Marble is also a type of limestone, but one that has experienced additional heat and pressure applied to it whilst in the earths crust. It can come in a variety of finishes such as polished, unpolished and tumbled as well as innumerable colours and shades. It has been utilised for thousands of years for many applications. It is generally quite a soft stone and prone to scratching in high traffic areas
Slate is a metamorphic rock, mainly containing quartz, chlorite, mica and calcite. Slate is a very durable product and is suitable for flooring use for most applications where a hard wearing tile is required. The bottom of slate tiles are machine-honed so it either has a flat surface or a machine-ribbed finish. The top is usually riven in appearance, and slate can be found in a variety of colours.
“Full bodied” or “Through” porcelains contain the colour or pattern all the way through the tile, making them suitable for high-wear environments. Glazed tiles have a sprayed or dipped glaze mixture applied to them which is then fired onto the surface. The glaze contains the colour and design of the tile as well as protecting the tile face from water insurgence and staining.
There are some things that you should think about before beginning your job. Firstly that you are tiling upon a water resistant substrate. Timber, mdf and plaster are all examples of absorbent materials, and these should be made waterproof prior to the start of the project.
Secondly, the tile itself needs to be suitable for the use. If you are tiling on the floor, then the propensity of the tile to become slippery must be considered.
Generally, glazed tiles require no sealer. Some unglazed tile requires no sealer either. If in doubt, test the tile with a small amount of water. If the surface darkens, it is probably absorbing water and needs to be sealed.
The PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating on tiles refers to the wearability of the glaze, and therefore what applications the tiles are suitable for. Low PEI glazes are often high gloss or metallic finishes or high copper content colours. High PEI glazes are very resistant to abrasion, and can be used in many different environments.
PEI 0 – Wall use only – This is not suitable for use on the floor and care should be taken with abrasive cleaning products
PEI 1 – Very light traffic – Bare foot traffic, only – ensuite shower rooms etc
PEI 2 – Light Traffic – Soft soled shoes only – House bathrooms, bedrooms
PEI 3 – Light to Moderate Traffic – Most residential areas apart from entrances.
PEI 4 – Moderate to Heavy Traffic – High residential foot traffic areas including entry ways.
PEI 5 – Heavy Traffic – Suggested for all residential, and most commercial and industrial traffic
Some tiles are suitable for external use, some aren’t. I’d recommend that the tile be frost resistant with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5% before you think about putting them outside. I’d also recommend that the tiles be unglazed, and have some degree of anti-slip profile.
Regular ceramic tiles are produced from red or white clay, fired in a kiln. They are usually finished with a durable glaze which carries the colour or pattern. These tiles can be used on both walls and floors, have relatively high water absorption, and are usually easier to cut and shape. On the floor, non-porcelain ceramics are generally suitable for light to moderate traffic and could not be considered frost resistant.
There are numerous advantages to using ceramics as a surface in your home. Ceramic products are versatile, lasting, beautiful, hygienic and easy to clean.
Sure do. Tiles generally need little maintenance. I’d recommend they be kept clean with warm water, to which a non-abrasive detergent has been added. This cleaning solution should be applied to the tiles, allowed to sit for a little while, and then rinsed thoroughly with clean water. Rinse properly to allow the removal of dirt and other build up from the tiles.
You can indeed. However consideration should be given to cleaning and drying the tiles before fixing on them, that the adhesive is suitable for tiling on tiles, and ensuring that the tiles are securely attached.
Sure. Fitting glass tiles should be just as straightforward as normal ceramics, though you should establish the type of manufacture with the supplier as the method of fixing differs dependent on type. Painted surface glass tiles should be fixed with a silicone based adhesive or an R1 or R2 class epoxy. Fired colour-bonded glass can be fixed with regular flexible tile adhesive, using a solid bed of adhesive, rather than combing through with a notched trowel.
If you’re cutting glass tiles, you should be extremely careful, using all the appropriate safety equipment and suitable tiles. For difficult cuts such as plug or pipe cuts, it may be necessary to have the glass professionally cut.
I can certainly point you in the right direction. There are guides to cutting, fixing, grouting and finishing tiles in our downloadable documents section. Good luck!
The rub is that natural stone is porous and will absorb liquids which can stain the stone and affect the adhesive. We would recommend sealing natural stone with a sealer, following the Manufacturers instructions.
Granite is formed by the solidification of molten rock under the pressure of the earths crust. It is composed of feldspar, quartz, mica and other minerals, making it one of the hardest stones. Granite resists abrasion well, making it ideal for interior or exterior flooring, where it’s frost proof properties are also beneficial. Granite is available in a number of different colours and finishes.
Travertine is a limestone that is formed by minerals dissolving in ground water and then deposited on the earth’s surface by rivers, springs or geysers. It comes in a variety of colours, from light beige through to dark brown and gold. It usually has plenty of holes in the surface. These can either be filled and honed off, or left for a more natural appearance. Polished or honed surfaces are usually very smooth whilst tumbled or unfilled travertine can be quite rough.
Stone that is quarried and removed from the ground. This is extracted before undergoing various processes to make the material suitable for tiling with.