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Types of Tile

If you are tired of replacing carpet, try replacing it with tile. Tile is a very functional type of floor covering that can be used in many different applications. Before you make your tile selection you need to consider a few things. The size and type of tile are the two main things to consider.

The types of tile to choose from are: porcelain, ceramic, travertine, marble and natural stone. Most tile is made from fired ceramics, porcelain (usually either glazed or through body). Travertine and marble are natural stone. Ceramic tile is going to be the most affordable option and can be purchased in a variety of sizes and patterns. Ceramic usually has a red body (which means the back of the tile is red) or a white body, this generally depends upon where the material was made. Most people tend to buy a white bodied tile because of chipping. When a red bodied tile is chipped, it is more noticeable than a white bodied version.

Ceramic is rated by the PEI scale (porcelain enamel institute) the tile is rated 1-5. Tiles rated 1-2 are generally made for walls and showers, or tub surrounds, Tiles that are rated 3-5 are used as flooring. The higher the rating of the tile, the more durable the tile will be. Glazed porcelain tile is made of porcelain clays that are more impervious fine grained and have a lower water absorption rate, which makes them frost proof. Glazed porcelain tiles are excellent for residential use and light commercial traffic. Through body porcelain tile are suitable for industrial use, heavy commercial traffic and all residential applications. Through body tile are virtually impervious to wear.

Travertine is a natural stone made up of carbonate minerals and comes from Turkey, Greece, and Italy mainly. This product can be purchased either filled or unfilled, which means open holes or filled ones. Travertine is a nice option for floor covering, but requires more maintenance (due to its porous nature) than ceramic or porcelain. Travertine is a natural stone that is white in color, but can be brown to yellow because of impurities. Marble is another natural stone that is high in calcium carbonates, which ranges in color from region to region. Marble is a very popular type of flooring, but like travertine requires more maintenance. Both marble and travertine and more likely to crack and break, than porcelain. I hope I have helped you to understand the differences between the various tiles available. If you have any questions please leave a comment and I will get back to you shortly.
Thanks
The Floor Man
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