Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Styles
Information on Tile Types, Sizes, Styles and Grout
There are seemingly endless choices in the beautiful, vast world of ceramic tiles. Design options can include many different textures, an almost unlimited amount of patterns, and an extensive choice of sizes. After struggling with those choices, grout and glaze options will have to be chosen. Aesthetics, style, performance and budgetary requirements must meet to turn out the right tile choice for your floor.
To assist you with your decision, this article will give you some information on ceramic types, size and styles. It is our hopes that this will help you find the ceramic tile that's perfect for you and your room.
The Basic 3: Transforming, Timeless and Tasteful
Ceramic tile comes in three basic types, glazed, unglazed and porcelain. Learning this first is a good starting point.
Glazed ceramic tiles usually have a matte, semi-glass or high gloss finish. Ceramic stains and glass-forming minerals coat glazed ceramic tiles. They offer a a great stain-resistance compared to unglazed tile, and are more resistant to moisture than unglazed tile.
There are different types of finishes for glazed tiles. Matte and textured finishes have better traction than the slippery high gloss finishes. Also, dirt is more visible on a high gloss finish than a matte or textured finish.
Unglazed ceramic tiles come in different textures and are hard and dense. Unglazed ceramic tiles can have different surface treatments. Unglazed tile is highly susceptible to staining, unlike glazed tile. Unglazed tiles are usually installed for exterior applications, particularly since they have a good slip-resistance. In order to prevent staining, you will have to seal your unglazed tiles.
Porcelain body tile comes in glazed and unglazed and is one of the hardest and densest tiles available. It's also non-porous and resists scratching since the color of the porcelain goes all the way through the tile. It can be used for interior or exterior applications because its water absorption rate is so low – 0.5% or less. You can view our “How its Made” page to learn more on porcelain.
Sizes and Selection Abound
Ceramic tile is made in various sizes. They can range from 1” to 24” squares. It might help to bring a tape measure when you start looking into the sizes of ceramic tiles you'd like. In the store, you'll find that ceramic tile is typically boxed and priced by the square foot – no matter what size the tiles are.
It is extremely valuable to know that size is relative. In the ceramic tile industry, the tile size is referred to by its nominal size, rather than its actual size. Tile shrinks when it is heated up – which it is during the firing process of its creation. It can shrink about 10% in size. Because of this, a 12” x 12” floor tile will measure at 11 7/8”. (This is another reason its wise to bring a tape measure along while shopping for ceramic tile).
As time passes and more and more people choose ceramic tile for their floor, the popularity of large tiles is rising. Many homes have tiles that are 16” X 16” or 18”x 18”. If you have a small room, a larger tile size will visually expand a room. Larger tiles have fewer grout lines, therefore the surface of the ceramic tile will have a cleaner, less interrupted look.
Small tiles create grout joints that make a floor look busy. Keep that in mind for during your styling plans.
Size and scale are important elements that are needed to be manipulated to keep a room in concert with all of its design elements.
The Disguises of Ceramic
Ceramic has an advantage over natural stone because it tends to be priced cheaper, and ceramic is also considered safer. However, it's hard to give up a desire for a natural stone floor. To meet the needs of the consumers wistfully hoping for a natural stone floor to meet their budget, ceramic tile manufacturers have created ceramic tiles that look like natural stones. Slate, travertine, and marble stone facades are all available in ceramic tile.
Metallic tiles are sought-after as well. Stainless steel, copper, brass and bronze add shimmer and shine. These metal tiles can be used as decorative inserts, borders, backsplashes and countertops and are perfectly suited for a modern home.
For those who love the look and feel of a textured look, ceramic tile can be bought with hammered edges, chiseled tiles, or with a tumbled stone for a rougher rustic look.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are those who love a smooth, polished, sophisticated tile. Tile can simulate marble or granite and is available in varying degrees of shine. They can be a more subtle semi-gloss, or have a glass-like finish.
Ceramic tiles feel right at home when they are in the big outdoors. It is highly versatile and perfect for outside decks, walkways, poolsides, and outdoor entertaining areas. Outdoor tile comes with a non-skid finish to keep everyone safe and standing up straight. Outdoor ceramic tile is also resistant to frost since it has an extremely low water absorption rate. This keeps expansion down to a minimum, which saves on cracking and chipping. Ceramic tile will hold up well even if the temperatures fall below freezing. If you need an outdoor tile, make sure you choose one that is labeled frost resistant.
About Ceramic Customization
Ceramic tile floor patterns are easily customized. There are thousands of decorative inserts, medallions and mosaics available to customize your floor. Beautiful borders and captivating patterns can give your floor that artistic edge.
Mosaics are frequently used for customization. They are a tile that is 2” x 2” or smaller that look striking when mixed with larger tiles in different colors. Mosaics typically come on a mesh backing.
Small square mosaics can be used as insets. They come in varying shapes and sizes, so you can let the true designer in you surface to your designer ceramic floor.
A beautiful customization for ceramics involves using glass mosaics. They come in an assortment of striking colors, and are made of glass, and are covered with a layer of glass. They are not ceramic, but look beautiful with ceramic.
If you are after a strikingly personal customization, you can have your ceramic floor silk screened or even hand painted.
For an elegant, sophisticated look, your ceramic floor can be embossed or etched.
Patterned borders are a classic way to use ceramic tiles. Use your imagination and mix styles and colors to create a stunning visual design. A border can be within one room, or you can create a border to run across adjoining rooms.
While you are dreaming of your ceramic tile pattern, it helps to know that the tile that is the most prominent and runs through the largest area is termed the “field tile” in the ceramic tile industry. It will help to know this when it comes time to communicate your floor plan design.
If you are looking at ceramic tiles for a countertop or wall application, feel free to use floor tiles in your design. Keep in mind that floor tiles are usually thicker, and the larger ones usually do not adhere to walls well. Wall tiles likely have a higher gloss and come in smaller sizes.
About Grout
Grout fills in the spaces between floor tiles, and supports the tile joints. Grout is actually a type of cement.
Home installation primarily use a Portland cement-based grout or an epoxy-based grout. If you are tiling a kitchen, epoxy grout should be your grout of choice. It is very resistant to stains, and professionals always recommend that it is used in food areas.
Cement-based grout and epoxy grout can both have sand. Sand is put in the grout to give extra strength to the tile joint. If your tile joints are 1/8th of an inch or larger, use a sanded grout. However, if your tile joints are less than 1/8th of an inch, you should use an unsanded grout.
Pigments are available for grout to add color. There are as many grout colors as there are paint colors. The pigment is not added until the grout is mixed right at the job site where the ceramic floor is being installed. Grout color is an important part of the color scheme, so make sure you take your grout color seriously.
There are grout tricks of the trade. You can bring out a tile color with a white or light colored grout. Your geometric pattern will be emphasized if you contrast your tile and grout. For instance, use a dark tile and light grout, or dark grout and a light tile. If you're undecided, just remember it's standard to simply match the grout to the background of the field tile.
Ceramic flooring is the floor covering by choice for millions of homeowners because of its inspiring design options and top-notch performance. We hope we've helped you learn a little more about ceramic tile so you can give more thought to your purchasing decision. To get a real feel for the tiles you are interested in, stop down at one of our Chicago area showrooms and one of our floor tile experts will be more than happy to help you with the decision making process.
|
