Are Glazed Tiles Better Than Dull-Finish Tiles?

February 27th, 2010 Posted in Interior Design and Decorating

Tiles are available in both glazed as well as unglazed finishes with each having its own different properties. For floor and wall tiles, a glazed tile is considered to a better option as far as suitability goes.

Glazed tiles commonly refer to machine-made tiles that are cast into a die and then baked in a high degree temperature kiln most likely 2000ºF to give them a strong density of hardness along with colour. For further reliability it is very important that you add a glaze coating to the clay, as it is porous in nature. They are available in a wide range of tones, designs and colours and are far more stain resistant as compared to unglazed tiles. Wall applications and countertops are usually tiled with glazed tiles due their durable quality and glossy finish.g decorating bathrooms.

Glazed finished tiles adds lustre and durability to the tile; Ceramic and Porcelain can be purchased with this glaze. Most of the glazed ceramic tiles available in the market have a high density that allows very little and in some cases no accrual of moisture. Porcelain tiles are more or less similar to ceramic tiles but for the fact that they are more durable and last longer. They are better because they have been baked in a kiln at a very high temperature and have been made out of a better quality of clay. Due to their high resistance to moisture and stains, these tiles are more suitable for both wall and floor tiling. They can also withstand high volumes of traffic. Ceramic bathroom tiles are still available however and are fit for purpose.

Today glazed flooring tiles have become quite popular and are the most purchased tile type. Glazed tiles are used for bathroom designs and kitchen wall and floor tiling because of their ability to work well in wet conditions. To name a few, countries like Spain, Italy, United States and Portugal will produce them. The quality of the tiles can be calculated according to the Porcelain Enamel Institute grading that rates the tiles according to their durability. This includes their ability to withstand abrasions and other external conditions. The quality of tiles is measured on a rating scale from 0-5; the 0 catergory being less likely to withstand force and the 5 class considered to be the best.

Tiles that are suitable for heavy traffic and are prone to dirt and heavy abrasions can be found in catergory 5. Such areas include shopping malls, industrial floors, airports, subways and various other areas that bear the brunt of constant traffic. Before purchasing tiles for installation, you should inspect glazed tiles, just like you would any other. The CE marking and the BS EN 12004 certification will show the quality of grading given by the manufacturer; you must check this. These grading of tiles will help you determine if the tile type that you intend to buy is suitable for the kind of application you plan for it. Purchasing the right kind of tiles is very important, so once you have checked and compared this rating against the PEI rating, then you can rest assured that your purchase has been successful.