General Ceramic Tile Guide
Glazed Tile
Most of the common ceramic floor tiles have eithe
r
a glazed, or unglazed surface. The glazed tiles have a special ceramic
coating that is applied to the body of the tile and then fired under
tremendous heat. The glazing becomes hard and non-porous resulting in
tiles that are:
1. Stain Resistant
2. Scratch Resistant
3. Fire Resistant
4. Doesn't Fade from Sun Light Slip Resistant
5. Easy to Clean
Unglazed Floor Tile (Pavers)
Has no glazing or any other coating applied to these tiles. These tiles are porous and it's recommendeded that a special penetrating sealant be used to maintain this type of floors and to help prevent stains from seeping into the pores of the tiles. The color goes all the way through from the tile surface to the back resulting in a very durable tile that will not show the effects of heavy traffic.
Marble
Is a natural product and is not made in a factory. For this reason no two pieces of marble look the same and the veining is a natural characteristic in all marble. There are special marble sealants to help protect from staining of the face. Extra care should be used when cleaning and all abrasives and acidic cleaners should never be used when cleaning. Even colas, some juices, and possibly ammonia may destroy the marble finish.
Porcelain Tile
Gets its strength from the unique clays that are fired at extreme temperatures to produce a harder, denser tile that is unmatched durability and outperforms glazed tiles. Many porcelain tiles can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Granite
Is another natural stone and is not manufacturered in a factory. Granite can be used indoors or outdoors and is less porous than marble. It is still recommended that you use a sealant to protect the finish from staining.
Grout
Is a mixture of cement and a color additive. For tile floors with wider spaces between each tile sand is added to the grout. Also, a liquid latex additive can be added to the grout to give better resiliency to the grouted areas. For ease of maintenance a penetrating sealant should be used on the grout. It should be noted you may see a change in color of your grout over time.
Other Factors
Some other important things we can help you with when selecting a tile floor is slip-resistance, grout joint width and color, tile thickness, overcoming height variations from room to room, suitability of your subfloor and tile maintenance.
Most of the common ceramic floor tiles have eithe
r
a glazed, or unglazed surface. The glazed tiles have a special ceramic
coating that is applied to the body of the tile and then fired under
tremendous heat. The glazing becomes hard and non-porous resulting in
tiles that are:1. Stain Resistant
2. Scratch Resistant
3. Fire Resistant
4. Doesn't Fade from Sun Light Slip Resistant
5. Easy to Clean
Unglazed Floor Tile (Pavers)
Has no glazing or any other coating applied to these tiles. These tiles are porous and it's recommendeded that a special penetrating sealant be used to maintain this type of floors and to help prevent stains from seeping into the pores of the tiles. The color goes all the way through from the tile surface to the back resulting in a very durable tile that will not show the effects of heavy traffic.
Marble
Is a natural product and is not made in a factory. For this reason no two pieces of marble look the same and the veining is a natural characteristic in all marble. There are special marble sealants to help protect from staining of the face. Extra care should be used when cleaning and all abrasives and acidic cleaners should never be used when cleaning. Even colas, some juices, and possibly ammonia may destroy the marble finish.
Porcelain Tile
Gets its strength from the unique clays that are fired at extreme temperatures to produce a harder, denser tile that is unmatched durability and outperforms glazed tiles. Many porcelain tiles can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Granite
Is another natural stone and is not manufacturered in a factory. Granite can be used indoors or outdoors and is less porous than marble. It is still recommended that you use a sealant to protect the finish from staining.
Grout
Is a mixture of cement and a color additive. For tile floors with wider spaces between each tile sand is added to the grout. Also, a liquid latex additive can be added to the grout to give better resiliency to the grouted areas. For ease of maintenance a penetrating sealant should be used on the grout. It should be noted you may see a change in color of your grout over time.
Other Factors
Some other important things we can help you with when selecting a tile floor is slip-resistance, grout joint width and color, tile thickness, overcoming height variations from room to room, suitability of your subfloor and tile maintenance.