Through the flooring innovations of today, ceramic tile is not only more affordable, but is also easier to maintain. The options for color, patterns, sizes, shapes and design are infinite. We are sure that with the many different tile we have available, you will be able to find the right one for your home and design needs.
Before looking at tile and stone, there are a few things you should be aware of. The first thing is that there are two distinct types of tile. These include Ceramic and Porcelain. They are both available in glazed or unglazed. Glazed is the most common and it has a special coating that is applied to the body of the tile and then fired at a very hot temperature to seal the tile. The glazing then creates a hard and non-porous result. The benefits of glazed stone include stain resistance, scratch resistant, fire resistant, fade resistant, slip resistant and the best feature, ease of cleaning!
Porcelain Tile is a type of Ceramic that is made of very fine mixture of clays and minerals. The molecular makeup is similar to fine china or high end dinnerware. These clays allow porcelain tile to be fired at even hotter temperatures than the ceramic tiles, typically near 2400 degrees (F). The higher the temperature, the denser the tile will become and the less moisture it will attract. The benefits of Porcelain are similar to those of ceramic, they are denser and harder than most other tiles, they are highly stain and moisture resistant, they are naturally hygienic with an easy to clean surface. Lastly, porcelain is not only beautiful but equally durable and it can be used in both residential and commercial scenarios.
Natural stone tiles are free of the glazing process. However, while unglazed tile can be incredibly beautiful, it is porous and needs to be maintained regularly. There is a special sealant that can be applied to prevent stains and the seepage of spills and general dirt into the pores of the stone.
Marble, Granite, Travertine & Limestone are very popular stones today. These four stones are all naturally made and therefore individually unique. They are mined out of quarries and consequently, no two stones are ever the same. One important feature of these types of materials is that they need to be sealed. They can be extremely porous and therefore care needs to be taken with the maintenance. While they are porous, it is not hard to care for them, which makes them very popular in many homes today.
It is common to grout your tile after installation. This is a mixture of cement and a color additive. Also a liquid latex additive can be added to the grout to give better resiliency to the grouted areas. It is common for grout to change color slightly over time.