If you want to beautify your home or workplace, ceramic tiles are one of the best options. In other words, it is suitable for all types of applications, ranging from residential to commercial purposes. Ceramic tiles are perhaps the most durable flooring option now available on the market. A ceramic tile is simply a mixture of natural clays that have been molded and fired at high temperatures. Sometimes, it is made out of such recycled materials as auto windshields, old florescent bulbs, and ground glass.
It offers many advantages over other flooring options like marble and wood, which include durability, resistance to fire, moisture, resistance to tread wear, abrasion, resistance to frost, easy maintenance, slip resistance, thermal shock, stain resistance and color permanence. Above all, they are easy to clean and provide an upscale look to your living space and work place. Ceramics have been used for centuries by people of different cultures and regions to embellish beautiful works of art. Depending upon the texture, color, design and pattern, different types are now available on the market. Ceramics may be glazed, unglazed, porous or waterproof. Glazed types are mostly machine made, and are pressed in a dye as well as fired in a kiln, which in turn provides hard surface and color to the product.
Among unglazed ceramics are quarry tiles and en caustic tiles. Noted for its durability and versatility, porcelain is another popular type of ceramic. Saltillos are available in two varieties: machine-made and handmade. Based on the specific purposes, ceramic tiles are further classified into floor products and wall products. Produced using methods like bicottura and monocottura, floor tiles are mostly porcelain, and are more durable. Further, they are categorized into several classes. For instance, class 2 floor tiles are best for high traffic areas such as kitchens and laundry rooms. Class 3 can be used for any home installation. Likewise, class 4 are recommended for small as well as medium commercial applications, whereas class 5 is usually recommended for such areas as shopping malls and restaurants. There are also products in order to apply exclusively in areas like gardens and swimming pools. Grouped under class 1, ceramic wall tiles are considered a perfect choice for counter top and wall applications. Compared to the floor type, they are less durable and are more slippery, since they are glazed with a matte or semi-gloss surface. Apart from its usage in kitchens, fireplaces and rooms, they are also widely applied outdoors. One of the recent additions are designer tiles as well as decorative ceramics. Hand painted products are in special demand nowadays. Luster painting, transfer painting and carving are the other popular methods for designing ceramic tiles. Almost all designs that are imaginable are now depicted. But, all-time favorite designs are those of flowers, vines, leaves and seashells. Sometimes they are inlaid with white pipe clay or mosaic, which makes it stand out from other designs. Ceramic tiles arrive in a myriad of size, shape, pattern, design and color. Hence, prior to tiling it must be ensured whether the tiles you have chosen are suitable for your space.