The Different Types of Tile Flooring

With too many tiles out in the market today, it gets a bit hard to choose one that best suits your home’s flooring. But don’t you worry because we listed down the different types of tile floorings you’d find from your tile supplier in the Philippines. Get to know each type and decide which tile your home needs.

Ceramic

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Ceramic tiles are made from quarried clay materials that are either hardened, pressed or molded at a high temperature in a kiln. This type of tiles can either be glazed or unglazed. Glazed tiles are coated with matte, semi-gloss or high gloss finish in a modern manufacturing process called monocottura. Compared to unglazed tile, the glazed finish increases the tile’s scratch and stain resistance, as well as its traction while decreasing its water absorption.

Ceramic tiles are further classified into two:

• Non-porcelain – considered as the traditional ceramic and is known as one of the most economic tiles. It comes in natural tones made of minerals as well as brown, red and/or white clay materials. This type of ceramic tile has noticeable chips because the inside color differs from the outside. The variations in color make it a perfect fit for your kitchen or bathroom flooring.
• Porcelain – manufactured the same way as non-porcelain, but with contains 50% of a crystal called Feldspar. The said crystal acts as a flux that bond all the molded ingredients together during the manufacturing process, creating a glass-like structure that strengthens the tile mixture.

Porcelain ceramic tiles are more expensive than non-porcelain, but they possess through-bodied color, lesser water absorption, higher stain resistance and greater durability. These tiles can withstand higher foot traffic, perfect for busy commercial areas. Since this type of tiles is easier to color, it has lesser visible chips than non-porcelain.

Glass

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Glass tiles are commonly used in mosaics. Although it is often used as wall tiles, glass tiles can also be an option for floors and backsplashes albeit unpopular due to its grout lines. These lines give a busy look and make cleaning a hard task to pull off.

If you are going to buy these from your tile supplier in the Philippines, install the glass tiles by setting them into stone or like a traditional tile using grout.

Metal

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Metal tiles are a great choice if you are aiming for a high visual impact. Although this type of tile flooring is not a usual option, it can really make your flooring shine. Just keep in mind that metal tiles are prone to wearing over time.

This type of tiles can either be made of pure metal or with non-metal materials such as ceramic tiles. Metal tiles made of non-metal materials have metal plating.

Natural Stone

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Tiles made from natural materials are known as natural stone tiles. These materials are quarried, cut into a rough slab and sliced to tile size by a stone fabricator. Since these type of tiles are made from natural stones, characteristics may vary depending on the material used.

Common types used in tile flooring include the following:

• Granite – an igneous rock that has specks of different minerals throughout its surface. Once polished, granite can be scratch resistant, making it an excellent choice for areas with high foot traffic.
• Limestone – a sedimentary rock that has soft and permeable structure. This stone can be easily stained and is scratch-prone, which is not the most ideal characteristics for high-traffic areas.
• Marble – a metamorphic rock that offers a variety of colors. The veins of different minerals run throughout its surface, creating its different colors. However, it is more porous than granite, giving it a high vulnerability to scratches.
• Slate – a metamorphic rock with darker earthy hues. It is extremely durable and dense, and it often has chips, bumps and uneven surfaces.
• Travertine – a limestone with porous texture, making it an easy target for scratches and stains. However, it has an earthy tone with an uncommon crystallized appearance.

Natural stone tiles can also have the following finishes: natural, honed or polished. Natural finish has an earthy and dull appearance while the honed finish has a matte and smooth look which prevents slipping and wear. Polished finish has the mirror-like appearance but has more slippery surface.

Have you decided on the tile flooring your home needs based on the list? Then, it is time to visit your tile supplier in the Philippines and get the floor tile installation started today.


Sources:
http://flooring-professionals.com/flooring-resources/types-of-tile-flooring/
http://buildipedia.com/at-home/floors/tile-flooring-101-types-of-tile-flooring
http://www.beaumont-tiles.com.au/Tile-DIY-Info/Types-of-Tiles
https://www.thespruce.com/tile-types-for-floor-and-wall-1822635
https://eurtton.com/monocottura-tile/
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/masonry-and-tiling/installing-a-glass-tile-backsplash-in-a-kitchen