Ceramic Tile – A Versatile Low Maintenance Flooring Solution

Ceramic tile retains very little dirt and can be kept clean with water and a damp mop or cloth, making it a very low maintenance flooring solution. Since it is naturally fireproof, it can help to maintain a structure in case of a fire. These features make ceramic tile a popular flooring material. This video shows you some of the possibilities for ceramic tile designs and patterns for your home:

Ceramic tile is made from clay that is baked at very high temperatures, yielding a very hard and attractive surface. Some types are left untreated to create a more natural, rustic look, while others are glazed with a liquid glass layer. In the past, the manufacturing process used to require several days of baking the clay in a kiln to produce tile durable enough to use for flooring. Today, individual tiles are fired and glazed simultaneously in a process called monocottura which has reduced the production time to a matter of hours. This process also yields a denser and more durable tile with a flat back that makes installation easier. In another process called bicottura, the clay is fired a first time and then a second time adding glaze to the ceramic layer. This type of tile may be fired several times and is generally less durable than tile produced by the monocottura process. Bicottura tiles are more suitable for indoor uses as wall tiles and backsplashes.

When choosing ceramic tile for your home, your considerations will be same as with other types of flooring such as hardness and resistance to abrasion, impact and slipping. Keep in mind that the type of tile you choose will need to stand up to the conditions in your proposed location.

The natural make-up and texture of ceramic tile make it an excellent selection not only for practical use but also for aesthetic effect. Overall, choosing ceramic tile flooring is a very balanced choice.