Ceramic tile. Now there's a term for you. When hearing or reading it, most people think of the highly glazed "bathroom" tiles of years gone by or of decorative tiles which are used to dress up otherwise plain tile installations. After all, aren't there many different kinds of clay tiles? Aren't ceramic tiles just a small part of the field?
Actually, no. The term "ceramic tile" covers almost every clay product produced and used within the tile industry. In addition to four-and-a-quarter-inch bathroom tiles and colorful "decos," there are "monocottura" or single-fired floor tiles, 1-inch and 2-inch "mosaic" tiles mounted on sheets, double-, triple-, and even quadruple-fired tiles decorated in dozens of different ways, and large format porcelain tiles which are used on floors and walls. It is this last category of tiles that we will concern ourselves with here. There is a great deal of confusion concerning the status of porcelain tiles, most of it generated within the tile industry itself.
Sales of floor tiles in the U.S. and Canada have doubled in slightly over a decade, and the popularity of tiled floors continues to increase at a dramatic rate. The rise in tile sales can be attributed to two factors primarily: a determined and well-thought-out effort developed and sustained by marketing and sales forces within the industry; and by constant and significant improvements achieved by tile manufacturers over the past couple of decades. In slightly over twenty years we've come from fairly soft "knob-back" floor tiles made from terracotta-like clays to extremely dense dust pressed porcelains that are all but indestructible. Walk into any tile salesroom today, and you will find mostly porcelain tiles displayed.
Ask a tile sales person whether porcelain tiles are stronger and more durable than ceramic tiles and in most cases the answer will be yes. But although porcelain tiles are indeed strong and durable, that answer is essentially incorrect. As I stated above, porcelain tiles ARE ceramic tiles. Porcelain is simply a type of ceramic clay. Porcelain tiles are those which have the lowest absorption rates of all the ceramic tiles available. To be classed as "porcelain," a tile cannot absorb more than .5 percent of it's total mass in water. Many porcelain tiles absorb less than that -- down to as little as .1 percent. In the industry, these tiles are called "impervious."
There is no confusion on this matter among installers. We call ourselves ceramic tile setters, not porcelain tile setters. It's just that as it turns out, most of the floor tiles we install nowadays are made from porcelain.
But the misinformation continues. The Porcelain Enamel Institute rates glazed floor tiles as to their resistance to abrasion. Glazed tiles are those to which a decorative layer has been applied over the clay body of the tile. Glazes are rated 1 through 5 with 5 being the highest or most durable grade. Many, if not most, porcelain tiles are not glazed, yet ask your tile sales person about the PEI rating of the porcelain tile you are examining in the showroom. It's very likely you'll hear something like, "Oh, this is a grade 5 porcelain tile. You could lay this baby in a car factory."
I certainly don't aim to demean tile sales people. We need them and love them. Without them we'd be out of work. I do wish they'd get themselves a little better informed, though, so they can better inform the buying public about the virtues of ALL ceramic tiles.
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Showing posts with label Ceramic Tile Floor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ceramic Tile Floor. Show all posts
Cleaning Ceramic Tile
Many people love the look of ceramic tile in their home but don't like the idea of keeping it clean. Ceramic tile can be difficult to clean especially in the cracks and grout of the tile. If you find the right products and techniques keeping your ceramic tile clean are easier than you might think. There have been many advances in the products and methods that are used for cleaning ceramic tile. You will find that the new techniques have made the work less strenuous for you.
The tiles that are used on your ceramic floor can be either small or large. They are made from clays that are baked at high temperatures to give the good looking and strong flooring. You can find glazed and unglazed floor tiles for your home. The tiles that are glazed will be easier for you to keep clean. Unglazed tiles tend to be porous and will hold the dirt in them and be difficult to keep clean. You will also have to seal your unglazed tiles to keep them protected. The grout is usually made up of cement and sand. There is also grout that is made from silicone. You will find that the cement and sand combination is more difficult to clean than the silicone type. If you take the time to seal the grout it will be easier to keep clean.
When you clean your tile floor you should make sure to use a grout cleaner. It does not matter if your tile is glazed or unglazed you should use a cleaner that is made specifically for ceramic tile. Tile can be scratched easily and if you use a product that has a particularly abrasive texture you will damage your floor. Using a good grout cleaner will work as a disinfectant and eliminate any germs and mildew. If you don't know how to clean your tile floor you should follow the directions on the label.
If you are going to do an initial deep cleaning on your ceramic tile you will want to give the grout cleaner an ample amount of time to work. You probably will need to let it sit on the grout and tile in order for the product to work effectively. The product is softening the dirt and grime that has accumulated on your floor so that you can clean it up more easily. You will not want to use a brush or scouring sponge so that you don't scratch your floor. There are even some cleaning products that will add protection to your floor and prevent heel marks on the tile.
The products can be quite strong so be sure to follow the directions on the label. You will also want to wear rubber gloves while you are working with the product. Keep the room where you are working well ventilated and make sure that you are practicing the proper safety precautions.
To keep your floor clean between deep cleanings you should make sure you regularly wipe it down with plain water. This will keep the dirt from building up on your floor and make the time you spend deep cleaning much shorter. You should also spray your floor with a product that will prevent mildew on a regular basis.
The tiles that are used on your ceramic floor can be either small or large. They are made from clays that are baked at high temperatures to give the good looking and strong flooring. You can find glazed and unglazed floor tiles for your home. The tiles that are glazed will be easier for you to keep clean. Unglazed tiles tend to be porous and will hold the dirt in them and be difficult to keep clean. You will also have to seal your unglazed tiles to keep them protected. The grout is usually made up of cement and sand. There is also grout that is made from silicone. You will find that the cement and sand combination is more difficult to clean than the silicone type. If you take the time to seal the grout it will be easier to keep clean.
When you clean your tile floor you should make sure to use a grout cleaner. It does not matter if your tile is glazed or unglazed you should use a cleaner that is made specifically for ceramic tile. Tile can be scratched easily and if you use a product that has a particularly abrasive texture you will damage your floor. Using a good grout cleaner will work as a disinfectant and eliminate any germs and mildew. If you don't know how to clean your tile floor you should follow the directions on the label.
If you are going to do an initial deep cleaning on your ceramic tile you will want to give the grout cleaner an ample amount of time to work. You probably will need to let it sit on the grout and tile in order for the product to work effectively. The product is softening the dirt and grime that has accumulated on your floor so that you can clean it up more easily. You will not want to use a brush or scouring sponge so that you don't scratch your floor. There are even some cleaning products that will add protection to your floor and prevent heel marks on the tile.
The products can be quite strong so be sure to follow the directions on the label. You will also want to wear rubber gloves while you are working with the product. Keep the room where you are working well ventilated and make sure that you are practicing the proper safety precautions.
To keep your floor clean between deep cleanings you should make sure you regularly wipe it down with plain water. This will keep the dirt from building up on your floor and make the time you spend deep cleaning much shorter. You should also spray your floor with a product that will prevent mildew on a regular basis.
A Brief History of Ceramic Tiles
The earliest forms of ceramic tile date back to prehistoric times, when the use of clay as a building material was developed independently in several early cultures. The precursors of modern tile were roughly shaped and not nearly as strong as tiles today. The material was dug from river banks, roughly formed into building blocks, and baked dry in the sun. The first tiles were crude, but even 6,000 years ago people were decorating them by adding pigments for color and carving low-relief designs into their surfaces.
Firing Tile
The ancient Egyptians were the first to discover that firing clay tiles at high temperatures in a kiln made them stronger and more water-resistant. Many ancient cultures also used thin squares of fired clay as decorative elements in their architecture.
Buildings in ancient Mesopotamian cities were fronted with unglazed terra-cotta and colorful decorative tiles. Ancient Greeks and Romans used ceramics for the floors, roofs, and even the plumbing in their buildings. The Chinese used a white clay called kaolin to develop the white-colored and durable ceramic known as porcelain.
Tiles in medieval Europe were generally reserved for the floors of churches. Across the continent, the Byzantines excelled in using tile at a small scale; they created expressive mosaic patterns and murals using ceramic tile as well as pieces of glass and stone.
Glazing Tile
Persian ceramicists, inspired by imported Chinese porcelain, created a decorative tradition that spread across South Asia, North Africa, into Spain with the Moors, and eventually throughout Europe. Because their Islamic religion prohibited using human images in art, artisans turned to brightly colored tiles with ornate and intertwined patterns.
Solid-color glazed tiles were cut and assembled into large-scale mosaics with subtle color gradations. The Muslim artisans also developed metal oxide glazes using tin, copper, cobalt, manganese, and antimony, which made tile glazes more brilliant and durable.
By the fifteenth century, metal oxide-glazed tile had become popular in Italy, and their design influence moved northward with Italian craftsmen. Major European trading centers gave their names to local design motifs and types of tile that are still used, including delft tile (from Delft in Holland), and majolica tile (from Majorca in Spain).
Modern Tile
Today, most commercial tile manufacturers use the pressed-dust method of construction. First, a mixture of ingredients is pressed into the desired tile shape. Then the tile is glazed (or left unglazed) and baked in a kiln. Some tile makers may extrude tile shapes by squeezing them through a press into a die or by rolling them out flat and cutting the tile shapes with a form much like a cookie cutter.
Whatever the method, all ceramic tile must be fired to become durable. The purity of the clay, the number of firings, and the temperature of the kiln determine the quality and price. Kiln temperatures vary from about 900° F to 2500° F. Lower firing temperatures produce more porous tile and soft glazes; higher temperatures produce dense, nonporous tile and hard glazes.
Firing Tile
The ancient Egyptians were the first to discover that firing clay tiles at high temperatures in a kiln made them stronger and more water-resistant. Many ancient cultures also used thin squares of fired clay as decorative elements in their architecture.
Buildings in ancient Mesopotamian cities were fronted with unglazed terra-cotta and colorful decorative tiles. Ancient Greeks and Romans used ceramics for the floors, roofs, and even the plumbing in their buildings. The Chinese used a white clay called kaolin to develop the white-colored and durable ceramic known as porcelain.
Tiles in medieval Europe were generally reserved for the floors of churches. Across the continent, the Byzantines excelled in using tile at a small scale; they created expressive mosaic patterns and murals using ceramic tile as well as pieces of glass and stone.
Glazing Tile
Persian ceramicists, inspired by imported Chinese porcelain, created a decorative tradition that spread across South Asia, North Africa, into Spain with the Moors, and eventually throughout Europe. Because their Islamic religion prohibited using human images in art, artisans turned to brightly colored tiles with ornate and intertwined patterns.
Solid-color glazed tiles were cut and assembled into large-scale mosaics with subtle color gradations. The Muslim artisans also developed metal oxide glazes using tin, copper, cobalt, manganese, and antimony, which made tile glazes more brilliant and durable.
By the fifteenth century, metal oxide-glazed tile had become popular in Italy, and their design influence moved northward with Italian craftsmen. Major European trading centers gave their names to local design motifs and types of tile that are still used, including delft tile (from Delft in Holland), and majolica tile (from Majorca in Spain).
Modern Tile
Today, most commercial tile manufacturers use the pressed-dust method of construction. First, a mixture of ingredients is pressed into the desired tile shape. Then the tile is glazed (or left unglazed) and baked in a kiln. Some tile makers may extrude tile shapes by squeezing them through a press into a die or by rolling them out flat and cutting the tile shapes with a form much like a cookie cutter.
Whatever the method, all ceramic tile must be fired to become durable. The purity of the clay, the number of firings, and the temperature of the kiln determine the quality and price. Kiln temperatures vary from about 900° F to 2500° F. Lower firing temperatures produce more porous tile and soft glazes; higher temperatures produce dense, nonporous tile and hard glazes.
 Decorative Ceramic Tile - Garnata Design  ~ Le Souk Ceramique |
 Decorative Ceramic Tile - Ifriquia Design ~ Le Souk Ceramique |
Caring For A Ceramic Tile Floor
 CERAMIC TILE "PLEASE, REMOVE YOUR SHOES" - HOME DECOR ~ tikimaster.com |
 Decorative Ceramic Tile - Geesimpla Design ~ Le Souk Ceramique |
After installing a particular pattern of ceramic tile flooring , it is now a compulsion that you have to maintain it in a most proper and careful way so as to protect your flooring and not cause your flooring any harm or damage while maintaining your costly flooring. How do you do it ? Let's examine a few simple ways of caring and maintaining ceramic tile flooring.
Glazed or unglazed are the two classifications of ceramic tile flooring. Glazed tile is sealed as part of the manufacturing process. Naturally dull unglazed tile has an open, porous surface that's sealed after it's installed.
A number of products designed to produce a hard surface are available to seal unglazed tile. When choosing a sealer for your new tile floor, consider both the type of tile you've installed and the look you want to achieve. Some sealers, used together with a floor finish or wax, will finish the floor to a high gloss ; others will leave it in it's natural form, without any luster at all.
For routine care of a sealed tile floor, just sweep and damp - mop with a mild detergent or all - purpose household cleaner. It's important to sweep away any grit that can be ground into the floor and damage the tile.
If grout becomes stained, scrub it with a toothbrush and household bleach or a commercial tile cleaner. Colored grout may react to bleach, so test a small area before attacking the entire floor.
Under ordinary use, ceramic tile doesn't need to be cleaned often. A light coat of wax, a type specifically recommended for tile floors will bring out the color of the tile and add extra protection. Follow the manufacturer's direction for applying the wax.
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