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Choosing your tiles might be the hardest part of your project. There are literally thousands of colors, sizes, styles, shapes and grades to choose from. Often people keep the tiles neutral and choose to add color with accessories, however the choices today are limitless and there are no rules.
Classifications of Ceramic Tile
- Group I: Tiles that are suitable for residential bathrooms with light foot traffic. Generally wall tile products fall into this group. Some wall tiles can be used on the floor. Consult the manufacturer of the tile for their recommended areas of application.
- Group II: Tiles that can be used in residential traffic areas, expect areas with high traffic, such as in kitchens, foyers, laundry rooms, etc.
- Group III: Products that are recommended for all residential installations.
- Group IV: Tiles that are suited for all residential and light to medium commercial.
- Group V: These tiles can be in heavy traffic areas and are recommended for wet areas where safety is a concern, such as in food service areas, exterior areas, shopping malls and swimming pools just to name a few.
Glazed VS. Unglazed
Glazed tiles come in many types: high gloss, semi gloss, matte or low gloss, opaque or non-transparent glaze, speckled glaze for contrasting colours or even fitted glaze with covers only some parts of the tile. Glazed tiles are easier to clean and should be considered where continual maintenance is a factor.Unglazed tiles can give an entirely different look and are fully functional from the wear standpoint. Unglazed tiles generally need to have a sealer applied to the surface to prevent staining and moisture intake.
Glazed – The most common style today in floor and wall tiles, as well as for residential and commercial applications. A liquid glass is applied to the body of the tile and fired at high temperatures. The glazing becomes hard and non-porous resulting in a flooring that is:
- Stain Resistant
- Scratch Resistant
- Fire Resistant
- Doesn’t Fade from Sun Light
- Slip Resistant
- Easy to Clean
Shiny glazes are softer, can be scratched easier, and can be slippery than the satin or rustic finishes.
Unglazed – There is no glazing or any other coating applied to the tile. Their color is the same on the face of the tile as it is on the back resulting in very durable tiles that do not show the effects of heavy traffic. The most common unglazed tiles are the red quarry tiles or the granite looking porcelain ceramic tiles used in heavy commercial areas.
Some characteristics of glazed ceramic tile are:
- Durable - a properly installed ceramic tile will outperform and outlast nearly any other floor covering product created for the same application.
- Easy care - glazed ceramic tile resists stains, odors, and dirt and can be cleaned up with a damp mop or sponge or common household cleaners such as Mr. Clean, Top Job or Spic and Span.
- Scratch resistant - Grade III and Grade IV glazed ceramic tiles are extremely resistant to scratching and you never have to worry about a cut or tear like you do with some other types of floors.
- Environmentally friendly - ceramic tile is manufactured using natural materials and does not retain odors, allergens, or bacteria.
- Beautiful and Versatile - modern ceramic manufacturing technology has created virtually an unlimited number of colors, sizes, styles, shapes, and textures that will add rich beauty and character to any room decor.
- Fire Resistant - ceramic tile doesn't burn nor emit toxic fumes. A lighted cigarette, when dropped on the floor, even if allowed to sit, will not do any damage to ceramic tile. Even hot kitchen pans or skillets will not scorch or melt the surface of glazed ceramic tile.
- Water Resistant - most glazed ceramic tile has a dense body that permits little or no accumulation of moisture. This means spills from common liquids found in a kitchen are not a big concern.
Glazed Ceramic Tile General Care
Although glazed ceramic tile requires less floor care than most of the other flooring types there are certains things you still need to do to maintain the beauty of the tile floor.
Natural stone floors offer a distinct and beautiful alternative to your flooring choices. Each stone has it own unique visual appearance. Unlike glazed ceramic tiles, stone tiles do not have a protective glazed coating on top and the color goes all the way through the tiles.
Polish and cleaners for natural stone tile
Over time the marble or slate stone tile flooring or granite countertop will require regular polishing, depending on location and frequency of wear. You can be the best judge of how often this should be done. Avoid the use of cleaners that have a high acidic content, and be sure to use only cleaners that are specifically produced for your particular type of stone tile flooring.
Having a natural stone tile surface, a granite countertop, or granite vanity top means enjoying a surface that is hard and durable, allowing you to relax and appreciate your natural stone flooring or countertop in a way that you would not with an inferior surface material. By being aware of appropriate sealants, polishes, and cleaning methods, you can contribute to the long life of your natural stone surface, and derive maximum enjoyment for many, many years.
Inside Or Outside
You must take into consideration, whether the tile is able withstand freeze / thaw conditions for exterior use. Water absorbs into the body of the tile and if it is then frozen, the results could cause the water to expand, destroying the structure of the tile. The term vitrified or frost resistant means the tile has a low water absorbtion level which causes it to be minimally affected by freeze / thaw conditions and therefore suitable for exterior applications. We do not recommend the use of frost resistant products for exterior usage in Canada due to harsh weather conditions.
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