Flooring Products – Tile

Introduction

Tile is now mostly made of porcelain which is dense and water resistant perfect for wet areas such as bathrooms, front entrances and kitchens. No need to feel the cold with in floor heating which will even cut down on the need to crank the thermostat on those cold winter nights. Colours and textures are varied with rustic wood trends, cement finishes and grey tones still quite popular. Large format tiles are now most in fashion.

Porcelain

Porcelain tile is effectively ceramic tile. It is just made of a more refined material. The only difference between porcelain tile and regular ceramic tile is that the clay used in porcelain tile is more highly refined and purified. Consequently, porcelain tiles are denser than a standard ceramic tile. As well, porcelain’s absorption rate is far less than ceramic making porcelain tile acceptable for exterior applications.

Natural Stone

Every project should start with questions that should be asked to ensure the right stone is used for your specific needs. Is it an exterior or interior application? Is it for vertical or horizontal surfaces? Will it be exposed to freeze/thaw cycles or any wet conditions?

Natural stone is available in different finishes such as “polished”, “honed”, “sandblasted” or it can be left in its natural state. Each stone and finish has its unique quality and not all finishes should be used in all applications. Practicality should be first and foremost when selecting natural stones as all stone is not equal. Stone has been used as building materials both indoor and outdoors for centuries so it’s a decision for a lifetime.

Limestone
Suitable for wet climates when treated with sealers. It is long lasting and stands up well to exposure and has a high resistance in freezing and thawing conditions. It has a very high compressive strength compared to other stones and can therefore carry a substantial load and limestone also offers a non-slippery surface.

Marble
Comes in a variety of colours and is used mostly as decorative stone for interior applications. It is highly absorbent and porous and therefore stains and scratches quite easily. It’s not recommended for areas such as kitchens or dining rooms. Sealing the stone is highly recommended.

Quartzite
Very similar to granite in its advantages. It is quite resistant to abrasion and has low water absorption.

Slate
Has a natural cleft face making it an excellent flooring material due to the slip resistance. It is very porous and therefore needs to be sealed. Due to the technical aspect of slate it is normal to find broken pieces in the box. It is therefore suggested the quantity ordered should be increased by 10-20% to ensure a sufficient amount of material. It is also suggested to mix tiles from different boxes therefore giving the floor a more balanced look.

Sandstone
Is fast cleaning and fast drying with slip resistant qualities, which makes it a very popular product for around pools. It can be used in light to medium commercial traffic areas and depending on the particular stone can also be installed outdoors.

Travertine
Is dense and durable making it suitable in adverse environmental and climatic conditions. The great variety of colours and patterns allow for a wide spectrum of design options.