Tile Flooring
Tile Flooring is a preferred upgrade for homes today.
What is Tile Flooring?
Tile flooring is a hard surface flooring that is manufactured form any kind of different materials including but not limited to clay, stone, metal, terrazzo, and quartz. Each different type of tile flooring has its own characteristics that set them apart, but for the most part there are the two most common types of tile flooring, natural stone and ceramic.
For now, we’re going to concentrate on ceramic tile flooring and save the natural tile flooring for another time.
For now, we’re going to concentrate on ceramic tile flooring and save the natural tile flooring for another time.
Ceramic Tile Flooring
Ceramic tile flooring is made from quarried clay materials that are put through a preparation process and then formed into a special made mold. A few of the most common methods for forming the tiles are slush mold, dry press, and the extruded methods.
The slush mold is a forming process where a combination of wet material is put into a mold and then hardened in a hot kiln oven at an extremely high temperature for a certain amount of time.
The dry press method is one that involves taking a mixture of dry material and pressing it into a mold under extreme pressure which ultimately forms the shape of the desired tile.
The extruded method is a process by which some wet clay is forced through a mold and then cut down into the proper shape before being put into the kiln. Tiles made using this method tend to be less consistent than pressed tiles and tend to be better for the more rustic styles like terra cotta and clinker because of this.
Porcelain versus Non-Porcelain Ceramic Tile Flooring
Normally, ceramic tiles tend to best be categorized as either porcelain or non-porcelain tiles. Traditional ceramic tiles are non-porcelain and are made from red, white, or brown types of clay and other differing types of minerals.
Porcelain ceramic tiles are also made from clay and other minerals as well, but they also contain about 50% of a special light dust or type of sand called feldspar. The feldspar is a special type of crystal that reacts as a kind of flux that’s helps during the kiln heating process. The feldspar is natural and typically found in rocks. With the feldspar in place, the clay and minerals melt into a glass like material that bond all the materials together during the kiln drying process. Small changes to the kiln drying process such as different temperature or different kiln types, and small changes to the ingredients of the ceramic tiles can all create some pretty big changes and variations in the different characteristics and appearances of final ceramic tile products.
Something to keep in mind is that non-porcelain ceramic tiles are typically a bit more economical when it comes to the different types of tile. Porcelain ceramic flooring, tends to be more expensive, but for good reason. It is much more durable, offers more natural stain resistance, better color, and minimal water absorption. Due to the higher durability of the porcelain ceramic tiles, they also tend to be harder to work with, during installation.
As far as the finish is concerned, both porcelain and non-porcelain ceramic tile flooring can be glazed or un-glazed. During the manufacturing process, glazed tiles either have a high-gloss, semi-gloss, or matte finish applied to them. Glazed tiles tend to have less water absorption, increased stain resistance, traction, and scratch resistance as opposed to unglazed ceramic tile.
Ceramic tile flooring is made from quarried clay materials that are put through a preparation process and then formed into a special made mold. A few of the most common methods for forming the tiles are slush mold, dry press, and the extruded methods.
The slush mold is a forming process where a combination of wet material is put into a mold and then hardened in a hot kiln oven at an extremely high temperature for a certain amount of time.
The dry press method is one that involves taking a mixture of dry material and pressing it into a mold under extreme pressure which ultimately forms the shape of the desired tile.
The extruded method is a process by which some wet clay is forced through a mold and then cut down into the proper shape before being put into the kiln. Tiles made using this method tend to be less consistent than pressed tiles and tend to be better for the more rustic styles like terra cotta and clinker because of this.
Porcelain versus Non-Porcelain Ceramic Tile Flooring
Normally, ceramic tiles tend to best be categorized as either porcelain or non-porcelain tiles. Traditional ceramic tiles are non-porcelain and are made from red, white, or brown types of clay and other differing types of minerals.
Porcelain ceramic tiles are also made from clay and other minerals as well, but they also contain about 50% of a special light dust or type of sand called feldspar. The feldspar is a special type of crystal that reacts as a kind of flux that’s helps during the kiln heating process. The feldspar is natural and typically found in rocks. With the feldspar in place, the clay and minerals melt into a glass like material that bond all the materials together during the kiln drying process. Small changes to the kiln drying process such as different temperature or different kiln types, and small changes to the ingredients of the ceramic tiles can all create some pretty big changes and variations in the different characteristics and appearances of final ceramic tile products.
Something to keep in mind is that non-porcelain ceramic tiles are typically a bit more economical when it comes to the different types of tile. Porcelain ceramic flooring, tends to be more expensive, but for good reason. It is much more durable, offers more natural stain resistance, better color, and minimal water absorption. Due to the higher durability of the porcelain ceramic tiles, they also tend to be harder to work with, during installation.
As far as the finish is concerned, both porcelain and non-porcelain ceramic tile flooring can be glazed or un-glazed. During the manufacturing process, glazed tiles either have a high-gloss, semi-gloss, or matte finish applied to them. Glazed tiles tend to have less water absorption, increased stain resistance, traction, and scratch resistance as opposed to unglazed ceramic tile.
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