The top finishing and glazing must be smooth and free of cracks, holes and scratches. You may also scratch the surface of a ceramic tile to ensure it is of good quality. Look out for chipped edges and uneven surfaces. The best way to check the quality of ceramic tiles is to put them on a levelled surface.
Grade 1 tiles are the weakest, with the best application as wall tiles. Grade 2 tiles are best used in areas where there is light traffic, such as residential bathrooms. Grade 3 tiles can withstand slightly heavier traffic, and is the most common choice for residential applications.
Check the slip resistance: If you're using porcelain tile in a bathroom or kitchen, choosing porcelain tiles with a high slip resistance rating is essential to prevent accidents. Porcelain floor tiles with an R rating of 10 are the most slip-resistant.
Grade: Use Grade 1 or 2 tiles for floors. Grade 3 tiles are suitable only for walls. PEI Wear Rating: Use floor tiles with a PEI wear rating of III, IV or IV+. C.O.F.: Use tiles that provide good traction (COF greater than or equal to 0.60).
The lower the water absorption, the better the quality of ceramic tiles. How to look? Drip water to the back of the ceramic tile to see the diffusion area of the water drop. If the diffusion area is small, it means the water absorption is low.
While all ceramic tiles are essentially made of the same ingredients, the quality and color of those ingredients can make a dramatic difference in the price. For example, to make a tile with a pure white body requires white clay, which is much harder to find than the red or beige clay found in most tiles.
1. Lower quality materials: The tiles may be made from lower quality materials, which can affect their durability and longevity. 2. Mass production: The tiles may be produced on a large scale, which can lower the cost per unit.
The toughest porcelain tile available on the market, Grade 5 tiles are used in areas that receive very high foot traffic and are prone to a lot of wear and tear. They are popular for installation in schools, hospitals, grocery stores, and industrial buildings. Grade 5 tiles can hold up to harsh chemicals as well.
Tile Thickness
The vast majority of porcelain tiles are 6mm to 10mm thick and a tile in this range will serve most purposes. Wall tiles typically range from 6 to 10mm thick.
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 7:46 AM. Below grade refers to a room that's below ground, usually basements. They can be damp and humid, so the best floors are either waterproof or hard surfaces, such as any vinyl, porcelain, ceramic tile, or concrete.
Porcelain Tiles
Of all the tile types available, porcelain is the strongest, beating wood and even cement, so it's easy to see why so many households choose it.
Yes, a higher quality tile is usually more expensive. But it could have a high quality appearance, higher quality production standards, or a higher durability rating.
Durability: The density of porcelain tile makes it more durable than ceramic tile while being less subject to wear and tear. This makes it more suitable for commercial use as well as in the home. Water Resistance: Porcelain tile is almost impervious to water compared to ceramic tile.
Because of its finish and through body composition the same may not be visible, but it does happen. However, modern porcelain tiles do not crack easily, it must be a particularly unusual circumstance under which a porcelain tile cracks.
Porcelain tiles are considerably harder to cut than ceramic. This is readily apparent if you ever go to cut them or drill through them. 3. They are denser and you can often tell from just holding a porcelain tile that it feels heavier than a ceramic of identical size.
Cons to consider:
Although porcelain tile is extremely durable, it does occasionally chip, particularly around the edges. This may not be noticeable with through-body composition, but it is a concern. Porcelain tile is typically more expensive than ceramic and other popular flooring materials.
A 2nd grade may be performed from a distance of 10'. That's it. So what this tells you is a tile that is grade standard would be more appropriate for areas that most homeowners are having tiled like their bathroom, backsplash or floor. In some commercial applications a 2nd grade may be perfectly appropriate.
Porcelain tile is our number-1 choice for showers because of its diversity, durability, and water-resistance.
Grade 1 tiles aren't durable enough for flooring; they're more suited for wall applications. Grade 2 tiles are fine for rooms that get light traffic, such as bathroom floors that mostly see bare or stocking feet, but they're generally not strong enough for kitchens and other traffic-heavy areas.