If you want to make your kitchen or bathroom stand out, you can do it with tiles. Since they first surfaced during the Roman times, tiles have decorated millions of locations and they remain one of the most favorite design materials owing to their beauty and affordability. There are three distinct types of tiles, namely, ceramic, quarry and stone. How are they different? Let us look at them one by one.
Ceramic tile is not as expensive as the other types of tiles and can quickly make any home beautiful since it comes in countless shapes and colors. It is made primarily of clay, but other items may be added to augment the look and feel of the tile like sand, feldspar and quartz. After the desired ingredients are mixed, they are formed into a material known as bisque. The bisque is shaped into tiles and is heated up to 2500F. As a rule, the higher the temperature, the stronger the tile is. Because they are porous, ceramic tiles are glazed and heated again to make the glaze harder. In other cases, the glaze is applied before the bisque is heated initially.
In the past, quarry tiles were taken from quarries where they were cut away, ground, and polished. Current manufacturers make use of the extrusion method for creating clay tiles that are as durable as natural stone. Since quarry tiles possess a rough surface, they are a natural choice for floors that need excellent traction. Conversely, this kind of tile does not function well for kitchen counter tops because it is quite porous. Even though sealing the quarry tiles may make them less porous, they are not recommended for food preparation surfaces.
Stone tiles are often made from granite, which is popular in kitchen design. Although it looks great, granite has its downside. This type of tile cracks easily and is porous, so it must be sealed and polished regularly. Another disadvantage is that granite and marble scratch easily and cannot withstand high temperatures produced from hot kitchen pots and pans.
Even though ceramic tiles may seem superior to stone tiles when their advantages and disadvantages are compared, natural stone contains colors and textures that cannot be recreated by ceramic tiles. This makes the way for fancy design ideas for your home. So even though they may have certain disadvantages, stone tiles remain popular.
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