Q and A
What are the advantages of porcelain tile?
Porcelain tile is a hard wearing material, many types of which are resistant to all weather
conditions, chemical attack, scratches, stains, fading, heavy loads and fire. Porcelain tile can
withstand heavy foot traffic and requires minimal maintenance. Apart from extreme durability,
porcelain tile offers a wide range of color, texture and also an accurate recreation of natural
stones, granites, slates, marbles, and even woods and metals.
What are the different types of glaze?
Glaze is also referred to as a finish coating of ceramic or porcelain tile, added during the firing
process. The following are some examples of glazes.
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BRIGHT GLAZE: A high-gloss coating with or without color.
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CLEAR GLAZE: A transparent glaze with or without color.
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CRYSTALLINE GLAZE: A glaze that contains microscopic crystals.
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FRITTED GLAZE: A glaze in which a part or all of the fluxing constituents are prefused.
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MATTE GLAZE: A low-gloss glaze with or without color.
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OPAQUE GLAZE: A non-transparent glaze with or without color.
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RAW GLAZE: A glaze compounded primarily from raw constituents. It contains no prefused materials.
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SEMI-MATTE GLAZE: A medium-gloss glaze with or without color.
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SPECKLED GLAZE: A glaze containing granules of oxides or ceramic stains of contrasting colors.
What are the benefits of a glazed tile?
Glazed tiles are the most common style today in floor and wall tiles, as well as for residential and
commercial applications. Glaze is a form of liquid glass applied to the body of the tile and fired
at high temperatures, creating a smooth, impermeable surface that may also be highly decorative.
The glaze also makes a tile hard and non-porous resulting in flooring that is:
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Stain resistant
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Scratch resistant
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Fire resistant
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Slip resistant
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Easy to clean, and
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Doesn�t fade
What is an unglazed tile?
Tiles with no glaze or any other coating applied. An unglazed tile is also defined as a hard, dense
tile of uniform composition throughout, deriving color and texture from the materials of which
the body is made. Their color is the same on the face of the tile as it is on the back. These are
very durable tiles and do not show the effects of heavy traffic.