Karen's Carpet and Advance Floors

Ceramic Tile Guide

With a dazzling array of vibrant colors and sleek or textured surfaces, ceramic tile continues to grow in popularity. It has a natural, handcrafted look that's durable and easy to care for, and it works well in areas with high foot traffic--it is especially suited to entry areas where water and dirt enter the house. Ceramic tile is a mixture of clays and minerals that has been shaped, pressed and then fired at extremely high temperatures. The protective glaze that is applied before firing gives the ceramic tile added color and finish and makes it resistant to stains, odors, bacteria and scratches. A completely natural product, ceramic tile is a beautiful flooring option that can last a lifetime.

How to choose

When choosing a floor tile, it's important that you select one that's rated for the area where you plan to install it. Tile is rated by a series of standardized tests that evaluate its relative hardness and its ability to stand up to wear and the percentage of water absorbed. You flooring professional will guide you to the right product for your needs.

There are generally three types of residential ceramic tile - floor tile, wall tile and porcelain tile.

Floor tile: Floor tiles are specifically created to withstand the abuse most floors have to endure. Strong, durable and available in a wide range of sizes, floor tiles are generally more expensive than wall tile.

Wall tile: Increasingly, wall tiles are being made to coordinate with floor tiles for a more European style bathroom where the tile goes to the ceiling. They are not recommended for use on the floor.

Porcelain tile: Made to be extremely moisture resistant, porcelain tile is the strongest tile available and can even be used outdoors in most parts of the country. While less expensive options are available for most installations, porcelain lends a level of beauty, quality and performance that can't be beat.

More than you need to know

The Porcelain Enamel Institute ratings for hardness are:
* Group I/Light Traffic: Residential bathroom floors where bare or stocking feet are the norm;
* Group II/Medium Traffic: Home interiors where little abrasion occurs (not for kitchens or entryways);
* Group III/Medium-Heavy Traffic: Any home interior;
* Group IV/Heavy Traffic: Homes or light to medium commercial areas; and
* Group V/Extra-heavy Traffic: Use it anywhere.

Glazed: Color is added to the tile after firing. The glasslike surface is bonded to the tile. Glazing allows brighter colors to be used and adds stain resistance. Because of their slick, glassy surface, glazed tiles are used mostly on walls or countertops. Glazed tile offers more color choices than unglazed.

Ironically, today's trend toward natural looks in ceramic tile have resulted in low gloss levels and even some tiles that look unglazed when they are in fact glazed.

Unglazed (also called quarry tiles): The pigment or natural color is present during firing and is part of the tile itself. If considering unglazed tile, ask about sealing for stain resistance.

Installation tips

* Draw a floor plan of the room, including all the details and information that could have any bearing on the project, including doors, cabinets, toilet and electricity supplies.
* Whether you install tile over a slab, plywood subfloor or directly over an existing floor, make sure the surface has been cleaned.
* When mixing the thinset, it must be thick enough to stand up when spread with a notched trowel, but not so thick that it's difficult to spread.
* Be certain all of your tiles are in good condition before starting the installation.
* A sponge is the ceramic-tile flooring installer's best friend. Always keep one, as well as a bucket of water, close by. Use sponges to wash cement products frequently and to clean tile or grouts throughout the installation.
* When using a grout float to apply the grout, force it down the joints and remove any excess with a sponge. Make sure that you use the grout float diagonally, or you will remove grout from the joints. Wash the tiles with a sponge to make sure there's not grout on them. This can be tricky, because if you start washing off the tiles too soon, you might wash down the joints at the same time. And if you wait too long, you'll have a hard time cleaning the tiles. However, if your environment is hot and dry, the grout should set quickly.

Care and maintenance

If your ceramic tile has been glazed, it will be much easier to keep clean. Vacuum regularly, and occasionally damp mop with plain water to remove soil. Occasionally, for heavier soil, use a mild detergent solution, rinse well and wipe dry for more shine. Clean unglazed tile in a similar manner, with a dampened mop or sponge with a solution of water and soap-less detergent.

Did you know?

* Floor patterns can be used to create a visual illusion or direct the eye to specific focal points.
* A strong directional pattern tends to make a room appear longer, while a crosswise pattern will make it look narrower.
* For a highly dramatic look, two contrasting tile colors can be alternated in a checkerboard motif.
* In a room with tile on both the walls and floor, laying floor tile in a diagonal pattern can help unify two rooms or divide one large one into discrete areas.

Sizewise

Ceramic comes in various sizes from the smaller more traditional American 4x4 to the larger and more dramatic European look. Of course, you can create a lot of visual interest with the same tile collection just by varying the sizes used and the layout.

Pattern is another way that ceramic tile helps make a powerful design statement. And because eacah floor is custom designed for your space, borders, listellos, specialty pieces all fit in to create drama and beauty unique to ceramic.

For what I think is perhaps the best pattern library on the Internet, follow this link to Florida Tile. http://www.floridatile.com/NewPatternLibrary/Pattern.htm

You'll find that mixing colors and sizes gives you virtually unlimited design flexibility.

SPECIALTY ITEMS

Listellos - These are often specialty pieces that really give a room style and fashion. While they can get expensive, a border or trim between and around different patterns can add a dramatic look. This also allows for the greatest level of design personalization. Some of these pieces are hand-crafted tiles featuring printed designs, or crafted in metals, or simply stone and color variations that stand out and are sure to get plenty of attention.
Grout color and treatments - Grout can stain and so today's manufacturers have developed new grouts that not only resist stains but add a touch of color. Offered in a wide range of colors, these colored grouts can be a dramatic counterpoint to your already dramatic ceramic tile floor.
Floor Vents - With central air and heating systems that come up through the floor, no flooring job is complete without floor vents and registers. While these specialty products can be somewhat expensive, the look of a fully finished floor can be quite dramatic.
Transitions and moldings - These are the pieces that bridge one type of flooring to another. Available in virtually every flooring style you can think of, transitions and moldings put a finishing touch on your floor.