All About Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tiles are made from a mixture of clays that are pressed into shape and fired at high temperatures to give the tile its hardness.

Ceramic tiles are then either glazed or not. Glazed tiles are the most common style today in floor and wall tiles as well as for residential and commercial applications. Glazing is done by applying liquid glass to the body of the tile, and firing it at high temperatures so the glazing becomes hard and non-porous. Shiny glazes are softer, can be scratched easier, and can be more slippery than satin or rustic finishes.

Unglazed tiles, on the other hand, are very durable and don't show the effects of heavy traffic. The most common unglazed tiles are red quarry tiles or the granite-looking porcelain ceramic tiles that are used in heavy commercial areas.

The color of the body of the tile (as opposed to the surface) is determined by the color of the clay available in the manufacturer's area.

Ceramic tiles can be manufactured in one of two ways, called: - Bicottura ("double fired") - the clay body is fired on the first pass through the kiln, and then the glaze is applied and fired on the second pass through. - Monocottura ("single fired") - the tile passes through the firing process one time at a temperature of 2200 degrees. Monocottura tiles have denser bodies and harder glazes than Bicottura tiles.

As the weight or density of the tile increases, the stronger it becomes, but the less moisture it can absorb. Which is something you should keep in mind, depending on where you plan to use them. They're graded, from "Non-Vitreous Tiles," which can absorb the most moisture, through "Semi-Vitreous" and "Vitreous," to "Impervious Tiles," which absorb less than .5% moisture.