CERAMIC 101

WHY CERAMIC IS A GREAT CHOICE
Ceramic tile is becoming widely popular in recent times because of its durability and the aesthetic warmth it adds to the home.

Ceramic tile is a mixture of clays and minerals that have been shaped, pressed, and fired at high temperatures resulting in a hard body.

Because of its hard body, ceramic flooring can last a lifetime if treated properly and offers some of the following characteristics unique to ceramic.

Durability – Ceramic is more durable than any other flooring surface
Moisture Resistance – Ceramic is less prone to moisture damage than any other flooring surface
Color Permanence – Ceramic is less prone to fade or change colors than any flooring surface.
Cleanliness – Ceramic does not retain dust and dirt
Stain Resistance – Ceramic is less prone to staining than any flooring surface
Fire Resistance – Ceramic is fireproof.

Ceramic can be installed in many places throughout your home with unlimited design possibilities to really create the room you have always dreamed of.

LOCATIONS
Ceramic can be used in a wide variety of places inside your home.

Floors – Although most common in kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways, ceramic can work anywhere

Countertops and Backsplashes

Walls – Including shower walls

Interior House Trims

 GLAZED VS. UNGLAZED
Ceramic tile either has a glazed or unglazed surface. 

Glazed tiles have a special coating, most commonly liquid glass, applied to the body of the tile and hardened by tremendous heat.  The result is a stain, scratch, and fade resistant tile.  Additionally, it is easy to clean. 

Glazed tiles come in a variety of colors and gloss levels.  Typically, lighter color glazes with a satin finish are harder than darker color glazes with a high-gloss finish.  The harder the glaze, the more resistant it is.

Unglazed tiles leave a consistent body of the tile from front to back resulting in a more natural look.  Their color variation is limited to the natural colors of the clay, and they have a more rugged texture throughout.  They are thicker and denser than glazed tiles.  The result is slip resistant tile that is more durable than glazed tiles.   Highly popular unglazed ceramics are porcelain and quarry tiles.

TYPES OF CERAMIC TILE
Ceramic tile comes in many varieties.  We have summarized some of more common types we carry.

Porcelain		These tiles are made from clays and minerals similar to those found in chinaware.  These tiles can be fired an extremely high temperatures resulting in a denser and harder body than most ceramic tiles with smooth and sharply formed face.
Quarry		These tiles are made from natural clays and shale with earthtone colors ranging from light tan to red.
Terra-Cotta		These tiles vary in size, shade, and texture each providing a unique charm.   These tiles are made from natural clays and shale with earthtone colors ranging from light tan to red.
Mosaic Tiles		These smaller, dense, and hard tiles work great for wall tiles, countertops, and bathroom floors.

SIZE AND SHAPE
Ceramic tiles range greatly in size based on tile type and area of use.  Mosaics range from less than a square inch to about 4” x 4” tiles.  Most floor tiles range from 4” x 4” to 24” x 24”.  The most common sizes are 4” x 4”, 6” x 6”, 8” x 8”, 12” x 12”, and 18” x 18”.  In recent times, more people desire larger tiles just as in hardwood they desire wider planks.  Wall tiles are usually 4 ¼” x 4 ¼” and 6” x 6”.

Square tiles are most popular however rectangles, hexagons, octagons, and other shapes are available.

SHADE AND TEXTURE
Each tile will contain a certain degree of shade and texture variation classified as low, moderate, high, and random.  Low variation tiles contain consistent shade and texture throughout.  Random variation tiles contain high shade and texture differences.

GROUT
Grout, consisting of sand and cement, is used to fill the joints between ceramic tiles.  The effective use of grout completes a ceramic design.  Grout comes in many colors and can be installed in various widths.  Most ceramic designs coordinate the grout color with the ceramic tile.  However some designs call for contrasting grout color.

QUALITY CHARATERISTICS
The quality characteristics will vary based on the type of ceramic you choose.

Durability (Abrasion Resistance)
Durability measures how well a tile will hold up under continuous wear.  Most manufacturers use the PEI system to rate the durability of the tile.  Group 1 is the least durable tile.  Group 5 is the most durable tile.  Most residential tiles are considered 1 to 3.  Most commercial tiles are considered 4 to 5.
 
Density (Water Resistance)
Density measures the amount of water the tile absorbs.  The density of the tile is classified as:

• Non-Vitreous – absorb 7% or more of their weight – only for indoor use
• Semi-Vitreous – absorb 3% to 7% of their weight – only for indoor use
• Vitreous – absorb 0.5% to 3% of their weight – both indoor and outdoor
• Impervious – absorb less than 0.5% of their weight – indoor and outdoor

Stain Resistance
Although ceramic tile is more stain resistant that other flooring surfaces, glazed tiles tend to be more stain resistant that unglazed tiles.

Slip Resistance
Although ceramic tile is more slip resistant that other flooring surfaces, unglazed tiles tend to be more slip resistant that glazed tiles.

SUBSTRATES
Substrates refer to subfloors, subwalls, and subcountertops.  A suitable substrate is required for a successful tile installation.  All substrates must be structurally sound, level, free of debree and dirt, and rigid. 

Suitable substrates include concrete cured for more than 28 days, natural stone, ceramic tile, non-cushioned vinyl and linoleum, and double layered plywood.

Unsuitable substrates include cushioned flooring, particle boards (Flake, Chip, OSB), sheet metal, since layered plywood, hardwood flooring, and masonite.

HEAT YOUR CERAMIC FLOOR
One drawback of ceramic flooring is that it is cold underfoot during the winter and cooler months.  New products are available that can be installed underneath a ceramic floor to provide heat and insulation so that ceramic is comfortable underfoot throughout the year.

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