Ceramic Tiles
THE TILE SOURCE guide to ceramic tiles
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Ceramic tiles have been produced for thousands of years and for good reason, they are durable. From an archaeologist’s point of view ceramics, in the form of roof tiles, pots and flooring are one of the artefacts most frequently found because of their ability to resist decay. It is for this reason that ceramics are one of the most popular forms of floor covering available. Here we provide advice on ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles, how they wear, where they can be used and the pros and cons of ceramic tiles and porcelain. Ceramic Tiles Ceramic tiles are manufactured from a blend of clays and feldspars, turned into a clay dust, pressed into tiles and fired at temperatures up to 1200°c. The tiles are either produced with or without a glaze. Tiles with a glaze are, generally speaking, easier to clean but loose their appearance more quickly than an unglazed ceramic tile, see floor tile suitability, for wear advice on glazed and unglazed tiles. Pros • Durability and cost effectiveness • Unaffected by water • Chemically resistant • Light fast • Ideal for underfloor heating • Stain resistant • Ideal for asthma & allergy sufferers • Suitable for walls & floors • Some suitable for external use • Can be fitted to many surfaces |
Cons • Chipping • Breakage of china & glass Porcelain Tiles Porcelain tiles have all the benefits of ceramic tiles but are made from china clay with very few impurities enabling it to be pressed at higher pressures and fired at 1250 to 1300°c making them more impact resistant, more stain resistant and more frost resistant. In the unglazed form there are few man made or natural materials that are harder wearing than porcelain and being more dense that unglazed ceramic tiles they require less care and are the most suitable tiles for external use. Porcelain tiles are often glazed, which makes them more impact resistant and more frost resistant than glazed ceramic tiles. Many glazed porcelain tiles are now made with a body colour similar to the glaze so that in the unlikely event of a chip it will be hard to see. Product Comparison There are few products available that offer so many benefits and so few disadvantages. For example carpets get dirty and are considered a major trigger for asthma, wood burns and, vinyl scratches. Virtually all other floor and wall products are adversely affected by light, fire, flood, are more difficult to clean and stain easily. Underfloor heating is particularly effective with ceramic tiles or stone as the tiles readily conduct the heat upwards and into the room. Conversely tiles are a lovely cool surface to walk on in the heat of summer. |
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