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Floor Tiles
Glazed floor tiles
Though they’re also called "pavers," the important thing to remember about floor tiles termed "ceramic" or "glazed" is that they’re made of high-fired, dust-pressed clay that becomes vitreous or semivitreous. Unlike the extrusion grooves on a quarry tile, raised dots or grids appear on the backs of these.
Of course, there are glazed tiles for walls as well as floors, but floor tiles generally have much tougher glazes. These tiles are often rated for durability: for a heavy-traffic area, choose a tile with an Abrasive Wear Index rating of 3 or higher and a Mohs hardness rating of 7 or 8.
Typical sizes are 8 by 8 and 12 by 12 inches. Nominal thickness is about 5/16 inch.
Some glazed floor tiles have textured or matte surfaces for better traction and longer wear. They’re also increasingly available in stonelike textures and finishes built up from multilayer glazes, some looking remarkably like the real thing. Special nonslip tiles have abrasive additives in their glazes. Still, some experts say, "If it’s glazed, don’t use it in wet areas."
Terra-cotta
Translated from the Italian, terra-cotta means "cooked earth." But whether you see terra-cotta in antique French folk tile, hand-formed Mexican slabs, or rustic Italian or Portuguese wares, the charm of this material lies in its very lack of consistency. Unless tiles have been whitewashed or stained, the surface color goes all the way through the clay. Terra-cotta tiles come as squares, rectangles, hexagons, and octagons, as well as in Moorish, ogee, and other interlocking shapes.
Terra-cotta tiles are nonvitreous and highly absorbent, and so are questionable for outdoor use in freezing climates. They also need to be sealed for protection against surface water and stains. Some quarry tiles mimic the look of terra-cotta (though without its quirky charm) and can substitute for it in high-traffic or wet areas.
Saltillo tiles (named for the area in Mexico where they are made) are especially popular in the Southwest and West, where their rugged, earth-toned honesty seems culturally at home. Here, the clay is hand-packed into wooden or metal frames, set in the sun to dry, then given a low-temperature firing. Lime holes or "pops," dinged corners, variations in size and thickness, color differences from firing -- all these variables lend a homey individuality to their look. So-called "super saltillos" have rounded edges that help reduce chipping.
Though they’re also called "pavers," the important thing to remember about floor tiles termed "ceramic" or "glazed" is that they’re made of high-fired, dust-pressed clay that becomes vitreous or semivitreous. Unlike the extrusion grooves on a quarry tile, raised dots or grids appear on the backs of these.
Of course, there are glazed tiles for walls as well as floors, but floor tiles generally have much tougher glazes. These tiles are often rated for durability: for a heavy-traffic area, choose a tile with an Abrasive Wear Index rating of 3 or higher and a Mohs hardness rating of 7 or 8.
Typical sizes are 8 by 8 and 12 by 12 inches. Nominal thickness is about 5/16 inch.
Some glazed floor tiles have textured or matte surfaces for better traction and longer wear. They’re also increasingly available in stonelike textures and finishes built up from multilayer glazes, some looking remarkably like the real thing. Special nonslip tiles have abrasive additives in their glazes. Still, some experts say, "If it’s glazed, don’t use it in wet areas."
Terra-cotta
Translated from the Italian, terra-cotta means "cooked earth." But whether you see terra-cotta in antique French folk tile, hand-formed Mexican slabs, or rustic Italian or Portuguese wares, the charm of this material lies in its very lack of consistency. Unless tiles have been whitewashed or stained, the surface color goes all the way through the clay. Terra-cotta tiles come as squares, rectangles, hexagons, and octagons, as well as in Moorish, ogee, and other interlocking shapes.
Terra-cotta tiles are nonvitreous and highly absorbent, and so are questionable for outdoor use in freezing climates. They also need to be sealed for protection against surface water and stains. Some quarry tiles mimic the look of terra-cotta (though without its quirky charm) and can substitute for it in high-traffic or wet areas.
Saltillo tiles (named for the area in Mexico where they are made) are especially popular in the Southwest and West, where their rugged, earth-toned honesty seems culturally at home. Here, the clay is hand-packed into wooden or metal frames, set in the sun to dry, then given a low-temperature firing. Lime holes or "pops," dinged corners, variations in size and thickness, color differences from firing -- all these variables lend a homey individuality to their look. So-called "super saltillos" have rounded edges that help reduce chipping.
