Tile
Tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as clay, ceramic, stone, metal
or even glass. It is a surfacing unit, used for covering roofs, floors, walls and countertops.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are manufactured by pressing clay and other materials into shape
and firing it at high temperatures, giving it the hardness it is known for. The bisque (body) of
a tile may then be glazed, or left unglazed depending on its intended use.
Tile is a popular flooring choice for many reasons. Wide varieties of tile offers colors, patterns,
and textures that enhance any interior or exterior. Tile for flooring and wall covering is also
one of the earliest manmade building materials and endures all kinds of wear while retaining
their beauty.
The two distinctive types of kiln fired tile are ceramic and porcelain. The basic difference
between porcelain and ceramic is the end result out of the kilns. Ceramic is the most common
type and is made by baking clay in a conventional kiln at average temperature. However,
porcelain tiles are made from fine grain clay fired at an extremely high temperature. As a
result they are highly resistant to staining and wear.
Porcelain tiles are also the most durable and easiest to clean simply because of their hardness
and overall density. Unglazed tile has an earthy, natural look while glazing gives it better
resistance to moisture and stains. Glazed tile also lends an attractive sheen to an interior.
When choosing ceramic or porcelain tiles for any project the three most important
considerations:
These defining characteristics for tile can help you choose the appropriate product for a variety
of projects.