What Type of Tiles
THE TILE SOURCE
guide to what type of tiles to use
| It is important to know what type of tile is suitable to use in your project. Tiles are made of many different materials; ceramics, porcelain, stones and glass. All these materials have different characteristics and knowing what features a particular tile has is the key to choosing the right product for you. All these tiles are perfect partners for underfloor heating as they all radiate heat very efficiently. All the floor tiles except terracotta are totally unaffected by floods and are perfect for use in bathrooms or buildings that are subject to flooding.
Ceramic Tiles This is a generic term that refers to any fired clay product. Ceramic tiles are easy to clean, hygienic, colour fast, light fast, hard wearing, won’t support the spread of flame, are not damaged by water, highly suited for asthma and allergy sufferers, and are very cost effective. Slight colour variations will occur between production batches so always order sufficient for the whole job and check random tiles before fixing to ensure that all tiles are the same batch and match your expectations. Glazed Wall Tiles These are suitable for internal use only and should only be used on walls. They are easy to clean, come in a huge range of designs, shapes and sizes and are easy to install. Glazed Floor Tiles These are easy to clean, scratch resistant and impact resistant. They come in a huge variety of sizes, shapes and designs and can be used on both walls and floors. Different surface textures are used to provide additional slip resistance and aesthetic appeal but can make the floor harder to clean. The glaze will eventually start to wear but if you match the tiles wear rating with the environment in which it will be fixed you will have decades of trouble free life. |
Porcelain Tiles Porcelain is the hardest of all ceramic tile products it can be used on walls and floors, inside and out and can be glazed or unglazed. These tiles have few vices, with the appropriate maintenance the unglazed variety are expected to have a working life of perhaps a 1,000 years! Glazed porcelain has the same characteristics as glazed floor tiles but is more impact resistant and suitable for external use. Quarry Tiles Quarry tiles are made from natural clay and are usually used for flooring. They are very robust and have the potential to last for centuries. They come in a limited number of colours (ranging from brick red, buffs, blacks and brown/red/purple mingles) and a limited number of sizes. They are slightly porous and can suffer from mild staining if not sealed. Terracotta. Beautiful warm earthy tones in shades from cream to honey colours through to pinks, reds and browns. This is the blotting paper of the tile world and requires careful sealing and maintenance to reduce the chance of staining. Fixing costs are generally higher than other types of ceramic tile. Stone Tiles A huge range of types, sizes and surface finishes are available All will require sealing (see stone tile advice). Maintenance is the key to keeping the floor looking good with a potential for a long working life. The seals can last for 5 to 10 years but considerably less if not cared for or if used in showers. Stone is more susceptible to fracture and it should be fixed over an uncoupling membrane on new screeds or timber floors. Fixing costs are generally higher than ceramic tiles. Glass Tiles Glass tiles provide tiling with additional design possibilities. Glass should only be used on walls because of the chance of chipping leaving sharp edges. |
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