Man Made Tiles

      Ceramic Tile is made from clay mixed with water and minerals such as shale, gypsum, and sand. Ceramic tile can be glazed (a glass coating and color is added to the tile after being fired in an oven called a kiln) or unglazed (no coating is added and the natural pigment or color is present during firing). Ceramic tiles are suitable for all types of interior uses but is best suitable for the kitchen area due to the fact that it resists stains, odors, dirt, does not absorb moisture such as spills, and can be easily cleaned with a mop if used as floor or sponge if used as countertops. Ceramic tiles are not suitable for exterior uses in climates which dip below freezing.

      Porcelain Tile is a form of ceramic tile and manufactured to resemble many natural materials such as marble. The only difference between porcelain and ceramic is that porcelain does not have a clay body. Porcelain is more dense, durable, and stain resistant. It is know for its high friction and scratch resistant qualities. Porcelain is therefore considered to be great floor covering especially in high traffic areas. Porcelain can be used in interior and exterior applications even when temperatures dip below freezing.

      Saltillo Tile is air dried outdoors in the sun, rather than kiln dried. This air drying process makes this tile a little softer and less durable. It is highly porous and absorbs liquid easily. Saltillo also stains and scuffs if not properly sealed. The exposure to the elements is what gives this tile its unique look. It varies in color and shape but the majority of its hues are in reds, oranges, and yellows. Saltillo is unsuitable for outdoors in freeze and thaw climates but popular in warmer climates.

      Terra Cotta Tile uses the same material and has the same appearance as clay garden pots. Terra Cotta tiles, often also called Saltillo tiles, may be either hand crafted or machine made and provide a unique old world look. Terra Cotta tiles are absorbent and need to be sealed for indoor usage. Terra Cotta colors are usually hues between oranges
and browns.

      Terrazzo Tile is categorized as man made tile even though it consists of natural stone chips such as marble, granite, or quartz, mixed in a cement binder and embedded in cement to make up a terrazzo floor. Terrazzo is one of the toughest products available. Once sealed, it is impervious to water and stain damage and can be used on interior or exterior areas. You may see this tile in malls because it is very cost effective and suitable
for large areas.

      Talavera Tiles are ornately patterned, hand painted, spanish and mexican clay tiles. These tiles were named after Talavera, the spanish city they originated from. Traditional colors used are primary colors of red, yellow, green, and dark blue.
      Encaustic Tiles are inlaid tiles making up patterns or designs. They are ceramic and available as glazed and unglazed. Their look is the product of different colors of clay and are mostly composed of two colors but some may have as many as six colors.

      Mosaic Tiles, like Encaustic tiles, are used for designs and patterns. They are generally available is sizes of two inches or smaller. You can create beautiful images
out of many different individually colored pieces, or you can purchase them pre-mounted for easy installation on sheets, mesh, or paper.

      Glass Tiles are highly resistant to chemical and climate influences. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and can be frosted or iridescent. Glass tiles are very slippery when wet and there are textured glass tiles made for areas such as bathrooms floors or swimming pools. Glass tiles allow you to harness the beauty of color and light in ways other products cannot.

      Metal Tiles come as real metal such as aluminum and steel or as an epoxy resin made to resemble real metal. The epoxy resin tiles come in several finishes such as bronze, copper, and iron, amongst others. Metal tiles are a great design option to compliment other metals such as appliances, light fixtures, cabinet fixtures, plumbing, etc.

      Mirror Tiles are almost entirely used for aesthetics rather than for practicality. Small mirror tiles are often used to create mosaics, while larger mirror tiles can be used in small kitchens and bathrooms to reflect light and give the appearance or more space. Mirror tiles are heat resistant and are also commonly used behind stoves as a back splash or around a fireplace.

      Brick Tile is a popular choice for outdoor areas such as patios and walkways. Brick also works well for rooms where you want a more rustic feel. The appearance of a brick tile can look like a regular brick or it can have a pattern etched into it.

      Tile Pavers have an appearance similar to brick but are shale based and are popular for patios, barbeque pits, and some indoor areas. Pavers come in a limited selection of colors.

      Cement Tile often refers to hand made, multi color, pattern tiles used primarily as floor coverings. Cement tiles are used all over the world, namely in Europe, and their vibrant colors and designs provide and attractive renaissance appearance to the floors.

                          Natural Stone Tile

       Marble is essentially a limestone that has been subjected to pressure deep beneath the earths surface, resulting in a hard structure of crystals with pronounced veins. The amount of pressure determines if the marble will be hard and vitreous or soft and absorbent. Marbles that are porous are difficult to keep clean unless they are wall sealed. Tumbled marble has a rough, pitted appearance and needs to be sealed after installation. Marble provides an elegant, timeless appearance and is suitable for interior walls, low to moderate traffic floors. Unpolished Marble is recommended for high traffic areas.

      Slate is a fine grained rock with traces of metal that were present during its slow, natural formation in the earth. Slate may naturally flake after installation and must be sealed with a penetrating sealer. Slate has a rough, rustic, unpolished appearance except for honed slate which is cut and sanded smooth. Slate is suitable for indoor installations only.

      Flagstone is a sandstone which makes the rock essentially quartz. It is a sedimentary rock. The material that binds Flagstone is usually composed of silica, calcium, or iron oxide. The color of the rock usually comes from the binding material. For example, Pennsylvania Bluestone contains feldspar which gives it the blue tone. Typical colors of Flagstone are red, blue, buff, and some exotic colors. Flagstone is a flat stone usually used as paving slabs for walkways, patios, fireplaces, etc.

      Granite is actually a stone that is from the earths crust. It is igneous rock composed of feldspar, quartz, mica, and other minerals. Granite is stronger, harder, and more durable than marble. It is one of the toughest natural stones. Granite tends to be speckled or mottled. It needs to be sealed after installation but is suitable for interior and exterior walls and high traffic areas such as floors, countertops, fireplaces, etc.

      Travertine is a sedimentary stone quarried in France and only a few other places. The Roman Empire was built in large part with Travertine stones. Travertine is a banded compact variety of limestone which is formed along streams particularly where there are waterfalls and around hot or cold springs. Minerals mixed with limestone lead to Travertine's unique color and veins. Travertine is rare and expensive. It is also porous and difficult to keep clean unless well sealed. Tufa is a porous variety of Travertine found near waterfalls.

      Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite, a variable amounts of silica in the form of chert and or flint, and varying amounts of clay, silt, and sand. Limestone is an important stone for masonry and architecture as it is the key ingredient of quicklime, mortar, cement, and concrete. Limestone exhibits different colors due to its impurities such as clay, sand, iron oxide, etc.

      Agglomerate stone is made from natural stone particles, dust, and synthetic polymers such as an epoxy resin to provide durability. The Agglomerate stone mixture is molded, allowed to harden, and polished to a high gloss. Agglomerate stone is not as strong as Granite or Marble but is less expensive.