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What You Should Know About Buying Ceramic
Tile
All tiles are not created equal. The material a tile is made
of and the way it was made determine its cost, durability,
and water resistance, as well as the way it's maintained.
Is It Ceramic?
To be ceramic, a tile must be made from clay or other nonmetallic
minerals and fired, or baked, above red heat - at least 1800
degrees Fahrenheit. By this criteria, terra-cotta, stone,
and cement-bodied tiles are not really ceramic. We've included
them here with "true" ceramics because they're often sold
in the same places and they're installed in essentially the
same way.
What To Look For
Cost: Tiles can cost less than
$2 to more than $100 per square foot. Terra-cotta, glazed,
and quarry tiles are often at the low end of the range. Stone,
specialty, and antique tiles are usually at the high end.
Durability: Abrasion-resistance
is rated on a scale that specifies where the tile can be used.
Breaking strength must be at least 250 pounds.
Water Absorption: Tiles are
rated nonvitreous (absorbs 7 percent or more water), semi-vitreous
(absorbs 3 to 7 percent), or impervious (absorbs 0.5 to 3
percent).
Tile Characteristics
| |
Cost |
Durability |
Water
Absorption |
Maintenace |
| Glazed |
Low
to high |
Low
to high |
Medium |
Low |
| Porcelain |
Medium
to High |
High |
Low |
Low |
| Quarry |
Low
to medium |
High |
Medium |
Low |
| Terra-cotta |
Low
to medium |
Low |
Medium
to high |
High |
| Stone |
Low
to high |
High |
Low
to high |
Medium
to high |
| Cement-bodied |
Low |
High |
Low |
Low
to medium |
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