Ceramic Tile Benefits
What are the tiles made from?
Ceramic is primarily made up of clays, quartziferous sands, glass substances and other minerals. Only natural raw materials are used, mixed with water and fired at high temperaturesto create a naturally beautiful product and to achieve hardness and durability. Did you know? Ceramic tile is…
- Fire Resistant
- Fade resistant
- Safe – slip resistant
- Non-conductive – will not produce a shock
- An aid to insulation
- Mechanically, one of the strongest surfacing materials
Ceramic tile improves air quality
- Tile is neither an original nor secondary source of air pollution.
- Tile will not absorb odors. Therefore, smoke, paint fumes or other contaminants do not linger.
- There are generally no fibers, gases or toxic by-products when installing ceramic tile.
- Tile is chemically inert and inhibits the growth of mold, fungus and other viruses.
Build a healthy home – Ceramic tile provides…
| Health Benefits | Reduction in allergies, improved air quality |
| Energy Efficiency | Aids in insulation |
| Resource efficiency | Renewable, plentiful raw material |
| The Environment | Manufacturer recycling of production energy and waste materials, non landfill burdening |
| Affordability | Last a lifetime |
Are ceramic products more or less expensive than other flooring materials?
Ceramic tile prices are competitive, especially if you take into account more than just the initial expenditure: adding up the cost of materials, installation, maintenance and possible repairs or replacements, ceramic tiles are the most economic material for floor, wall and façade covering.
Cost Effectiveness (relative to 2000 pricing)
| Wall Products | Installed Costs | Useable Lifespan | Maintenance/Year | Replacement Cost | 40 yr Cost | Total Cost/Year |
| Ceramic Tile | $5.21 | LIFE | $0.18 | NONE | $12.41 | $0.31 |
| Painted Plaster | $4.15 | 5 yrs | $0.21 | $0.61 | $17.43 | $0.44 |
| Marble | $3.05 | LIFE | $0.18 | NONE | $30.25 | $0.76 |
| Wallpaper, Fabric | $4.90 | 7 yrs | $0.50 | $2.10 | $36.90 | $0.92 |
| Floor – Products | ||||||
| Ceramic Tile | $6.19 | LIFE | $1.22 | NONE | $54.99 | $1.39 |
| Carpet | $1.93 | 10 yrs | $1.53 | $2.24 | $72.09 | $1.80 |
| Vinyl, Waxfree | 2.72 | 9 yrs | $1.39 | $3.43 | $73.56 | $1.84 |
Classifications of tile:
| Class 0 | Wall use only – technically unsuitable for floors. |
| Class 1 | Residential and Commercial wall and bare foot floor traffic. |
| Class 2 | Wall and residential bath floor, soft-soled floor traffic. |
| Class 3 | All residential walls and floors and light commercial. |
| Class 4 | Medium Commercial, light industrial and institutional, moderate soiling. |
| Class 5 | Chemically more resistant, extra heavy traffic, abrasive dirt. |
Water absorption %. Did you know?
Low rates provide frost resistance
- Vitreous 0.5 – 3%
- Impervious 0 – 0.5%
Higher rates enhance bonding
- Semi-Vitreous 3 – 7%
- Non-Vitreous > 7%
What are the advantages of porcelain tile?
The wide range of colours and textures and an accurate recreation of the look of natural stones, granites, slates, travertines, limestones, marbles, quartzites, terracottas and even woods and metals, combined with the low maintenance of ceramics and the technical properties of a hard-wearing material which is resistant to all weather conditions, chemical attack, scratches, stains, fading, heavy loads and fire.
What are the advantages of glazed ceramics?
The beauty and variety of colours, of designs and of decorations made available by glazed tiles has always been one of the most valued qualities of ceramic products in general. The glaze also makes cleaning easier and hygienically more effective.
Glazed porcelain tile combines the aesthetical qualities and the ease of maintenance of ceramic tiles with the durability and surface hardness of its vitrified porcelain body, suitable for both commercial and domestic applications, indoors as well as outdoors.
