The choice of a tile is a huge concern. As you walk on it every day, several variables must be considered while selecting floor tile. Choosing a sturdy, attractive, and impressive tile for your floor will significantly impact and last a long time.
Porcelain floor tiles demonstrate that they are an excellent and necessary choice for flooring due to their properties and benefits. They have a low water absorption rate, require little care, are long-lasting, stain—and scratch-resistant, and come in a variety of styles.
Different types of porcelain tile have distinct qualities, making it critical to select carefully. You may have read the article covering everything you need to know about porcelain tiles or the different varieties. However, you should learn about each character and how to employ them.
Neelson Ceramic, a renowned porcelain tile manufacturer in India, is ready to answer your questions before you choose the ideal home flooring! So, let's first look at the different types of tiles available for your living space.
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Types of Porcelain Tiles
Matt Finish Porcelain Tiles
Matt Finish porcelain tiles have a matte appearance with a consistent color throughout. It is also known as through-body porcelain. If this tile chips, the color underneath will match the surface, but these tiles are sturdy and resilient!
Matt tiles are fired in the kiln and do not require additional processing or have a glazed coating. Unglazed porcelain tiles are colored from minerals deposited in clay or natural pigment.
Top Characteristics:
- They have smooth or textured surfaces and do not reflect light
- They are more slip-resistant
- Thicker than glazed tiles
- Durable and sturdier to withstand high footfall
- Have a natural and earthy appearance
- They come in a wide range of texture surfaces, increasing slip resistance
Full-Body Porcelain Tiles
Full-body porcelain tiles have homogeneity throughout and a single colour from the surface to the base. They are colored by applying pigment to create patterns across the tile. Thus, they are referred to as full-body tiles.
The body surface color and design are consistent, so it is difficult to see if the tile is chipped or broken.
Top Characteristics:
- Denser and thicker than usual tiles
- Durable and resistant to breaks
- They are UV-resistant
- They can withstand extensive wear and tear
- They have robust strength and are scratch-resistant
Glossy Finish Porcelain Tiles
Glossy Finish porcelain tile is high gloss with a smooth finish. Tiles are continually run through a series of polishing wheels until a soft, shining finish is achieved. Despite this, the process can create microscopic pores in the tiles, causing dust particles to stick to them. If not properly sealed, they will become dirtier over time.
Glossy-finish porcelain tiles look fantastic and match practically any motif or furnishings. Their sole disadvantage is that they are slippery when wet and are not appropriate for bathroom settings. Polished porcelain tiles are less shiny and slippery than glazed porcelain tiles.
Top Characteristics:
- Scratch resistant
- Frost resistance and color don't fade away over a period
- Stain-resistant and easy to clean and maintain
- Durable and sturdier
Glazed Porcelain Tiles
Glazed porcelain tiles are constructed of clay ingredients that are vitrified to produce a glossy finish. The vitrification removes surplus moisture from the tile body, making it extremely water resistant.
High-gloss porcelain tile has a luxurious, fashionable appearance and a reflecting surface that enhances the room. Glazed tiles make the room appear larger, while the shiny surface adds elegance. These tiles offer higher reflectivity than polished tiles. Glazed porcelain tiles are available in various designs, patterns, colors, and sizes. They may be put on walls, floors, and countertops without cracking or staining.
Top Characteristics:
- They are denser and have less strength
- Very low absorption rate
- They are durable and sturdier than ceramic tiles
- Stain and scratch-resistant
- Low maintenance costs
- Highly flexible
Double Charged Porcelain Tiles
Double-charge porcelain tiles, also known as double-loaded porcelain tiles, are created by combining two separate clay layers. The upper layer is the design layer, which contains 3-4 tile thicknesses of about 30%. As a result, they are thicker than ordinary porcelain tiles and more durable, with distinctive designs and patterns.
Double-charge porcelain tiles are created traditionally by mixing color pigment with raw material and pressing it in a hydraulic press machine to print designs on the top layer. The nanomaterial coating provides a homogenous appearance and smooth finish. These tiles give the appearance of natural marble and a rich feel that defines your area.
Top Characteristics:
- Highly durable
- It prevents dirt accumulation and grime on the surface
- Stain and wear resistance as well as anti-bacterial
- Easy to clean and maintain
Digitally Printed Porcelain Tiles
Digitally printed porcelain tiles are a type of glazed porcelain tile. Due to technical advancements, the most recent production method uses digital photography to capture natural material and digitally print the tiles. Porcelain tiles are then glazed, eliminating the need for sealant. To provide and elegant look of marble tile or a nature-inspired wood effect, digitally printed porcelain tile is ideal.
Tile decoration is now more accessible, more exact, faster, more versatile, higher resolution, and more convenient to perform. It requires less waste and residue to remove, making it a popular, hassle-free decor option.
Top Characteristics:
- They have endless design options
- They are the most challenging porcelain tiles
- They are moisture resistant and easy to clean and maintain
- They are resistant to frost and have aesthetic appeal with shiny surface
Textured Stone Look Porcelain Tiles
Stone-look tiles use innovative technology to blend the characteristics of porcelain with the exquisite beauty of stone. The technical characteristics of textured or stone-look porcelain tile make it suited for both residential and commercial settings.
The typical veins and irregular texture of natural stone, combined with the resistant capabilities of porcelain stoneware, communicate a historic look and timeless elegance. Furthermore, it can give an architectural or interior design a modern feel. These tiles come in various matt textures created by pressing materials into molds to create texture effects of stone, concrete, wood, or tin; the possibilities are endless.
Top Characteristics:
- They are resistant to wear and tear and scratches
- They do not absorb water and can be used for the kitchen or outdoor swimming
- They are non-porous
- They are frost-resistant
- They are more hygienic than others.
How to Select the Best Porcelain Tile For Your Living Space?
Check the Tile Grade
The grade of any tile is determined by its PEI rate. When selecting a floor tile, it is essential to consider the PEI rate. PEI is the abbreviation for Porcelain Enamel Institute, which provides a rating based on tile durability.
It can be categorized into five categories. First-class tiles are only acceptable for walls and are not designed for flooring, but second-class tiles can be used in low-traffic areas. The third and fourth classes are only for household use, while the fifth class is for residential and heavy commercial foot traffic. Porcelain floor tile has a fifth-class rating, indicating that it can be used indoors, outdoors, and in high-traffic locations.
Choose the Type of Tile
It is critical to select the correct type of tile for your space. There are primarily two types of porcelain tiles. Both types of tiles are perfect and appropriate for the needs and region.
The first is unglazed tile, which has a modest roughness, rustic appearance, and matte finish surface. It also provides a slip- and stain-resistant finish. The second form of porcelain tile is glazed tile, which is a more acceptable and versatile option. You may digitally print any pattern on the glazed tile, which works well.
Choose the appropriate Size.
Size is usually significant. When selecting a tile, choosing the appropriate size for the specific area while minimizing waste during installation is critical. Porcelain tiles are available in two sizes: 600x600mm and 600x1200mm.
Large tiles offer a sense of space and require very few grout lines, while little tiles provide a more creative effect with more grout lines. The smaller Porcelain tile 60x60 cm suits the kitchen, bathroom, and living room.
Pick the Ideal Finish and Layout
The finish of any tile provides the desired look for your room. Glossy surface tile provides brightness by reflecting light and creating a spacious appearance. The matte coating hides stains and dust easily. Matte floor tile is perfect for the bathroom and kitchen since it is slip—and stain-resistant. Stone-look tiles provide remarkable durability.
The wood-finish tiles range from cherry to bamboo, adding naturality, luxury, and warmth to the environment. They also resist dents, splits, and scratches. The hardwood porcelain tile is appropriate for the living room, kitchen, and foyer.
Choose the Design and Color of the Tile
With today's digital printing and 3D technologies, flooring tiles are accessible in a wide range of options for both indoor and outdoor use. When selecting a tile design and color, you must pay particular attention because they reflect your preferences and individuality.
Porcelain floor tiles come in a variety of designs and textures for both indoor and outdoor use, including Hazira, Corten, and Hamton wood appearance. They are also available in a variety of colors, including gray, brown, light brown, blue, and white.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing the right type of tiles for your living space needs complete research on their characteristics and applications. We hope this article serves the purpose. Moreover, following the above steps while choosing the right type of tiles will help you select the right one according to your requirements. Neelson Ceramics is the top manufacturer of porcelain tiles at the moment. We practice innovation and use state-of-the-art technologies. We use the most innovative designs that give a personal touch to your space and are highly durable. Check out our comprehensive range of extensive format tile options for our most expansive collection.