CARPET
HARDWOOD
CERAMIC TILE
LAMINATE
VINYL
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile offers timeless beauty, extraordinary durability and unlimited design possibilities. If you have never considered ceramic tile before, you will be amazed at the variety of colors, patterns, sizes, shapes, and textures available for you to select from.
At FLOOR CENTER, we offer a wide selection of quality ceramic tiles and porcelain ceramic floor tile from around the world. Stop in any of our Twin Cities area stores and select from hundreds of tile styles, colors and shapes.
And, with every sale we offer expert installation
Glazed Ceramic & Porcelain Tile
Tile terminology can be confusing. Tiles can be split up into two groups, porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles (otherwise referred to as Ceramic Tiles).
Ceramic tile or non-porcelain tiles are generally made from red or white clay fired in a kiln. They are almost always finished with a durable glaze, which supplies the color and pattern. These tiles are used in both wall tile and floor tile applications, are softer and easier to cut than porcelain tiles, and are usually suitable for very light to moderate traffic. They are less frost resistant than porcelain and they are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles.
Porcelain tile is more scratch resistant than ceramic tile. Porcelain is made from fine, more dense clay, which results in a harder body. Also, porcelain tile is fired at higher temperatures than ceramic, resulting in superior durability and stain resistance. Porcelain tiles are frost-resistant or frost proof and are suitable for any application from light traffic to commercial traffic. They are virtually impervious to wear and available in matte, unglazed or high-polished finish.
Some characteristics of glazed ceramic tile are:
- Durable - a properly installed ceramic tile will outperform and outlast nearly any other floor covering product created for the same application.
- Easy care - glazed ceramic tile resists stains, odors, and dirt and can be cleaned up with a damp mop or sponge or common household cleaners such as Mr. Clean, Top Job or Spic and Span.
- Scratch resistant - Grade III and Grade IV glazed ceramic tiles are extremely resistant to scratching and you never have to worry about a cut or tear like you do with some other types of floors.
- Environmentally friendly - ceramic tile is manufactured using natural materials and does not retain odors, allergens, or bacteria.
- Beautiful and versatile - modern ceramic manufacturing technology has created virtually an unlimited number of colors, sizes, styles, shapes, and textures that will add rich beauty and character to any room decor.
- Fire resistant - ceramic tile doesn't burn nor emit toxic fumes. A lighted cigarette, when dropped on the floor, even if allowed to sit, will not do any damage to ceramic tile. Even hot kitchen pans or skillets will not scorch or melt the surface of glazed ceramic tile.
- Water resistant - most glazed ceramic tile has a dense body that permits little or no accumulation of moisture. This means spills from common liquids found in a kitchen are not a big concern.
Marble – Marble is a natural product and is not made in a factory. For this reason no two pieces of marble look the same and the veining is a natural characteristic in all marble. There are special marble sealants to help protect from staining of the face. Extra care should be used when cleaning and all abrasives and acidic cleaners should never be used when cleaning. Even colas, some juices, and possibly ammonia may destroy the marble finish.
Granite – This is another natural stone and is not manufactured in a factory. Granite can be used indoors or outdoors and is less porous than marble. It is still recommended that you use a sealant to protect the finish from staining.
Grout – Grout is a mixture of cement and a color additive. For tile floors with wider spaces between each tile sand is added to the grout. Also, a liquid latex additive can be added to the grout to give better resiliency to the grouted areas. For ease of maintenance a penetrating sealant should be used on the grout. It should be noted you may see a change in color of your grout over time.
Some of the other important things we can help with when selecting a tile floor is the slip-resistance, the size and color of the grout joints, the thickness of the tile, height variations from room to room, size of the tile, suitability of the subfloor, and cleaning of the tile.
