Class 3: Light to Moderate Traffic: Ceramic tile for residential floor, countertop and wall applications. The most common residential floor tile. The glazing on these tiles is most often very durable, and the strength of the tiles can handle the stress of most traffic areas.
Grade 3. Most tiles that are designated as residential floor tiles are Grade 3. They can stand up to moderate foot traffic and everyday wear and tear, and are acceptable for light commercial applications such as offices or small shops.
Grade 3 Porcelain Tile
Featuring high shade variation and durability, these tiles can stand up to moderate foot traffic and everyday wear-and-tear, making them suitable for kitchens, family rooms, hallways, countertops, outdoor porcelain tile, and even light commercial applications such as offices or small shops.
The different grades of ceramic tiles – Grade 1 are usually placed on walls, grade 2 are usually for homes flooring; grade 3 is for light to moderate foot traffic; grade 4 is usually for commercial use; grade 5 is for heavy foot traffic.
Ceramic tile is graded from 1 to 5, with 5 being the longest wearing tiles. 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.
Class 4: Moderate to Heavy Traffic: Ceramic tile suggested for flooring in residential and commercial heavy traffic areas such as kitchens, offices or stores. Class 5+: Heavy to Extra-Heavy Traffic: Class 5+ is good for exterior areas, shopping centers, airports, hotel lobbies and public walkways.
In most cases, porcelain ceramic tiles are denser and stronger than their non-porcelain counterparts. This is because ceramic tiles are manufactured from clay fired in a kiln. With the exception of terra-cotta, most tiles made from non-porcelain ceramic are finished with a glaze.
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. If the tiles have some curvature or are warped, they won't lie flat. Measure the diagonals of ceramic tiles.
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.
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.
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.
Tiles that are classified as PEI 3 are suited for all residential and light commercial areas such as offices, reception areas, boutiques, interior walls, countertops and residential bathroom floors. They are not however recommended for use in lobbies or entryways in commercial properties.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are some of the hardest and most durable tiles available. These tiles are made from a mixture of clay and other natural materials, which are fired at high temperatures to create a hard, dense, and non-porous surface.
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. Mosaics and decorative wall products also range from 6 to 10mm thick to make combining them easier.
Placing a level tool on top of a few tiles will verify they are all the same height.
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.
The most durable flooring is granite, a natural stone. However, glazed porcelain flooring tiles are a great, low maintenance option too as they don't require annual sealing to upkeep their finish, this often means they are more budget friendly too.
Porcelain tiles
This process makes them dense, less porous and stronger than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles for floors are ideal in high traffic areas as they are resistant to chipping, scratching and stains.
Simply put – glazed ceramics have a smooth, glossy surface that is created by adding a liquid glass to the clay body. Unglazed ceramics (as the name suggests) aren't glazed and instead are often solid or speckled subdued colours with no shine.
It can improve your house's appearance, make your floor more resistant to spills, and even make cleaning easier. When done right, it also increases your home's value!
The weakest grade of ceramic material is grade 1, which is typically non-oriented. Grades 5 and 8 are oriented ceramic material. When making magnetic assemblies with ceramic, it is typically easier to magnetize the product after assembly.
Ceramic tiles are extremely hard. While the hardness of ceramic is considered to be an added value, as it makes them easier to clean and maintain, there is also a downside. The hardness makes it uncomfortable to stand on them, while the kitchen is an area where the user has to stand for a prolonged period.