Wednesday, November 18, 2015

What Consumers Should Know About Ceramic Tile

By Mattie Knight


Choosing the right construction material for any home improvement project is challenging. Tile is suitable for a variety of projects. If you live in San Francisco, CA and you are installing a new floor, shower, or countertop, ceramic tile offers multiple benefits when it comes to installation, durability, and maintenance.

Ceramic is made with water, minerals and clay. The mixture is then fired at high temperatures. Glazing involves treating the fired tile with a liquid glass solution and exposing it to high temperatures a second time. This creates a surface that is resistant to stains and scratches.

Ceramic is an easy material to maintain, making it a good option for households with pets and small children. It is less expensive than marble, granite, and other natural stone materials. It is also lightweight enough to use on a second story. Weight is often an issue in older buildings. Kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, entryways, and other high traffic areas are good places to use ceramic floor tiles.

Ceramic is resistant to water but grout lines can cause problems when used in the kitchen or bathroom because the material is porous. You should wipe up any liquid that can cause staining immediately to avoid grout discoloration. One way to reduce problems with mildew or mold growing on the grout is to use small tiles and thin grout lines.

When you buy materials for your project, you should always purchase more tiles than you actually need. This will come in handy in the future if you ever need to replace cracked, chipped, or broken tiles. You can easily replace a single tile saving the expense of installing a new floor. Some tile manufactures can make matching tiles, but the process is expensive.

These tiles will contract and expand with changes in pressure and temperature. Installing the grout properly will prevent these fluctuations from damaging the tiles. Using a water resistant adhesive, especially in the kitchen and bathroom, will ensure the tiles stay firmly in place.

Some homeowners do not like the idea of having an uneven kitchen countertop, but these tiles are suitable for this application because they resist heat and stains. Using an epoxy or acrylic grout will help prevent staining from foods and liquids. To protect the glossy finish, you should avoid scrubbing too aggressively when cleaning.

Some floor tiles have a slip resistant coating. Waxy cleansers and oily detergents can cause this coating to deteriorate. To keep the coating intact, check the manufacturer's specifications for the best cleaning solution to use. Keeping up with regular maintenance will ensure the tiles do not become dangerously slippery due to built-up dirt, detergents, and grease.

You cannot go wrong with tiles made of ceramic for creative interior design to match any size budget. There are endless ways to mix colors and styles to add personality to any room in the house. With proper installation your renovation or new construction project will endure for years to come.




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