Popular choices of tiles for flooring and wall

Tiles are one of the most popular items that are to create beautiful floors and decorate walls. These are manufactured using many types of materials including terrazzo, clay, quartz, stone & metal and are available in a number of varieties. Each option of tile flooring has its own pros and cons. If you want to buy tiles online or offline, it is essential that you understand which type of flooring material will serve as the best flooring material for your space.

In this article, we will discuss about the defining characteristics of different types of flooring.

Ceramic tiles: These tiles are manufactured using red or white clay and are heated in a kiln. Thereafter, they are finished with glaze which provide them color and pattern. Ceramic tiles are used for both floor and wall tiling and possess varied degrees of wear resistance. Some of the varieties of ceramic tiles are also suitable for the commercial use. Because of being manufactured using clay, they possess a great capacity to absorb water and less resistance to the frost. Therefore, they are not considered suitable for external use or cold climate areas. Ceramic tiles do not require sealing and are provided in numerous finishes including matt, gloss and satin. Any normal cutter can be used to cut them. Unlike porcelain tiles, ceramic are prone to wear and tear.

Porcelain and non-porcelain: Ceramic tile can be classified as either porcelain or non-porcelain. Conventional ceramic tile is non-porcelain and is prepared using red, white or brown clay and various other minerals. In addition to clay and minerals, these tiles also contain a large amount of white dust known as feldspar. Feldspar is actually a type of crystal that is found in rock. White dust work as a "flux" during the procedure of kiln-drying and help in bonding all raw materials together. Even minor changes in the ingredients of the ceramic tiles can create a number of varieties of ceramic tiles having different appearance and characteristics.

Porcelain and non-porcelain tiles can be divided in to two different categories. First is unglazed and second is glazed. Glazed tiles are available in matte as well as semi and high gloss finish. These finishes are applied during the manufacturing process. Glazed tiles are known for their high stain and scratch resistance and decreased water absorption.

There are numerous types of tile that are manufactured just like ceramic tiles but they are not so popular among the consumers including glass, encaustic, brick, saltillo, terra cotta tile and cement.

Natural Stone Tiles: Natural stone tiles are manufactured using natural materials including marble, slate, limestone and granite. These tiles have different characteristics and are used in different locations. Marble is a metamorphic rock that is available in the nature in number of colors. It possess a rich veining and known for its highly porous nature. Marble tiles can be used in kitchen only after getting honed and sealed. Limestone is a sedimentary rock that possess earthy look and is available in light and dark shades. Because of being less dense than granite and marble, it can be stained easily.

You must have gained quite knowledge after reading this article. So, buy tiles online or offline that suits your space and taste and enhance the beauty of your home.