"IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN THE MARKET FOR CERAMIC TILE!"
Those of you who have never considered using ceramic tile before are going to be amazed at the number of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures from which to choose. For those of you who have used ceramic tile before but haven't considered it in a while, you won't believe the renaissance that has taken place in floor and wall tiles. Ceramic tile has been around for thousands
of years, but its interior design and application possibilities have never been greater than they are right now.
There is a lot of information provided on this site! We hope to share with you the points to consider in selecting and designing with tile and further wish to open your eyes to the possibilities of ceramic tile and how best to realize them.
Ceramic TILE... BACKGROUND & HISTORY
There's an added bonus with ceramic tile...
Not only is tile beautiful natural, and practical, it is also environmentally friendly. Tile is made from natural ingredients and as a finish in your living space, this natural composition does not promote bacteria growth or capture airborne allergens. Ceramic tile is the epitome of a user friendly finish. At a time when the world, along with its inhabitants, doesn't need any more environmental dangers, it's nice to know there is a finish for home and work that is beautiful, functional, and friendly.
Numerous factors have encouraged growth in ceramic tile consumption...
Growth in resources, increased exposure, and advancements in installation technology have brought about ceramic tile's recent growth in popularity.
The choice of color, size, finish, and shape in wall and floor tiles is expanding daily. Breakthroughs in glaze and ceramic technology have resulted in ceramic tiles that simultaneously offer incredible beauty and durability. One would be hard pressed to come up with an interior or exterior setting where ceramic tile cannot be applied.
Ceramic tile has become a real bargain to the consumer due to its favorable pricing trends.
Ceramic tile is an environment winning product.
THE BENEFITS OF CERAMIC TILE
Ask tile people what they think makes ceramic tile so special and you'll hear a variety of responses. Some tile experts believe that the color and design of their product are its most salable features. Others talk about its practical application in different situations. The fact is that both are true. Tile is an attractive and a functional surface covering.
Beauty - ceramic tile's vast selection of colors, styles, textures, sizes, and shapes will add beauty and style to any space or design theme
Design Versatility - combination of sizes and shapes allows for freedom of expression and custom designs
Low Maintenance - ceramic tile resists dirt and stains and requires little effort to maintain its like-new appearance
Water Resistance - glazed or unglazed, ceramic tile's composition permits little or no accumulation of moisture
Environmentally Friendly - ceramic tile is inhospitable to germs and bacteria, not to mention allergens (those things that make you sneeze)
Fire Resistant - ceramic tile is essentially burnt clay which doesn't burn and give off toxic fumes
Durable - a properly selected tile will outperform most, if not all, non-ceramic finishes created for the same application |
As you read on, consider how many other finishes can lay claim to this same list of benefits. But consider also ceramic tile's design compatibility with other floor and wall finishes.
More on beauty...
Someone long ago said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Fortunately, when it comes to ceramic tile, the vast number of options means there is probably a selection for every taste and eye. The beauty of ceramic tile is found in
its host of colors, textures, sizes, shapes, and the mixed combinations they provide.
This vast selection of tile means there is a color, style, and finish to blend into and complement any interior design theme you can imagine. One of ceramic tile's greatest features is its adaptability to play either a major role or a minor role in a design scheme. Depending on the style you are trying to achieve-from Early American, Classic, or Victorian, to Postmodern, Art Deco, or Urban Chic--there is a compatible tile to choose for creating drama or nuance. Name a scheme, pick a group of colors, and you're sure to find a ceramic tile that will beautifully complement your surroundings.
More on design versatility...
Spend a few hours in our ceramic tile showroom and you'll begin to comprehend the creative, custom design possibilities this finish can provide. Multiple sizes and colors formatted in graphic combinations can aid in the completion of a design theme, whether in a home foyer or in a theme restaurant. Tiles of similar colors but different textures, and or finishes, allow for subtle, yet sophisticated installations. If your desire is to recreate a style from the past, there are now aged looking tiles in multiple sizes to make this possible. There are ceramic tiles that look so much like real stone it's almost impossible to tell them from the real thing, and yet, because it is ceramic not real stone, they are easy to maintain. There are 3-dimensional wall tile trims to highlight areas with or without complementary wall tiles. And there are endless selections of decorative tiles to complement your tile back splash to your kitchen's wallpaper or dinnerware. After you have looked at everything and you still can't find the color or decorative tile you need, there is always a custom tile artist who will create the design of your dreams just for you!
More on low maintenance and environmental friendliness...
Glazed ceramic tile's hard, nonporous surface is a naturally low-maintenance finish. Once properly installed, depending on the type of tile, it essentially requires little more than dusting and an occasional damp mopping with water or a neutral household cleaner to remove sand or grit.
Because of its composition, tile doesn't harbor airborne dust, germs, pollen, and other living space pollutants. For allergy sufferers, living with ceramic tile is a breath of fresh air. Moreover, tile has little appeal to breeding bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds, and bugs.
It's easy to understand why ceramic tile has long been specified for hospitals, food processing plants, water purification plants, restaurants, laboratories, public swimming pools, bathrooms, public restrooms, and any other space requiring high levels of hygiene.
More on water resistance...
Property installed and grouted, ceramic tile can provide an excellent product for use in wet areas. That's why tiled showers that were installed in the 20's and 30's still look great. When it comes to providing a water tight surface, ceramic tile and the appropriate grout arc hard to beat, let alone outlive!
More on fire resistance...
Because of its inert, noncombustible composition, ceramic tile works especially well around open flames, hot objects, or any other area susceptible to extremely high temperatures. A ceramic tile countertop is guaranteed not to scorch, burn, or melt if a hot skillet or pan accidentally sits on its surface. Wood sparks do not damage ceramic tile that is used as the surround of a fireplace or wood stove hearth. And in the unfortunate event of a fire, you can be certain that ceramic tile won't create any toxic smoke or fumes.
In the late 70's, the Ceramic Tile Institute of California demonstrated on live TV the combustibility and deadly smoke resulting from a burning plastic tub and shower surround. These pictures spoke thousands of words and, in the minds of many West Coast tile people, played a vital role in California's continued high use of ceramic tile showers and tub surrounds.
More on durability, wear resistance, and color fastness...
With tile's vast selection comes a wide variety of performance characteristics to suit virtually any application imaginable. The key is selecting the right tile for the right job. Advancements in ceramic and glaze technology allow manufacturers to now produce ceramic tiles with very durable, wear resistant properties in excess of natural stone. Whether selecting tile for a shower area, countertop, or foyer, there are plenty of tile choices that provide good looks and the durable, non-scratching properties your lifestyle requires.
Because color is fired into a tile's clay body (in the case of unglazed tiles) or onto a tile's glazed surface (for glazed tiles), fading cannot occur. Even exposed to direct sunlight (and its color leaching UV rays), ceramic tile remains permanently color fast.
SELECTING CERAMIC TILE
The Finish With Limitless Possibilities...
Selecting ceramic tile is a project for both sides of the brain--creative and practical! The practicality (left brain) of how your tile must perform, and the style and design (right brain) of how your tile complements its surroundings both need to be equally considered. Our emphasis is that you do not have to sacrifice beauty for practicality or function. Your tile can both aesthetically please and technically perform for years, if properly selected.
Selecting Floor Tile...
Ceramic floor tiles generally will have either a glazed, unglazed, or partially glazed surface. Glazed tiles have a ceramic coating applied and fired on to them at temperatures up to 2300°F in order to achieve their color. When considering glazed floor tiles, it is important to select the glaze finish that is appropriate for the level of wear the area will experience. Unglazed tiles do not have glaze applied to them and derive their color from the materials that make up the body of the tile. They are usually quite hard and dense and of uniform composition. Due to significant advances in glaze and clay technology, the choices in color have increased dramatically. Color swatches of wall paint, carpet, fabrics, or any other finish that surrounds your floor area are helpful to bring along when looking for the right tile complement.
First area of use consideration -- durability...
The first thing to consider is how much foot traffic the area is going to experience. Glazed floor tile is rated by the
manufacturer according to its resistance to wear in particular applications. The key is to match the "wear-rating" of a particular tile to the requirements of the floor you intend to tile.
Tile that is generally classified as suitable for very light traffic areas would mean areas that are walked on, essentially, with soft-soled footwear or bare feet (bathrooms and bedrooms.)
Medium traffic tile is suitable for normal footwear and will provide limited scratch potential in living areas of the home. This tile should not be used where sand, dirt, and grit are introduced from the outside, and it shouldn't be used in heavy traffic rooms.
Heavy traffic tile is usable in most residential and light commercial applications including halls, kitchens, balconies, and terraces.
Commercial tile is suited for normal foot traffic in commercial settings such as entrances, commercial kitchens, and public areas. These tiles are also suitable for most residential applications.
If the tile you have selected does not have a numerical "wear rating" or has a rating system that differs from what is listed above, ask your tile representative if it is suitable for your particular application.
Glazed floor tile is rated by the manufacturer according to its resistance to wear in particular applications.
The durability of unglazed tile...
Almost all unglazed tile is acceptable for residential or commercial floor application. It is still recommended to ask your tile representative if the selected unglazed tile is suitable for your particular job.
Second area of use consideration -- slip resistance...
The second practical consideration is the level of slip resistance your floor requires. Two factors to be considered when selecting tile-your floor's exposure to water and your environmental requirements.
The higher the probability your floor will be exposed to water or household spills, the higher your need is for a slip-resistant floor tile.
The other consideration is what your environment requires. Homes with small children, disabled, or the elderly need to consider the selection of floor tiles with slip resistant characteristics. It's best to talk to your floor covering professional to help you select the appropriate tile.
Tile manufacturers with the use of various glazes, glaze additives, and patterns have developed slip resistant tiles. The tile size, grout joint spacing, and slope of the floor will affect the slip resistance.
In general, the higher the coefficient of friction specification from the supplier, the greater the resistance to slipping.
Third area of use consideration--climatic conditions...
When your tile installation is outdoors, climatic conditions are an issue. If your area's weather includes days of freezing temperatures, it is important you select a tile that is designated as frost resistant.
There is a vast selection of tiles to choose from that will provide you with all the durability, slip resistance, and frost resistance your exterior tile project requires. It's simply a matter of knowing what to ask for and making sure to get the manufacturer's recommendations first. Most manufacturers are proud to present the usage possibilities of their tiles. For your peace of mind, always consider first those tiles whose manufacturers back up their usage claims in writing.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Now that you have identified the usage requirements for your floor, it's time to shift attention toward color, design, and how your tile is to coordinate with its surroundings.
The best way to prepare is to pool ideas from as many resources as you can find. Pictures from books or home magazines, along with paint and fabric swatches, help tremendously in describing the colors and look you are after. Our tile showroom representatives can quickly identify your design parameters and point you toward the tiles that make the most sense. You'll find that, without this preparation, the number of possible choices can be overwhelming. Just contact us and let us do the work for you.
We hope that this brief overview of tile will help you to better understand your tile needs.
We look forward to helping you with all your tile in the near future.
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