This webpage is designed to give you a brief overview of tile. For specific
information about how Alpine Carpet and Design can help make your house a home,
please call (989) 732-1759 or email
matt@alpinecarpetanddesign.com
for more information.Ceramic tile has been used for centuries and offers consumers more
options in color, texture, pattern and overall beauty than most other
floor covering materials. With new manufacturing techniques today's
ceramic tile designs are virtually indistinguishable from natural
marbles, travertines, slates and other stone products. Glazed ceramic
and porcelain tiles are great choices for bathrooms, kitchens, foyers,
sun rooms and great rooms.
For over a century homeowners have counted
on Mohawk for all their floor coverings. With Mohawk Ceramic Tile you
can let your imagination go free and express your unique and personal
decorating tastes. Mohawk Ceramic Tile features all the latest tile
fashion trends in colors, sizes and designs including decorative insets
and borders. To help you select your Mohawk Ceramic Tile there are some
terms you should know before going shopping.
Wall Tile
Ceramic wall tiles are normally less durable than tile designed
specifically for flooring. Most wall tile is glazed with a semi-gloss or
matte surface. The glazed surface has a very low slip resistance and
becomes slippery when wet. Therefore, glazed wall tile is much more
suited for wall or countertop applications rather than floors.
Glazed Ceramic Tile
Glazed Ceramic Tile is comprised of two basic elements, clay and water.
Various clays are mined, ground and blended to a fine powder, and
pressed together to form the body of the tile. The pressed clay body is
then dried to reduce the moisture content. Next, the surface of the tile
is coated with a colored glaze (similar to glass). The glaze is
then permanently fused to the surface of the tile by firing it in kilns
at approximately 2000° Fahrenheit, to form the finished product.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is made from a blend of fine-grain clays and other
minerals to produce a very dense body, which makes it highly resistant
to moisture, staining and wear. Because of these features, porcelain
tile will withstand years of heavy foot traffic in both interior and
exterior applications while maintaining its color and beauty.
ColorBody™ Porcelain Tile
This is the densest of all tile types, ColorBody™ Porcelain Tile has a
through-color body and is defined by its <0.5% water absorption. These
tiles can withstand heavy foot traffic and are suitable for both indoor
or outdoor applications.
To determine the overall performance and durability of the glazed
surface of ceramic tile, there are standardized industry tests and
classifications which rate tile’s specific resistance to scratching,
breaking, abrasion, moisture, etc...
Scratch Hardness
Most tiles are rated for hardness or scratch resistance using the MOHS
Test and rating system. The MOHS test rates tile from 1 (softest) to 10
(hardest). Ceramic tile with a value of 5 or more is suitable for most
residential floor tile applications. Tile with a value of 7 or higher is
normally acceptable for most commercial applications or heavy traffic
areas.
Wear Rating
To help select suitable tiles for specific applications tiles are rated
the P.E.I. (Porcelain Enamel Institute) scale. The tiles are evaluated
for wear resistance on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
- PEI 1: Light Traffic - recommended for residential
bathrooms or other areas with light traffic and where shoes are not
frequently used.
- PEI 2: Medium Traffic - recommended for residential
interiors, except entryways, kitchens, stairs or any area where
tiles may come into contact with gravel or sand.
- PEI 3: Medium-heavy Traffic - recommended for all
residential interiors and light commercial applications. Not
recommended for commercial entryway.
- PEI 4: Heavy Traffic - suitable for all residential
interiors and most commercial applications, including shopping malls
and public areas.
- PEI 5: Heavy-plus Traffic - all residential and
commercial areas where heavy-duty wearability is needed.
Water Absorption
Ceramic tile are also classified by their water absorption rate which
reflects the density of the body of the tile. There is a direct
relationship to the water absorption rate and the suitability of the
various types of tile for interior or exterior applications. Tiles
suitable for exterior applications must have a very low water absorption
rate, especially in climates subject to freezing and thawing cycles.
These are typically porcelain body tiles which have a moisture
absorption rating of less than .5 %.
Shading
Like the natural products themselves tiles will vary in shading. This
adds to the beauty and design of the products. When choosing a tile it's
best to view 2-3 tiles together to visually determine the overall
appearance of the tile.
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For more information about tile or ceramic flooring, be sure to visit the official website
of
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following:
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