Tile
Porcelain ~ Ceramic ~ Glass
No matter where your personal tastes lead, there are endless products from which to choose. Remember this, though: Natural stone or tiles that most distinctly mimic naturally occurring products will not lose their appeal. You don't want to get tired of your selection after a few years and wish you had a new floor - it should always appeal to you. That's why it's best, in the long run, to select the most real-looking tile you can afford.
Porcelain Tile:
Now, almost the industry standard for tile; keep in mind that while a high grade porcelain tile is typically better than an equivalent ceramic tile, a high grade ceramic tile could well be better than a low-grade porcelain tile. Most manufacturers are focusing on porcelain tile production today for floor tile.
Porcelain tile is more compressed than ceramic tile; which means that it is less porous, less water absorptive and is more difficult to break. Tiles that absorb more water (moisture) can cause failures in some instances, here are a few:
- In the south, we have extreme heat during the day causing exterior tiles to be very hot to the touch, and believe it or not, the tile expands because of the moisture within the tile. Then, we frequently get a rain squall come through. The temperature of the surface of the tile can drop by 20 to 50 degrees in a matter of seconds. The extreme change in temperature can fracture the tile.
- In the north, exterior tile needs to have low moisture absorption properties because of freeze - thaw conditions; a similar scenario to #1, although not as instantaneous.
- Going inside, a burst water pipe or overflow can flood your home. Tiles that absorb more moisture will expand more than a porcelain tile and your tiles can then loose their bond to the substrate; creating a buckling or tenting effect. We have replaced floors in homes where this exact scenario has happened. (Please also read about setting materials at the end of this section.)
Glass Tile:
There are so many glass tile options today! It's like eye candy! This is a great product for walls, backsplashes, and as accents for floors (most glass tile is not acceptable for heavy traffic floors, other than residential bathrooms - but will typically do well as accents in floors.)
There are wild iridescent colors, as well as clear and opaque glass. You have to be very careful with the installation; using the correct setting materials and, most manufacturers will recommend an epoxy grout.
Glass tiles come in a myriad of sizes and shapes, which you can see on our manufacturer's websites.
Glass tile is certainly a more expensive option than tile, but the quantities are usually small so the dollar impact on a project (e.g. kitchen backsplash, or bathroom) is not always dramatic - but the effect will be!
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