term’s definition. Today, materials called
“advanced ceramics” are used to make everything from medical
implants to refrigerator magnets!

The tiles themselves are generally made from a mixture of

water, sand, and clay. However, the spaces between the tiles,
known as “grout,” are filled with a separate mixture of water,
sand, and “cement” like material. In some installations, the tile
grout is made from epoxy instead of cement.
What Does Ceramic Tile Look Like?
Ceramic tile is very diverse with a myriad of options from
natural stone looks to solid colors in a variety of sizes. As you
may have found during your search of ceramic tile, there are so
many interesting designs that are created with ceramic tile.
Here we touch on a few trends in ceramic tiles.

Natural stone is currently trending in designs for kitchens and

bathrooms. Stone is beautiful but can carry a price tag that is
not for everyone. Ceramic in natural stone looks provides all
the design aesthetic of stone without the high price tag. With
advanced options for printing on ceramic, natural stone
patterns can be extremely realistic.

While hexagons and other tile shapes enjoy bursts of

popularity, a majority of tiles come in a linear rectangle or
square. To achieve the former, manufacturers use machines
that create precise, uniform edges, resulting in a product called
“rectified” tile.

In current interior design trends, it is more typical to see large

tiles than small tiles. (That’s good news for renters and big city
homeowners since large tiles can help make small spaces look
larger!) Some common ceramic tile sizes include:

 12” x 24”
 24” x 24”
 12” x 48”
Types of Ceramic Tile
There are three different types of ceramic tiles to choose from
glazed tiles, wall tiles, and floor tiles. What are the pros and
cons of each, and which is right for you? Check out the
comparisons below to find the best match.

Glazed Ceramic Tiles

Glazed tiles are coated with a protective finish which can vary
from matte to glossy. Matte finishes are perfect for natural
stone designs and are recommended for most applications.
Glossy ceramic tiles are chic by finish, offering a polished look
—no pun intended—to a space. Glossy finishes are
recommended for wall installations.

Wall Tiles

Wall tiles are used in showers, backsplashes, and accent walls,

to name a few applications. With the variety of tile designs, wall
tiles can really add an impressive design element to a room.
They also come in similar sizes as floor tiles.

Floor Tiles

As mentioned above, floor tiles tend to be more on the matte

side of finishes. When finding a ceramic tile you like, make sure
to ask if it is suitable for floor installation. Ceramic tile can be
extremely durable when installed as a floor.
Where Are the Best Places to Use
Ceramic Tile?
Ceramic tiles are waterproof, which makes them a natural fit for
any bathroom or shower stall, including open-concept
bathrooms with perhaps a marble look.

Since they are non-absorbent and easy to clean, tiles are also
popular in kitchens, where you might find them in eye-catching
backsplash arrangements.

When properly treated and maintained, ceramic tile is also

tough enough for outdoor use, with applications for patios,
decks, lanais, and other enclosures or courtyards.
 2- Porcelain Tile
What Is Porcelain Tile?
Porcelain tiles are made of several types of clay, sand and
feldspar. Ceramic tiles are made of finely ground sand, clay
and talc. The process by which the tiles are made also differs:
porcelain tiles are formed using high pressures and are fired at
high temperatures (ca. 1100 – 1200 °C).

How Is Porcelain Tile Made?

Despite their similar appearances, ceramic tile and porcelain
tile are quite different.

Porcelain tile is made by exposing clay to searing hot

temperatures — anywhere from around 2,300 to 2,400 degrees
Fahrenheit! Unsurprisingly, porcelain is sometimes called a
“high-fire” material for this reason. Because it is made at high-
fire temperatures, porcelain tile is stronger than ceramic and
can withstand more elements, which is why it often makes a
great outdoor flooring choice.
Finished porcelain is hard and heavy like stone but also has
some noticeable differences. For example, while stone is highly
porous, porcelain contains no pores at all, resulting in superior
protection against moisture and humidity.

What Are the Different Porcelain Tile

Types?
Not all porcelain types of tiles have the same characteristics,
which makes it important to choose carefully. Porcelain tile is
available in several different varieties, with three of the most
common including wall tile, floor tile, and mosaic wall tiles.

Wall Tile

Porcelain wall tile is perfect for showers, bathroom walls, or

even great for a fun accent wall in a living room. Wall tiles
come in such a variety of designs that the design possibilities
are endless. Porcelain tiles can mimic wood or stone with
exceptional realistic visuals perfect for wall installations.

Floor Tile

Porcelain floor tile is very popular due to its waterproof and pet-
proof capabilities. It is an extremely durable flooring type. All
durability aside, porcelain floor tile is diverse in design helping
you achieve the bathroom or kitchen of your dreams!

Mosaic Wall Tiles

Mosaics are small pieces of porcelain tile laid out in a pattern

on a mesh backing. The mesh backing keeps the design intact
for installation. Mosaic tiles are eye-catching by design and are
perfect for applications such as kitchen backsplashes or accent
strips in showers.

What to Look For When Buying Porcelain

Tile
Knowing what features to look for will help you select high-
quality porcelain flooring. Here are some simple tips on what to
look for when shopping for porcelain tile.

 Find the right “class” or category of porcelain. For

example, Class 5 is the toughest and most durable
category, making Class 5 porcelain ideal for heavy use
and foot traffic. Class 1 porcelain, on the other hand,
should never be used for flooring because it is prone to
damage from wear.

 Find the right “grade” of porcelain. Not to be confused

with class, which indicates resistance to wear-and-tear
caused by abrasion or grinding, grade indicates the
porcelain’s overall quality, which is linked to tile thickness.
The best or highest grade of porcelain is Grade 1, which is
also the thickest variety of tile (up to ¾”). Grade 3, being
the thinnest variety (up to ¼”), falls at the opposite end of
 the spectrum. Grade 3 tile is not recommended for
flooring, especially in high-traffic areas.

 Find the right color. When you say the word “porcelain,”
most people immediately think of the color white. But did
you know that porcelain is actually available in a variety of
fun, bold colors and patterns? Don’t feel like you have to
restrict yourself to the classics!

Where Are the Best Places to Use Porcelain Tile?

Porcelain tile has a smooth, pore less surface that is
ideal for blocking out moisture. This non-absorbent,
waterproof quality makes porcelain ideal for use in
bathrooms and foyers, where steam, water, rain, slush,
and melted snow can collect and ruin other types of
flooring.
Porcelain tile is easy to clean which makes it an
excellent choice for kitchens because it is effortless to
wipe down and easy to disinfect. Just remember, be
sure to choose the appropriate class and grade for your
needs.
 3-natural stone Tile

What is natural stone?

The term natural stone refers to organic rock quarried from the
earth for use as building material. It is a solid composition made
up of one or more minerals formed thousands of years ago.

Shaped by mineral gases that condensed and cooled into solid

material over time, different types of rocks are formed by
different mineral compositions, this is why we have different
types of natural stone with different properties and why they
come from certain areas of the world we know today.

So, what is natural stone tile? This is when the quarried stone
goes through several manufacturing processes including sizing
and shaping to become slabs of material and is then cut into
individual tiles.

As natural stone is a product of nature, no two tiles are the

same, this is referred to as variation. It is why one piece of
marble can be all white and another heavily veined with black
accents. Variations can occur in the stone’s colour, shading,
veining, markings, texture, and finish. This makes natural stone
unique and gives it its charm.
Stone Types
The main types of stone we carry for tile include Travertine, Granite,
Marble, Onyx, Quartzite, Sandstone, and Limestone.

Granite

Granite is formed by intense heat and pressure giving it a very

hard, non-porous surface and is not damaged by common
household kitchen acids such as citrus juice, vinegar, and
sodas. It is known for a crystalline appearance which may be
fused with quartz, feldspar, and mica. Granite is an ideal stone
for countertop and flooring application. Granite also resists
most scratches and shows no damage from heat such as
placing hot pots and pans on it. However, it can still be stained
by oils like olive and vegetable oil..
Marble

Marble is formed from limestone or dolomite that have been

formed by great heat and pressure over time into a crystalline
structure. Marble is known for its beautiful colors, bands,
streaks, and clouds. Marble is a great stone for bathrooms,
backsplashes, and lower traffic areas. Marble is a softer and
more porous stone, so it can be susceptible to staining and
etching by acidic liquids.
Onyx

Onyx is a form of quartz crystals fused together in nature to

form solid stone and is most often found in caves. The semi-
translucent nature of onyx and the vivid colored banding and
crystalline nature of it make it a prized stone well suited for
accenting other types of tile in flooring. Onyx is a softer more
porous stone and can be susceptible to staining.
Travertine

Travertine is a rock typically formed by hot springs which

dissolve the underlying limestone that eventually hardens into
stone again and as a result has many small air pockets and pits
in its surface. This gives the stone a unique, rustic old world
appearance that has been treasured as a building stone as far
back as the Romans. Travertine is a popular choice for foyer
and bathroom flooring, walls, and bathroom vanities. Travertine
is a porous stone and can be more susceptible to staining then
Granite or Marbles and should be protected with a sealer.
Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary stone formed by build up of calcium

and organic matter which hardened over time. Many limestones
exhibit different colors and impurities such as clay, sand,
organic materials, and even fossils trapped within them.
Limestone tile is popular for bathrooms, living rooms, and
foyers and like marble is susceptible to staining and should be
avoided in kitchens.
Sandstone

Like Limestone, Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed by the

buildup of sand, clay, and other organic materials and has a
variety of earthtone shades which can exhibit fantastic bands of
color; some of which even resemble woodgrains. Sandstone is
a characteristically hard textured stone great for outdoor
surfaces but can be worn down by sand and other abrasives

Quartzite
Quartzite is a combination of sandstone and quartz crystals
formed together by intense heat and pressure. Quartzite has a
grained texture and can contain bands of quartz crystals. It’s
natural texture which is similar to sandstone when given a
natural cleft finish makes it an idea stone for outdoor flooring or
other areas with water exposure

Slate

Slate is a sedimentary stone composed of shale and quartz

which naturally forms into thin horizontal layers. By expertly
striking the rock to break it and separate the layers, quarries
can create generally smooth and uniquely textured tiles from
the stone. The rustic natural look of the stone makes it a
favorite for outdoor tile and paver applications, and the textured
surface also makes it will suited for areas such as pool decks,
kitchens, or entryways where water may create a slip hazard.