Tile & Stone Flooring

Ceramic & Porcelain Tile

Ceramic & porcelain tile is molded from clay, pressed and finally heated under extreme pressure to form this rigid material. There are two main types of ceramic tile.

• Non-porcelain ceramic tile is the traditional type, made from a combination of white, red and brown clay, sometimes mixed with other minerals.
• Porcelain tile is similar, but also contains up to 50% feldspar, a type of crystal which, when heated and pressurized, forms a glasslike material that gives porcelain its extreme hardness and durability.

The ceramic tile can be manufactured to be glazed or unglazed. Glazed tile is fired a second time to give the clay tile a glass-like, often adding color variations throughout the surface coating. A glazed tile provides the added benefit of increased resistance to stains, scratches and moisture unlike an unglazed ceramic or natural tile.

Natural stone tile

Natural stone tile is produced from natural materials including granite, marble, limestone, travertine, onyx, slate and sandstone. Here’s some additional information about these popular forms of natural stone:

• Granite is a very dense volcanic rock with a distinctive speckled appearance. It is impervious to scratching and is excellent for high-traffic areas such as kitchens. Variations of granite allow the color and pattern differences.
• Marble is a metamorphic stone well known for its elegant appearance. It’s more porous and therefore recommended for decorative use rather than practical purposes.
• Limestone is a sedimentary rock with an earthy look, less dense than other stone. It’s more susceptible to damage but is porous and can be stained different colors.

Slate is an incredibly dense, incredibly durable option that comes in many darker tones – an excellent choice for high-traffic areas.

Where can I install tile?

Tile is a versatile design material, well suited to many areas of the home. While tile is commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms, it can be installed in other areas including laundry, basement, and even outside living areas.

When installing tile flooring, pay close attention to the tile being installed as different techniques must be used to lay tile. Ceramics, especially porcelain, are often more durable than stone, especially when glazed. You can’t drop them on each other as many will break or shatter before the floor is even installed. Using a natural stone, such as a porous rock like limestone, doesn’t work well in bathrooms or kitchens applications where liquid spills are common. However, a glazed tile or a waterproof LVT (luxury vinyl tile) option in either location would work well.

Tile can also be applied to outdoor areas and open-air environments. If you plan to use it in a slippery location, avoid porous materials and slippery surfaces. In addition, there are other treatments available to apply to some tile to prevent slips.

Finally, don’t forget that tile can be used decoratively in other areas of the home. Popular locations for tile include on walls and backsplashes to highlight aspects of your design. A glass tile is very popular as it helps accents the other tiles being used.