Ceramic is a man-made product and is generally homogeneous in construction. In other words, each and every tile has the identical composition and therefore has predictable qualities. Ceramic tiles are generally known to be slightly porous with a very low absorbency and it is of light weight and relatively thin. The backside of a ceramic tile is cast with many different corrugation designed to provide the proper bonding of the tile to the setting bed. Ceramic tile is generally resistant to acids.
CLASSIFICATION OF CERAMIC TILES
Some of the categories that should be taken into consideration are shapes and dimensions, which classify the tile by type.
· Tile can be classified in relation to slipperiness, which is important in flooring.
· It can be classified by grade, thickness, warp age, etc.
· It can be classified in to two categories, such as, standard grade and second (lesser) grade ceramic tile.
· Glazed Tile - Most of the common ceramic floor tiles have either a glazed or unglazed surface. The glazed tiles have a special ceramic coating that is applied to the body of the tile and then fired under tremendous heat. The glazing becomes hard and non-porous resulting in flooring that is:
o Stain Resistant,
o Scratch Resistant,
o Fire Resistant,
o Doesn’t Fade from Sun Light
Important points to be considered in selecting ceramic tiles
· slip-resistance,
· The size and color of the grout joints,
· The thickness of the tile,
· Height variations from room to room, size of the tile,
· Suitability of the sub floor,
· Easy to clean.
· Water absorption is important for choosing tile that will be used in wet areas or in areas that are subject to freezing
· Ceramic tiles with bright reflective surfaces (bright glaze finish) are not recommended for floors as they can pose a slip hazard and have poor abrasive resistance.