Use and Care Guide

Ceramic tile is a popular choice of ﬂooring due to their aesthetic appeal, as well as their dura-

bility and easy care. A properly installed ceramic tile ﬂoor will outperform and outlast nearly

any other ﬂoor covering product created for the same application. Glazed ceramic tile resists

stains, odors and dirt, and can be cleaned with a damp mop or common household cleaners.

Grade III and Grade IV glazed ceramic tile are extremely scratch resistant.

CERAMIC BASICS:

1. Ceramic tile is made from a combination of clays, polymers, and ﬁne powders such

as sand and feldspar.

2. All ceramic tile is ﬁred in a kiln at a speciﬁc time and temperature. Changes in kiln

time and temperature can affect the stability, strength and appearance of the tile.

3. Ceramic has either a red body or a white body which is determined by the type of

clay used as well as the combination of materials used and has no bearing on the quality

of the tile.

4. Once the tile is ﬁred, the edges will either stay pressed “non-rectiﬁed” or they will be

“rectiﬁed” by cutting or grinding the perimeter of the tile at a 90-degree angle.

5. The body of a ceramic has a >.5% water absorption rate.

CERAMIC

Porcelain is a type of ceramic tile with some distinct qualities. The term Porcelain refers to a

compact, dry (or dust-pressed) tile produced with high quality raw materials and specialized

production techniques. Porcelain tile are denser and pressed under higher pressure so the

body is typically stronger than traditional ceramic and is ﬁred at higher temperatures for

longer periods of time than regular ceramic. The resulting tile has a denser body with lower

porosity, which give certain advantages.

PORCELAIN BASICS:

1. Porcelain is a type of ceramic with a much more reﬁned body, and is dry pressed.

2. All porcelain tile are ﬁred in a kiln just like ceramics but are ﬁred under higher heat

for longer periods of time and under pressure, which adds to the density of the body.

3. The body of a porcelain has a <.5% water absorption rate.

4. It is not possible to tell the difference between a glazed porcelain and glazed ceram-

ic by looking at the tile’s surface.

5. Once the tile is ﬁred, the edge detail will either remain pressed “non-rectiﬁed” or will

be “rectiﬁed” by cutting or grinding around the perimeter to a 90-degree angle.

6. There are various types of porcelain tile:

a. Glazed

b. Through Body

c. Double Loaded

porcelain

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