Ceramic tile has been used for centuries and offers consumers more options in color, texture, pattern and overall beauty than most other floor covering materials. With new manufacturing techniques today's ceramic tile designs are virtually indistinguishable from natural marbles, travertines, slates and other stone products. Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles are great choices for bathrooms, kitchens, foyers, sun rooms and great rooms.  The tiles are permanently sealed, making them virtually maintenance free.  An occasional cleaning is all that is required.

With ceramic and porcelain tiles, you can let your imagination go free and express your unique and personal decorating tastes. Our tiles choices include all the latest tile fashion trends in colors, sizes and designs including decorative insets and borders. Here are some types of tile.

Wall Tile
Ceramic wall tiles are normally less durable than tile designed specifically for flooring. Most wall tile is glazed with a semi-gloss or matte surface. The glazed surface has a very low slip resistance and becomes slippery when wet. Therefore, glazed wall tile is much more suited for wall or countertop applications rather than floors.

Glazed Ceramic Tile
Glazed Ceramic Tile is comprised of two basic elements, clay and water. Various clays are mined, ground and blended to a fine powder, and pressed together to form the body of the tile. The pressed clay body is then dried to reduce the moisture content. Next, the surface of the tile is coated with a colored glaze (similar to glass). The glaze is then permanently fused to the surface of the tile by firing it in kilns at approximately 2000° Fahrenheit, to form the finished product.

Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is made from a blend of fine-grain clays and other minerals to produce a very dense body, which makes it highly resistant to moisture, staining and wear. Because of these features, porcelain tile will withstand years of heavy foot traffic in both interior and exterior applications while maintaining its color and beauty.  Most porcelain tiles may be used outdoors, so they are great for porches.  Some (but not all) porcelains will keep the same color throughout the tile.  These tiles, called ColorBody tiles, will show the same color as the top in the unlikely event one is chipped.

Browse our tile showroom on-line below.

Source:  Mohawk Industries.  www.mohawkflooring.com