Ceramic Tiles

Since these maintenance recommendations relate to specific types of ceramic tile floors and walls, the following descriptions can be used to identify the particular tiles used on a project, or existing tile, these tiles have been classified in accordance with the CGSB National Standard CAN/CGSB-75.1M88 for ceramic floor and wall tile and trim units.

Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile is a ceramic tile that is generally made by the dust pressed method from a composition which results in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tile is available in mat, unglazed or a high polished finish. Water absorption: ASTM C373. Manufactured in various thickness and sizes.

Quarry Tile

A glazed or unglazed tile made by the extrusion process from natural clay or shale. This tile is most common in the dark red shades; however, shades of brown and gray are also available.

Mexican Tile / Terracota

This tile is generally hand-made and varies in colour, texture and appearance. The tile is available in various shapes and sizes. The tile may come pre-finished or require the application of various types of sealers or coatings on site to provide a wearing surface.

While wood and carpeted flooring is very common, polished concrete floors are becoming more and more popular all the time. Because most homes are built on a concrete foundation it comes as no surprise that there is a way to make concrete beautiful. When most of us hear the term concrete we think of the dull sidewalks in front of our home or around town, but polished concrete is something all together different.

If you own a home that has a concrete foundation you may be able to obtain the polished concrete look quite easily. Polished concrete is exactly that, concrete that has been polished to a beautiful shine. The new sanding and polishing units on the market allow for even concrete to become a very glossy, glamorous type of flooring. If the concrete foundation of your home is very wavy or needs a lot of patch work done to it, you may need to put a whole new layer of concrete down before you polish. An experienced contractor can help homeowners determine the suitability of their concrete flooring.

If you are laying new concrete and you plan to polish it you might want to add some coloring or some aggregate. The coloring will enhance the beauty of the polished concrete floor and the polishing will expose any aggregate that you choose to put in it. It's quite important to recognize that polished concrete flooring is different than overlays or topical coatings. Polished concrete is truly concrete, generally the original foundation of the home that is polished until it shines. The look is unique and unlike any other type of flooring on the market. Many have said that polished concrete is something you have to see to believe because it really is that beautiful.

There are many benefits to having polished concrete. The first and most obvious is that it can be more cost effective than any other flooring option on the market today, even if the polishing is done by an experienced contractor. Another wonderful benefit of polished concrete flooring is that it is easy to clean and not porous as many other floors are. It also does not have to be waxed or buffed all the time like many wood and natural stone floors, and is virtually maintenance free. Of course, the polished concrete floors simply look really good and are a natural conversation piece in the home.

Polished concrete is becoming more and more popular all the time and will be seen in new and old homes for some time to come because of the relative ease of obtaining the floors, it's green footprint, it's beauty, the affordability, and the ease in which they are cared for.

SHADING AND SIZING:

Shading:

Many tiles, both glazed and unglazed, are deliberately produced with a wide shade variation to capture the natural beauty of the product. A certain degree of shade variation is inherent in all ceramic tile. The manufacturers limit the amount of shade variation within a carton by sorting the tile as it comes off the production line.

Also, the shade and run numbers are marked on each carton.

To minimize any noticeable shade variations, the installers

work out of several cartons simultaneously. In doing so, they

are able to blend the tiles together.

Sizing:

The sizes of the tiles will vary slightly. This is inherent with most

tiles. Most manufacturers will keep sizing to an acceptable level

by sorting the tile by size prior to packing it. The grout joints will

conceal slight size variations.

Terrazzo Tile

Pre-manufactured consisting of marble or granite chips in a portland cement or epoxy matrix in various thickness' and sizes.

Agglomerate Tile

Agglomerate tiles are manufactured by mixing graded marble or granite chips of various sizes with portland cement, polyester resin or epoxy. Thickness may vary from 6mm to 20mm and may be ordered in other thicknesses to meet specifications. Approximate water absorption, 24-hour immersion, and % 0.19 ASTM D570-81 modified but will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Solar Tile Flooring

Houses built to be energy efficient use passive solar heating concepts. These concepts include using thermal mass wherever possible. Thermal mass is material that is known to efficiently absorb heat. For example, a sunny room can have flooring consisting of concrete that’s overlaid with tile. The tile absorbs the sun’s heat when the sun shines and slowly releases the heat after the sun goes down. This keeps a room warm. For solar tile flooring to work most efficiently, it should be dark colored. Dark colors absorb more heat than lighter colors.

As housing construction methods continue to develop new techniques for improving energy efficiency, there will be many new products developed over time. More and more solar tile flooring will be used in homes on a regular basis.

A house is like any other system. All the parts work together to create an efficient system. Solar tiles will be part of a complete system that includes thermal mass, energy efficient windows and so on.

For more information on solar tile flooring

Facts About Floor And Wall Tile:

Wall Tile:

Any ceramic tile is suitable for walls, but the very thin, high glossed and decorative tiles are most commonly used. The most popular size for wall tile is still 4 ¼” x 4 ¼”, but there appears to be a trend taking place for larger, more luxurious tiles. Wall tiles have a very soft glaze and porous body and therefore should never be used on floors or for outdoor applications.

Floor Tile:

These tiles, glazed or unglazed, have sufficient strength, impact and abrasion resistance to withstand weight and foot traffic. They are usually thicker, denser and heavier than wall tiles. If the substrate is strong enough to support the weight, floor tiles may also be used on walls and counter tops.