Tile Care & Expectations

CERAMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
Durable: Ceramic tile is one of the most durable flooring substances available. It is very scratch resistant, dent resistant and virtually stain proof among the porcelain varieties.

What makes it so durable?
Ceramic tile is manufactured by taking fine powder and mixing it to a moisture level of about 3%-13%, it is then heated to extremely high temperatures under a great amount of pressure. This process causes a particle fusion of the molecules with the powder. The result is a material that is solid yet porous. Since porous material tends to stain due to its absorption of liquids, the surface of the tile is treated with a glaze that makes it virtually impervious to moisture. (0.5% of less for porcelain tile and 3.0% for ceramics). A finished ceramic tile is very difficult to scratch.

Another thing you should keep in mind is that all ceramic tile is not created equal. Porcelain tiles are made up of material that solidifies into a deeper product. This means that it can withstand more stress before it breaks.

If ceramic is so durable why has my tile or grout cracked when I have dropped nothing on it?
There could be a number of reasons for that. A factor of tile and grout breakage is sub floor movement, due to the shifting of your foundation and climate change. Along cupboards, toe kicks and along the outside walls often you will need to touch up your grout. If you floor is already installed there is really nothing that can be done to stop it from occurring.

If you have not already installed your tile, you may want to consider a product called Schluter-Ditra Matting. This product serves as an uncoupling layer, waterproofing membrane, and vapour management layer that accommodates moisture from beneath the tile layer; and therefore virtually eliminates the major cause of grout cracking and tile delamination from the substrate. Ditra Matting is highly recommended for our extreme climate

Low maintenance: A ceramic tile floor is very low maintenance. In fact the only part of a ceramic floor that needs special attention is the grout lines. The porous nature of sanded grout makes it easily stained and a hassle to clean up unless you use grout sealer.

When cleaning your tile you should only use an approved tile cleaner. If your tile is saturated with water for an extended length of time, it can seep through the grout and cause the integrity of your tile installation to be compromised.

Are there any drawbacks to ceramic tile?
As with all flooring there are pros and cons. The biggest drawback is that ceramic tile is cold underfoot and does not offermuch as far as impact relief. However you can make yourself more comfortable by installing ceramic tile over radiant heat without needing to worry about damage to your new floor.

You should not expect a table top finish with ceramic tile. You should not expect that your floor will not damage if you drop something; it can chip or crack your tile. However replacement of a tile is possible

Tile

There are many choices of flooring for your home. One of the most diverse and widely used is ceramic tile. E.T. Flooring and Design offers many choices from a simple backsplash to a custom shower and bathroom or kitchen renovation. Our distributors keep us supplied with the latest and newest samples so our customers can be assured that they have the most up to date choices for their renovation or new home build.