An Expert Guide to Tile and Stone Styles…
Style
The design options with tile are numerous. And the grout, or filler material applied between the tiles, comes in a wide range of color choices. Making the possibilities almost endless!
In making your choice, consider first which of the two styles of tile will be most suitable for your flooring application.
Natural Stone
Natural stone tile is . . . simply . . . beautiful. It can be cut from slate, granite, marble or travertine, and its natural imperfections and shading contribute to its distinctive look.
Keep in mind that there are some drawbacks with natural stone tile. It’s porous, so it can stain when used in high-traffic areas that may see spills. It can be very fragile, so it may break if you drop something heavy or hard on it, such as a jar from the refrigerator. And, because it’s a natural product, it’s usually more expensive than other tile options.
Ceramic Tile
While natural stone tile options have only been available for a couple of decades, ceramic tile has been in use for 25 centuries! Its first application was as a replacement for dirt as a flooring material.
Ceramic tile is a mixture of clay, shale, and other mined materials that are pressed as a fine powder and then fired at high temperatures. Some tiles are coated with a color glaze made from glass that is fused to the surface in firing, making the tile essentially impermeable. Traditionally, glazing was the last of a two-step process, but today, some tiles are baked and glazed in the same process.
There are four types of ceramic tiles, determined by the composition of the tile itself and the firing process.
- Glazed Ceramic – a glazed tile coated with a durable, stain-resistant glass derivative that can provide a matte or glossy finish. High-sheen finishes can be slippery, and they show dirt more readily than matte finishes. Matte surfaces minimize the appearance of scratches. There is a wide variety of color choices; light-colored glazes are usually stronger than darker ones, so you can’t consider color only.
- Quarry – unglazed tiles that are extremely durable; they stand up to wear better than glazed ceramic. Color choice is more limited than with glazed ceramic tile; it’s either natural or the result of added pigments. The natural surface of quarry tile tends to be more slip-resistant than glazed ceramic.
- Porcelain – glazed or unglazed tiles that are fired at temperatures so high they can be used outdoors or indoors. Porcelain is stronger and more durable than regular ceramic tile. Because it’s non-porous, it offers better stain- and moisture-resistance. It may be colored throughout, so that color can’t fade or wear off. Superior-grade porcelain won’t scratch, and it never has to be sealed. Despite all its advantages, it’s actually more affordable than natural stone, and it can reproduce a natural stone look faithfully.
- Terracotta – fragile, unglazed tile that requires surface sealers, often thought of as “clay” tiles.
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