All About Ceramic Tiles

Other Ceramic Tiles Posting:
Benefit of White Mosaic Tiles
Laminate tiles & Laminate tile flooring
White glass wall tiles for bathroom and kitchen
Porcelain Tile
Something About Granite Tiles
Ceramic Tiles and It’s Type
kitchen victorian floor tiles and laminate tile flooring
Travertine Tiles Types
Natural Marble Tiles
Flooring tile, wall tile, glazed floor tiles
Vinyl Floor Tiles for Bathroom & Kitchen
Natural Stone Tiles - Limestone Tiles

Resource: Limestone Flooring: the Modern Choice for Kitchen Flooring

Many homeowners and do it yourselfers have heard the term porcelain tile. This refers to tiles which are made from special “porcelain” clays and have been fired at very high temperatures. This process vitrifies the tile which makes it very hard, like glass. This also makes the tile dense, forms a strong solid structure and a hard surface which doesn’t absorb water (classified as impervious), doesn’t stain, and isn’t affected by wear and tear over time.

There are two main types of porcelain tile. Glazed porcelain and through-bodied porcelain. Glazed porcelain has a body made of the porcelain material and then a glaze is applied over the surface much like a regular ceramic tile. It is fired in a kiln and the result is a very strong bodied tile. Many tile manufacturers are switching their production to porcelain bodied tile because for a slightly higher cost, they can produce a superior grade tile - glazed porcelain tiles.

Through-bodied porcelain does not have a glaze. The clay is pressed and then fired. It may have texture and color applied to the surface before firing but it is still the porcelain material from top to bottom. The result is a strong tile that can withstand extreme surface traffic. There is no glaze that can wear off. If the tile chips, the same or similar color is underneath.

Because of the high cost of manufacturing this type of tile, only a very small percentage of the tiles you might see in a tile store are true through bodied porcelain tiles.

Most often this type of porcelain tile is installed by commercial users who have a need for the strength and durability of through bodied material.

Porcelain tiles typically have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Ceramic tiles have water absorption greater than 0.5%. Because porcelain tiles have a low water absorption, they are usually frost resistant – although, not always. To know if a tile is frost resistant, you should check the manufacturer’s literature and product specs. Porcelain tiles tend to cost more but are well worth the extra cost.

Understanding the terms shade and caliber
Ceramic Tile is a natural material with a natural composition which becomes resistant when fired at very high temperatures. This process, however, can cause slight differences in the shades of color of a tile between one batch and the next. Therefore, tiles are grouped before packaging according to their “dye lots” or shade and their caliber. The “dye lot” (or shade of that batch of material) is then indicated on the label of every box.

This is why when placing your order for tile, it is very important to order enough tile to not only complete the jo ut also to have extra for any repairs that may need to occur sometime down the line. Five to ten percent extra tile on most orders should be sufficient.

Grading of Tile
PEI ratings PEI rates are more applicable for floor tiles and are ratings that measure the abrasive resistance of the tile’s glaze on a scale of 0-5. This test is only for glazed tiles and does not apply to unglazed porcelain tile or other unglazed types of tile.

Class 1 (PEI 1): Recommended for wall use
May be used both on interior walls or bath floors without direct access to outdoor elements. 

Recommended for tiles that are suitable for residential bathrooms with light barefoot foot traffic. Some wall tiles may be used on the floor.

Class 2 (PEI 2): Light Residential Use
May be used where abrasive foot traffic is minimal – such as bathrooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, and sunrooms. Tiles can be used in residential areas, but not areas with high foot traffic such as kitchens, hallways etc.

Class 3 (PEI 3): All Residential floors
For floors subject to normal foot traffic and usage (including kitchens, outdoor entryways and hallways). These tiles can be recommended for all residential installations with normal foot traffic.

Class 4 (PEI 4): All Residential floors and light-medium Commercial floors with moderate traffic Suitable for light to medium commercial applications. Will withstand light to moderate foot traffic in many commercial areas (commercial kitchens, hotel rooms, small offices, etc).

Class 5 (PEI 5): All Residential and busy Commercial
Ideally suited for all residential and heavy traffic commercial areas under normal foot traffic conditions (shopping centers, hotel lobbies, hospitals, and industrial applications). For very high traffic areas, consider an unglazed through-body color porcelain.

Travertine tiles are very popular and are being used on more occasions in the home; more specifically the bathroom, kitchen and gardens. These tiles are strong reliable and are guaranteed to last many decades. Travertine tiles are high quality limestone tiles that are usually imported from Iran and Turkey. These stones are very unique and each one is different.

The colours, grains and styles all vary depending on where they have been excavated. This is a huge selling factor to these stone as you are sure to never find the exact same style of stone. These stones are simple in regards to being the same colour, no real design yet are highly stylish and coincide with simple contemporary designs.

This article will talk about different styles of travertine tiles:

Firstly we will start off with Cappuccino Travertine Tiles - Tumbled & Unfilled. This tile is used for flooring that has undergone the tumbling process where the tile has been cut. By having this type of tile gives off the worn around edges and surface look. The cappuccino tile is light coloured with richer tones across the stone.

The tile is kept unfilled in order for the surface texture to add a new dimension to it character. When tiled on the floor, these tiles give off a very aged floor that has the look off an ancient ruin, instantly adding a new look to your home.

Next there is the popular Muscat Travertine Tiles, which is Tumbled & Unfilled. Here we see these antique style stones, which are laid in random lengths and sizes, as if to give off a mosaic like look. By being tumbled the stone appears to have aged, which gives off a older look to the stone. This tile is light and if ideal for kitchens and bathroom where cleanliness if imperative. By using this light coloured stone would give off the appearance that the room is light and large.

The Noce Travertine Tiles - Honed & Filled is also a very popular travertine tile. This tile can be used on the floor as well the on walls. This therefore adds further benefit because it now gives you the choice of how you want the tile to be laid.

These tiles often come in an array of browns, chocolates and beige. Furthermore these types of ceramic tiles are extremely hard wearing and tough and can accommodate the hot and cold temperatures of shower and bathrooms. By being a darker tile enables one to have them set against lighter tiles, which create a whole new dimension to the

Finally we have Artistic Light Travertine Tiles, which are Honed and Filled. This is a light creamy like stone that is perfect to suit light filled rooms. The ivory colour of the rock enables the stone to appear broken up with beige undertones.

From this short list of different travertine tiles it is possible to see that that they can be used in many different rooms across the home and with these simple yet stylish designs one can see that they are a real must for home enthusiasts.

Marble tiles are the most spectacular flooring media on the market. In popularity, they beat even the highest grades of granite hands down. They are most commonly used in formal master bathrooms, both on the floors and walls, but have a variety of applications.

However, there are certain precautions that must be taken before using them. First of all, be sure that you understand the basics of marble – what kind of maintenance is required, the grades available, the going rates attached to each, and the drawbacks of the material.

Yes, there are drawbacks to using marble tiles. Apart from the fact that they require far more careful cleaning other tiles, natural marble tiles (unless they are of the pristine white variety) usually cannot be laid out in a visually seamless manner. This is because most natural marble has subtle veining and color variations that will, under most circumstances, not permit a perfect visual match.

It must be borne in mind that marble tiles are usually the ‘leftovers’ from the cutting of larger slabs, since the largest possible sizes are given preference in the cutting and grading processes. This being so, finding a set of visually and texturally compatible tiles large enough for one’s purpose can be quite a chore.

For this reason, care must be taken on two counts – first, buy marble only form an authorized and reputed dealer. Second, employ the services of an experienced installer, since the only time that reasonable consistency can be ensured is at the installation stage.

The installer will also ensure that there is no future warping of the marbled surface by embedding it in a consistent mortar bed. Colored marble tiles such as the green and black kinds have a tendency to wrap or ‘curl’ when they are exposed to too much water. An experienced installer will anticipate this and take appropriate precautions.

If you are prepared to maintain and install your marble tiles properly, you will enjoy the benefits of this fine and beautiful material.

Wood Flooring provides detailed information about wood flooring, laminate wood flooring, hard wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and more. Wood Flooring is the sister site of How To Clean Marble

It may look strange at the beginning, that is because White Mosaic Bathroom Wall Tiles redecoration is based on similar looking natural stones glued onto a 12" x 12" mesh back. One thing is sure: most of these tiles are originated from one part of the world - that is the exotic Indonesian islands.

We can easily find various decorative applications: Kitchen, walls, bathrooms & showers, flooring, counter tops, patio floors, swimming pools & fireplaces.

What are the main benefits?

Let’s quickly examine what is in it for us:

• Impervious to water and other liquids.
• Durable to most common home detergents.
• Provides natural and luxurious look and feel to any coated surface.

Practical tips to go!

• Test the sealers on a small area first to ensure it is giving you the result you want.
• If this is the first time you install these tiles, it is recommended to learn from other’s experience - there are plenty of forums and demonstrational videos on the internet where you can find useful information about first time installation.
• Measure the designated area first, and then add 5%-7% more to your order just as a backup for future use and in case you may need to repair or cut small tile pieces in order to tile small/narrow spaces.

We could list many other important great benefits provided by this enjoyable home improvement technique simply because you quickly discover the wide variety and opportunities provided by these natural panels.

In the world of tile one of the latest entrants for new homes and renovations, is Limestone natural stone tile.

Limestone is a beautiful stone, generally available in light browns, beiges and yellow shades.

Limestone tile is usually provided with a matt finish, which makes it safer to walk on if there

is any liquid spilled. Limestone tile is installed using the same methods as one would use for any other natural stone such as granite or marble and the joints in between tiles should be filled with a grout. To avoid the possibility of permanent staining the limestone tiles should be sealed with a high quality, penetrating, sealer.

Limestone comes in a variety of square and rectangular sizes and is usually 3/16 to a ¼ of an inch thick. Limestone is cut using a wet saw with a diamond impregnated blade. It cuts fast and has a relatively smooth cut line which can be easily filed to a very smooth finish.

As with any natural stone, color matching can be a challenge and it is important that you purchase some extra tiles to ensure that the limestone tile was all cut from the same slab of material. The rule of thumb, if you are using a square grid pattern, is a minimum of 10% more than the calculated square footage of the area to be covered. If you are installing a diamond pattern the recommendation is 20% more than the calculated square footage of the area to be covered.

With all the good points about the product, there of course, has to be a negative. Limestone should not be used in kitchens or bathrooms. In many areas, building codes, do not allow the use of limestone in restaurant kitchens. Limestone is a very porous stone that cannot be easily sealed hence, the pores within the stone become a haven for bacteria growth. Not what a home owner wants for his family, or guests in a kitchen or bathroom.

For foyers, dining rooms and hallways limestone stone wall tiles provides elegance and richness and blends in nicely with almost any choice of décor.

For additional information on flooring products for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters

Glass tiles are perfect for your kitchen especially if you’re thinking of having a contemporary or modern look. These provide a very clean and sleek look that will surely bring in lots of light into the area. Glass tiles are durable as well and are not very hard to maintain aside from what most people would think. Here are some design tips when using glass tiles.

There are different types of glass tiles and colors can vary from transparent to colored opaque.

These acquire colors through mixed pigments in molten glass during manufacturing. The color and shade permeate within the tiles’ body. During the firing method, a layer of pigment is fused to the tiles’ surface. As a result, colors of them are permanent and well-protected against moisture. Color is generally uniform among batches of glass tiles. Clear glass tiles do not use any pigments and are simply molten then fired.

Glass tiles have many advantages. It is moisture-proof which makes it very useful and sturdy in the kitchen. It works best and is most commonly used in walls where it allows light to enter the area without heat.

It is very aesthetic as well considering the variety of colors so people usually create mosaics which serve as a centerpiece of the kitchen. It is good both indoors and outdoors and with its non-permeable quality, endures moisture, heat, fire and ultraviolet rays. By installing glass  wall tiles, other surrounding structures are protected against instant temperature changes.

Smalti is a type of glass tile made up of melted silica with sodium. Some metals and metal oxides are used to stabilize the material before it is fired and hand-cut. Fused glass tiles are usually translucent in nature with a visible opaque layer. Sintered ones usually come in 1 to 3 square feet measurement. It is manufactured by pressing glass powder then heating to fuse particles.

Terrazzo glass tiles involve a cast method using glass and concrete amalgam. Cast tiles have a layered appearance created by putting glass chunks into a mold. Slumped glass has a contoured or curved appearance.

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ACP has introduced a new decorative metal tile that provides the look of custom metal backsplash and wall paneling at a fraction of the cost of custom metal installations. Whether you are remodeling an entire room or simply accenting a small area, Aspect™ decorative metal creates an instant designer flair. The 3” x 6” peel-and-stick tiles are available in three finishes.

The 3” x 6” peel-and-stick tiles are available in brushed stainless, brushed champagne and brushed copper.

Perfect for remodeling or new construction, the tiles are manufactured from 60 percent recycled material, with two .012" aluminum sheets sandwiching a solid polymer core for exceptional durability. The tiles apply to any substrate such as drywall, plywood, OSB, paneling or old tiles. The tiles can be cut with a saw or even a utility knife for quick and easy installation. A typical installation is easy with simple peel and stick application, dramatically changing the look of any room in just a few hours.

The 3” x 6” tiles are available from ACP directly. Aspect metal panels are also available in sheet goods — 4’ x 8’ sheets, 18” x 72” seamless backsplash panels, and 4” x 72” toe kick panels for the area under cabinets.

Aspect architectural metal tiles provide clean, contemporary look to any room, or if surrounded by softer textures, can convey a luxurious sophistication. So whether the design aim is industrial or elegant, this metal look is a fabulous alternative to high-end installations. Multiple applications, such as backsplash, walls, countertops, cabinets, toe kicks, details, furniture and accents can be easily completed. Horizontal and vertical grain patterns are available in every finish. Adding an artistic element to your kitchen or bathroom has never been easier.

For more information, visit ACP’s Web site at www.acpideas.com, e-mail productinfo ( @ ) acpideas dot com, or call (800) 434-3750 dot

The wet rooms of your home kitchen and bathroom, are also one of the main selling factors when people come to look around your home with a view to buying it. This fact is more relevant today than ever with the falling house prices that we are all faced with.

Any advantage that you can get over the other homes that are being sold that are similar to yours is needed to help with a speedy sale with a good price. Remodeling your bathroom or kitchen if done well has also been shown to be one very good way to give your home more value.

Besides putting in new cupboards or fittings it is necessary to give the walls a makeover as well. With these areas being prone to condensation and water related problems it makes good sense to use a water proof wall covering, not just paint or paper. One of the popular choices for such rooms is using wall tiles. Using wall tiles can have a dramatic effect on the overall appearance of the room and if chosen well will give the room a luxurious feel.

There are so many choices available to prospective buyer that it can be really hard to decide which ones to go for. There are a number of materials used in the manufacture of wall tiles nowadays such as ceramic, porcelain and glass. The most common materials due to there manufacturing costs are porcelain and ceramics these are available in a huge array of designs, colors, patterns and textures. This is why it can be very hard to choose which tile to use in the particular room.

There are other option available other than the man made wall tiles there are the natural products that are available these are things like slate, stone and marble and give a room a feel of nature and the great outdoors. There are a number of made made ceramic tiles that have been designed to look like the more natural products, but some how they just don’t look and feel the same with depth of color and feeling of warmth. Although the natural type of wall tiles are a little more costly but you could potentially get the cost back from using them in the value that they would add to your home.

Marble in particular is a great finish for your walls due to it’s overall appearance and the effect it can have on the area. With it’s wide array of patterns and colours the possibilities are endless. The reason for the visual aspects of marble are due to how it is formed. Starting out as limestone which is as you know is a soft material it undergoes a chemical change which make it harder while still remaining flexible to a point.

Looking for bathroom tiles? Check out complete guide to bathroom tiles.

Resource: Are Marble Tiles Better Than Ceramic Tiles?
Previous Post: Pottery Categorized by Clay

The earliest forms of ceramic tile date back to prehistoric times, when the use of clay as a building material was developed independently in several early cultures. The precursors of modern tile were roughly shaped and not nearly as strong as tiles today. The material was dug from river banks, roughly formed into building blocks, and baked dry in the sun. The first tiles were crude, but even 6,000 years ago people were decorating them by adding pigments for color and carving low-relief designs into their surfaces.

Firing Tile

The ancient Egyptians were the first to discover that firing clay tiles at high temperatures in a kiln made them stronger and more water-resistant. Many ancient cultures also used thin squares of fired clay as decorative elements in their architecture.

Buildings in ancient Mesopotamian cities were fronted with unglazed terra-cotta and colorful decorative tiles. Ancient Greeks and Romans used ceramics for the floors, roofs, and even the plumbing in their buildings. The Chinese used a white clay called kaolin to develop the white-colored and durable ceramic known as porcelain.

Tiles in medieval Europe were generally reserved for the floors of churches. Across the continent, the Byzantines excelled in using tile at a small scale; they created expressive mosaic patterns and murals using ceramic tile as well as pieces of glass and stone.

Glazing Tile

Persian ceramicists, inspired by imported Chinese porcelain, created a decorative tradition that spread across South Asia, North Africa, into Spain with the Moors, and eventually throughout Europe. Because their Islamic religion prohibited using human images in art, artisans turned to brightly colored tiles with ornate and intertwined patterns.

Solid-color glazed tiles were cut and assembled into large-scale mosaics with subtle color gradations. The Muslim artisans also developed metal oxide glazes using tin, copper, cobalt, manganese, and antimony, which made tile glazes more brilliant and durable.

By the fifteenth century, metal oxide-glazed tile had become popular in Italy, and their design influence moved northward with Italian craftsmen. Major European trading centers gave their names to local design motifs and types of tile that are still used, including delft tile (from Delft in Holland), and majolica tile (from Majorca in Spain).

Modern Tile

Today, most commercial tile manufacturers use the pressed-dust method of construction. First, a mixture of ingredients is pressed into the desired tile shape. Then the tile is glazed (or left unglazed) and baked in a kiln. Some tile makers may extrude tile shapes by squeezing them through a press into a die or by rolling them out flat and cutting the tile shapes with a form much like a cookie cutter.

Whatever the method, all ceramic tile must be fired to become durable. The purity of the clay, the number of firings, and the temperature of the kiln determine the quality and price. Kiln temperatures vary from about 900° F to 2500° F. Lower firing temperatures produce more porous tile and soft glazes; higher temperatures produce dense, nonporous tile and hard glazes.

Source: A Brief History of Ceramic Tiles