Tile & Stone Flooring
Ceramic tile is basically a mixture of clay, sand and other earth minerals, molded or pressed into various shapes and fired at high heat, to harden and make suitable, for use either as wall or floor coverings. Tiles may be glazed or unglazed, and may have added properties for strength and hardness.
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Ceramic tiles are durable and, when properly installed and maintained, will last the lifetime of your home.- Ceramic tiles are beautiful. They can offer a natural, handcrafted look, or a sense of assurance and refinement. The variety of colors, shapes, sizes and textures is endless and your design possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
- Ceramics are healthy. They are completely natural and are hypoallergenic. Ceramic tile is not an original or secondary source of air pollution in the home. And will not act as a “sink” to absorb VOCs or other chemicals from surrounding materials. Ceramic tile, will not support bacterial or fungal growth.
- Ceramic tiles are earth conscious. They are made from the earth. Clay, sand and naturally occurring minerals are the raw material of ceramic tile. All are plentiful and renewable.
- Ceramic tiles are fire resistant. And of course they are – they’re made with fire!
- Ceramic tiles are water-resistant. When fired at high temperature, ceramic tiles become more vitreous (glass-like) and therefore more resistive to water. Ceramic tiles are made to go in areas with high water use like showers, tubs and pools. So it stands to reason that a ceramic entry, bath or kitchen floor would stand up to whatever water they’d encounter.
- Ceramic tiles are easy to maintain. Vacuum, sweep or damp mopping is usually all that is needed to maintain a ceramic floor. Deep clean ceramic floors with hot water and a non-oil, non-acidic and non-soap based cleaner.
- Ceramic floors are cost-competitive with wood, laminate and high-end vinyl floors. And, when their longevity is considered, ceramic floors offer great value.
- Ceramic tile is highly resistant to stains. The less porous the tile the less likely it is to absorb liquids that cause stains.
Ceramic floors are cold and hard. That very quality that makes ceramic floors so durable, also makes it hard on the feet. Now you’ll need matting to protect you and your limbs, not the floors.- Ceramic floors are heavy. It will be necessary to assure that your floor structure is strong enough to support the weight of a ceramic floor. Depending on the span of your floor joists, you will require a floor thickness of no less than 1.25 inches.
- Ceramic floors add height. Combined with the thickness of the subfloor required, a new ceramic floor can add as much as an inch to the height of your floor. Will doors and appliances fit? How will the tile match up to other floors in the home?
- Ceramic floors can be virtually permanent. They have been known to last for centuries. Also, when properly installed, are not easy to remove.
- Ceramic floors can be slippery. Smooth shinny tiles situated in high traffic areas can pose a slipping hazard, especially when shoes are wet or covered with snow.
- Porcelains are the rage. Because of how they are made, porcelain tile look and perform better than a traditional glazed ceramic. Fired under higher heat and pressure, often with added minerals like feldspar, porcelains usually have through body coloring and can be glazed or unglazed. With a moisture absorption rate of less than 0.5%, porcelain tiles are virtually frost proof and therefore suitable for outdoor application.
Natural stone is also popular. Slate, granite and marble are the three main ones. Slate is metamorphosed clay or shale, while marble is derived from limestone. Granite is an igneous rock, likewise formed under millions of years of heat and pressure. No one can argue with the durability, functionalism and natural beauty of stone floors.- Glass tiles are in demand, mainly for colorful accents around tub, showers and kitchen backsplashes. They are high style and very decorative.
- Large body tiles are possible because of advances in the manufacture process that make them lighter and more dimensionally stable. Now it is possible to have tiles two feet square without worry of warping, twisting or cracking. And reduced grouting makes maintenance that much easier.
- Follow your eye. Choose a tile in the color, texture and shape that appeals to you. Know that shades vary drastically in tile and that what ever you choose today, you will have to live with for many years to come.
- The PEI Rating was developed by the Porcelain and Enamel Institute to measure resistance to abrasive wear. It is generally accepted as a guide for selecting tile, but should not be considered the only criterion.
- PEI 1: primarily wall tile, not recommended for floors.
- PEI 2: light traffic, such as bathroom floors. Still good for walls.
- PEI 3: light to moderate traffic, suggested for residential floors, countertop and wall applications.
- PEI 4: moderate to heavy traffic, suggested for residential, medium commercial and light institutional floors and walls.
- PEI 5: heavy to extra heavy traffic, for any application including residential, commercial and institutional.
Porosity rating of a tile is measure of what percentage of water a tile will absorb. Ratings range from Impervious: less than 0.5%, Vitreous: less than 0.5-3%, Semi-vitreous: 3-7%, and Non-vitreous: over 7%. Of course an impervious tile can be installed inside or out.- The Mohs Rating is a measure of the relative hardness in a tile. Using a kit of ten common minerals ranging from Talc (rating 1) to Diamond (rating 10), tiles are tested for their resistance to scratching. Any rating over 5 is suitable for residential use while commercial settings should have at least a 7 rating.
- Calibration is a measure of consistency in size and shape in tile manufacture. A properly calibrated tile makes for a better looking floor and easier installation. The best way to check this is to see for your self. Open a box, or several, and layout at least nine tiles side by each. Are they the same size and shape? And while you’re at it check for color variation.
- Degree of shading in tile is often a shock to most people. Because tile is made from natural materials there can be wild variations in color and shading. Proper blending and control of raw materials is needed to achieve any degree of consistency in color. The industry has developed ratings for shade variation.
- Slip resistance is an important factor to consider when choosing a tile for flooring. Smooth, highly gazed tiles will offer less friction and therefore more slippage. An often wet, snowy, high traffic entryway should not have a shiny smooth tile.
- Substrate rule of 1-1/4. Unless you’re installing over concrete, you’ll need to make sure your floor can withstand the weight of a tile floor. Generally, you’ll need at least 1-1/4 inches of plywood subfloor assuming 16 inch centers on your floor trusses.
