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Porcelain tiles are easy to clean, not damaged by water and look modern and sophisticated. This article looks at some of the different types of porcelain tile.
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When looking to make improvements to the interior design of your home, flooring is an important element to take into consideration. It needs to be aesthetically pleasing, hard wearing, practical and fitting for the overall style of your home. It is likely that you will have different flooring needs in each of the rooms of your home, depending on what the room is used for. There are some rooms where the floor is likely to get wet and it is important to choose flooring that will not be damaged by water and spills. These include the hallway, kitchen and bathroom.
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Porcelain floor tiles are the ideal choice as they are easy to clean, are not damaged by water and look modern and sophisticated. There are two main types of porcelain tiles, each with their own features, benefits and uses. These are through-bodied porcelain tiles and glazed porcelain tiles. Both are available in floor or wall tiles. The type of tile you choose will be based on your personal preference as well as the suitability of the tiles for your needs.
Different Types of Tiles
Through-bodied tiles are those that have a consistent colour and texture through the whole tile. This type of tile does not have a glaze and is composed of clay, sand and other minerals. The clay is pressed and shaped into a tile before being fired at a high temperature. To reduce water absorption, the pressed dust method is used to increase the density of the tile.
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There are many benefits to choosing this type of porcelain tile. Due to the strength and density of these tiles, they are ideal for heavy surface traffic. They are also resistant to scratches and chips, meaning that your tiles will continue to look great in the years to come. As through-bodied tiles are the same colour throughout, they will look the same in the unlikely event of a chip occurring. You can even use these tiles for the exterior of your home as they are stable in freezing and thawing conditions. Unless the tiles are polished they will be slip resistant, making them perfect for rooms where the floor gets wet.
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A glazed porcelain tile differs from a through-bodied tile in that it is coated with a glaze. This is a coloured hard finish on the surface of the tile. They are very similar to regular ceramic tiles. One of the main advantages of choosing this type of tile is that there is an extensive range of options in terms of colour and design. Other benefits are that glazed tiles are strong, dense, stain resistant, non-porous, easy to maintain and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
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There is a range of different types of tiles and the type you choose is dependent on the project you are undertaking, your individual needs, what you hope to achieve and the look or style you are aiming for. Both glazed and through-bodied porcelain tiles have their own features and benefits, making them the ideal materials for either walls and interior or exterior flooring.