How to Identify Different Types of Tile and Stone Flooring
Today’s market offers an astonishing array of flooring materials and absolutely none of them are self-cleaning. Because of that, every hard surface requires some degree of maintenance and – eventually – restoration. Maintaining hard surfaces isn’t always a simple solution, though. Different surfaces carry different characteristics, such as strength or high porosity. Identifying flooring materials is a critical part of designing a successful maintenance plan. It can affect everything from the chemicals and tools used to the frequency of maintenance and even whether protective surface coatings are appropriate.Get more news about
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Although it may be easy to recognize an epoxy floor or vinyl composition tile, distinguishing between different tile types can be a bit trickier. Here are some traits to look for.
Ceramic tile is either porcelain or non-porcelain. It is the addition of feldspar, a type of crystal found in rock that makes ceramic tile porcelain. Non-porcelain tile can be produced from a variety of clays, and variations in the manufacturing process produce a wide assortment of ceramic tile colors and textures.
When it comes to facility floors and walls, ceramic tile is the most common. It is typically used in high moisture environments like restrooms, locker rooms and pool areas. Although ceramic tile is usually sealed, the accompanying grout lines must also be sealed to prevent the absorption of foul liquids and the breeding of bacteria and odors.Porcelain is made from special clays and fired at an extremely high temperature. Although more costly than regular ceramic tile, its strength and density are often worth the price.
As Buildipedia states, “Porcelain ceramic flooring is more expensive than non-porcelain and can be harder to work with. However, it offers greater durability, natural stain resistance, minimal water absorption, and through-bodied color.”
Although porcelain is sometimes a lighter color than plain ceramic tile, dyes can make this difficult to judge. A porcelain tile should feel denser than a similar ceramic one and have consistent color throughout the tile. A water penetration test is the best way to tell the difference. If a tile soaked in water absorbs five percent or less of the water, it is most likely porcelain.Commonly found in foodservice prep areas, quarry tile is made from clay and fired at extremely high temperatures. It gains its signature dark red look from minerals in the clay, but other colors can be produced through the addition of pigments or specific clays.
Quarry tile is typically unglazed and without any patterns. Brick pavers are similar to quarry tile but have a rougher texture and are often cut to mimic bricks. Although quarry tile and brick pavers are not suited for floor coatings, it is critical to seal the grout lines in these types of flooring materials.
