Types of Tiles
If you want to tile or re-tile your kitchen or bathroom, whether it be the walls or floors, you may want to look at the types of tiling materials available.
In recent years, manmade materials have become more popular. Especially as now they can be made to look like genuine stone, such as marble or granite for instance.
Ceramic tiles are the most common type of tile around. The material is lightweight, cheap and can be given a whole variety of finishes.
A ceramic tile is made from a clay bisque; containing shale, gypsum and sand. The tile is then fired at a very high temperature to make it tough. A glaze is then put on the tile to make it non-porous and able to withstand moisture, stains and even frost.
These ceramic tiles are made from the same material used thousands of years ago, when made by the Egyptians. However these days they are made en-masse by a mechanised process.
Quarry tiles are another type of tile that is particularly popular for flooring. In the past these were lumps of stone cut direct from a quarry. These days they are often made from clay that is extruded to become as hard as natural stone, then given a stone-like look.
Natural stone tiles are still used however and granite has become fashionable in the last few years. It is particularly popular for kitchen floors and walls. Granite is porous and can crack if not sealed and polished regularly.
For this reason, people often turn to stone effect clay tiles because they cheaper and easier to maintain. If you want genuine texture and pattern however, real stone tiles are the only answer.
For a whole variety of tiles in a choice of different materials, colours and patterns visit Crown Tiles. They are one of the UKs top tiling specialists and have over 20 million tiles in stock, including the types of tiles mentioned in this article.
Published on 26/09/2011
