THE BASIC 3: TRANSFORMING, TIMELESS AND TASTEFUL.
There are 3 types of ceramic tile: glazed, unglazed and porcelain. Understand them and you’re home free.
TILE SIZE TAKES ITS CUE FROM THE ROOM SIZE.
When considering what size tile would be appropriate for your given space, start by determining the size of the room.
Often times, people think that small rooms call for small tile. That is not necessarily true. In fact, incorporating a larger size tile in a smaller room will visually increase the size of the space. And fewer grout lines will help create a cleaner surface appearance.
Conversely, using a tile size that’s too small creates more grout joints that may make the floor look too busy, again depending on the size of the space.
The bottom line here is that, as with all design elements, scale plays an important role in creating a room’s overall balance. So, please consider it carefully to achieve your desired look.
CERAMIC CAN TAKE ON MANY DISGUISES.
The look of natural stone is very popular but some consumers prefer ceramic over stone due to price and maintenance considerations.
In answer to consumers’ demands, ceramic and porcelain manufacturers have created tiles that offer textures, colors and patterns resembling natural stone products.
Of the sought after looks in ceramic and porcelain tile, slate, travertine and marble are just a few.
To further enhance the natural look, tile can also be made to feature heavy textures, chiseled and hammered edges, and even resemble tumbled stone.
Ceramic tile texture is related to its style. So feel free to feel! The feel of a tumbled stone or slate looking ceramic tile will be irregular and somewhat rough.
A tile simulating marble or granite on the other hand, will have a very smooth, polished feel. In addition to the feel, textures also vary in degree of shine, ranging from dull to semi-gloss to glass-like.
CERAMIC IS RIGHT AT HOME, OUTDOORS.
Ceramic tile is a versatile product, with many styles designed for today’s popular outdoor living areas.
Outdoor tile typically features non-skid finishes designed for safety when wet, sometimes installed on patios, walkways, or around pools.
Another important characteristic of ceramic tile designed for outdoor applications is its resistance to frost.
It’s a cold, hard fact. Ceramic tile manufactured for outdoor use has very low water absorption, minimizing the cracking, chipping and other effects of expansion when the temperature falls below freezing.
When creating a pattern with different tiles, you should know that the more prominent tile that is throughout the largest areas is called the “field tile”.
Let your imagination run free, ceramic will keep up to it. Combining styles and patterns of ceramic tile flooring with countertop and wall products can also create beautiful designs, and give your room an aesthetic balance.
Floor and wall tiles may be designed to look similar, but floor tiles are generally thicker and are textured to make them safer to walk on.
Wall tile styles are typically designed to have higher gloss, and are manufactured in smaller sizes. The large floor tiles are not designed to adhere to walls.
Grout color and thickness will change the appearance of the floor and room dramatically.
Using a white or a light colored grout highlights the color in tile. Choosing a dark grout with a light tile, or light grout with a dark tile will emphasize the geometric pattern of your layout.
So be wise and plan accordingly.
A leader in style, design options and performance, ceramic tile is the popular choice of homeowners across the country and around the world.
With the knowledge shared here we hope your ceramic flooring shopping experience is more complete, comfortable and confident.