"Ceramic 101": An in-depth look at Ceramic & Stone

Whether you want the look of weathered stone, cultured marble, or glazed ceramic – ceramic tile and stone styles have expanded to include a large variety of different looks, sizes and patterns.

Ceramic and stone are different in nature and behavior, however. Stone is a natural product while ceramic tile is created from firing clay.

armstrong tusk ceramic floorFlooring Types

Ceramic & Porcelain

Ceramic floor tiles are either unglazed or glazed and sport ridges along the back of each panel to help the bonding process.

Unglazed tiles are not as common and are sometimes referred to as quarry tiles. The color typically remains the color of the clay used to make the tile. The positive to unglazed tiles is that they don’t scratch. The negative is there’s no finish to the surface, so stains are tougher to remove.

Glazing provides the decoration to the otherwise dull natural color of the clay that’s been fired into becoming a ceramic tile. Glazing also creates the shiny, satin, or matted look to ceramic tile, and can be finished with either a smooth or textured feel. Glazing allows ceramic to become waterproof and virtually stain proof.

Aside from the two types of ceramic tile, glazed and unglazed, there is another category that continues to gain popularity – beautiful, elegant, porcelain tile.

Porcelain tile is made up of 50% feldspar and is fired at a much higher temperature than regular ceramic tile. This makes porcelain tile much harder and denser than other tile products. Their high performance, stain resistance, and natural stone looks make these tiles a great choice for your home.

Additionally, porcelain tile can be used for interior and exterior applications as well as heavy or commercial areas

Stone

Stone can be tricky to purchase, because by their nature, all stones are unique in appearance and therefore, variation is shade and coloring are to be expected.

Maintenance is the key to keeping your stone floor as beautiful as the day it was installed. Because most stone products are porous, a sealer is recommended and can be applied after installation.

Grout

Today’s grouts are designed to be stain resistant; however, they are still more prone to color changes than any other part of your floor. In general it is wiser to use midtone to darker tone grout colors in active areas that are more susceptible to wear, dirt and spills.

When choosing a grout most decorators will recommend using complementary or contrasting colors to either coordinate with your tile or to set it off visually.

There are over 80 different grout colors to choose to use with your tile, so be sure to consult with our staff on what colors will work best with your home and your tile selection.

In addition, you can help protect your grout color by adding a grout shield to your order. Typically a spray-on application, these shields can help preserve your colors. Grout shield can usually be purchased as an add-on to your tile order or can be applied periodically over the life of your tile floor. Spray-on grout shields are easy to apply and provide an extra level of protection for your investment.

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ceramic floorInstallation

Ceramic and stone require more sophisticated flooring installation skills than most others. In addition, the permanent nature of tile and the difficulty of removing it after it has installed, make it vital to use a quality installer (like the excellent Classic Carpet & Flooring crews).

Tiles and stone are joined together by grout, a finely mixed cement. Your plywood subfloor will be coated with an adhesive, a cement backer board, and more adhesive between the backer board and the actual tile. All of that support beneath the tile and stone is necessary because this type of flooring is not flexible, and it will crack if not properly installed over a tough, strong base.   Installation over a concrete subfloor is less complicated and does not require the backer board.

Ceramic tile and stone flooring make a dramatic statement for any residential or commercial flooring project.

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Populuar Benefits

Some of the advantages of tile include:

  • Customers are drawn to ceramic tile because of its lasting beauty and easy maintenance. Ceramic tile floors are virtually everlasting.
  • Basic mopping or vacuuming is all that is required to take care of ceramic floors.
  • Ceramic tile and stone can make a dramatic statement in a variety of rooms of a house.
  • Ceramic tile and stone are located on the upper end of the pricelist for flooring selections, but a homeowner definitely gets what they pay for in both ceramic and stone.
  • Installed properly, ceramic and stone floors are one of the most durable of all flooring and should last as long as the consumer wants it to.
  • Ceramic tile can be one of the most versatile floors for design.  You can mix colors, sizes, and even angles to create a truly custom look.  Deco pieces and boarders can be added in to the mix to showcase a dining room table or an entryway. 
  • Porcelain and stone kitchen backsplashes are becoming more popular.  Glass decos and rope boarders can help create the kitchen of your dreams.

 

 
 

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