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Selecting Ceramic Tile
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The following information is extremely general in nature, designed to help the person choosing ceramic tiles to be happy with their selection for many years.
This information refers only to the residential use of ceramic tile and deliberately avoids referring to specific commercial or technical standards to minimize controversy or misleading information.
Quite simply, a ceramic tile is a mixture of clays which is shaped and fired at high temperatures. The hard slab that results from this process can be glazed, decorated or remain unglazed.
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Glazed vs. Unglazed
Glazed tiles come in many types: high gloss, semi gloss, matte or low gloss, opaque or non-transparent glaze, speckled glaze for contrasting colours, and fitted glaze which covers only some parts of the tile. Glazed tiles are easier to clean and should be considered where continual maintenance is a factor.
Unglazed tiles can give an entirely different look and are fully functional from the wear standpoint. Unglazed tiles generally need to have a sealer applied to the surface to prevent staining and moisture intake.
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The Size Of The Tile
Choosing the size of the tile is generally of personal taste, taking into account cosmetic, as well as structural and functional requirements. Keep in mind that a mixture of sizes can give a different effect and many series' are available in different sizes with extensive colour ranges.
The thickness of the tile is not always an indication of its strength. Different manufacturing processes result in different types of tile bodies. New technology has developed exceptionally strong tiles that are relatively thin compared to older, conventional methods.
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Choosing The Colour
One of the main advantages of ceramic tile is the tremendous colour selection. Use the opportunity when choosing tile to add your own creativity to a very functional material.
Mixing different colours, using borders, listellos, and inserts can make your installation look unique.
Colour coordinating with other materials such as window treatments, carpet, wood, and fixtures should also be taken into consideration.
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Choosing Grout Colour
It is important to realize how the colour of the grout can effect the overall appearance of the finished installation. Dark coloured grouts tend to highlight the shape of the tile whereas lighter grout colours highlight the grout colour itself.
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Andes Series
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Joy Series
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Arkitekt Series
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Glow Series
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