Ceramic glazed tile
From MaterialProject.org, the free architectural material catalog
Contents |
Material analysis
MasterFormat Number: 09310 and 09315
Traditional uses
- Flooring, walls, ceilings, countertops.
- Improvements in glaze durability and wear (abrasion resistance) have allowed more wear-intensive possibilities including countertops and flooring.
- Backsplashes, tub surrounds, bathroom walls, decorative mosaics, decorative or accent walls, some floors, some countertops.
Emerging uses / trends
- Smaller joints with colored grout, hand painted custom tiles, laser cut tiles to form designs.
- Incorporating on curved and angled surfaces, use in non-wet living spaces and lobbies.
Finish and aesthetic qualities
- Available in wide variety of colors, glazes, and designs.
- Stain resistant, scratch resistant, fi re resistant, doesn’t fad from sun light, easy to clean and maintain.
- Generally not recommended for environments exposed to extreme hot and cold.
- Glazes come in virtually any manufacturable pigment color.
- Glazes respond differently to kiln temperatures for various color effects and well.
- Some glazes have little gloss or sheen and are very slip resistant; others range through full gloss and may not be suitable for any flooring.
Dimensions / shapes
- Tiles are most common in square, also comes in rectangle, octogon, other polygon, or scalloped,.
- Wall tiles standard 4.25” x 4.25” and 6”x6” though vary in size from 1”x1” to 24”x24”.
- Grout joints 1/16” for wall, 1/4” for floor.
- Penny round, offset brick, hexagon, stacked brick mosaics with a netted backing are now available.
- Usually square, but can be cut into different geometric forms.
- Bullnose, caps and coves used to transition to edges.
Specification tips
- Abrasion resistance (PEI rating - 1 &2 for wall only, 3 & 4 for any residential applications); vitreous best for higher stain resistance.
Cost analysis
- Varies greatly depending on quality, complexity of design, hand vs. machine manufactured, and freighting costs.
- Starts at less than $1 per square foot and can rise to $25 per square foot or more for specialty tiles.
Material properties
Primary structural use
- Applied, not structural.
Special installation issues
- Thick set – tiles are set into cement based mortar bed (¾” for walls, 1 ¼” – 2” for floors), and is used when fl oor needs to slope to drain, tiles are oversized, or tiles are abutting another material or surface with a different thickness.
- Thin set – 3/32 ” – 1/8” thick layer of mortar, typical for vertical installations. Must provide appropriate substrate or moisture can damage installation.
- If installing on a floor, subfloor must be flat to meet tile specifications, with sufficient anti-flex strength to prevent tile cracking or breakage.
Acoustic value
- Low.
- Tile can cause significant reverberation, and has little sound absorbtivity.
- A cork or synthetic underlayment is recommended when sound absorption is important.
Manufacturing process and assembly
- The body of the tile is fashioned of bisque clay and baked in a kiln.
- Glazed tiles are fi rst coated with a liquid glass, which is then baked into the surface of the clay. The glaze provides an unlimited array of colors and designs.
- The glaze also protects the tile from staining.
- Tiles are set in mortar bed and bound together by grout.
- Regular ceramic tile (clay, feldspar, sand, dolomite, and quartz bisque) pressed into a shape and dried to reduce moisture
content; then coated with glass layer of lead silicates and pigment, and kiln fired to create hard coating of various finish.
Maintenance
- Almost none. Wipe clean.
Environment and Life Safety
Environmental impact
- Ceramic tile is manufactured using natural materials and does not retain odors, allergens, or bacteria.
- Sealants and adhesives may be toxic.
- With product lifespan an important factor to consider when choosing a flooring material, ceramic tile’s longevity is reported at up to four times that of other materials.
- Ceramic tile is the hero of disasters, and can be repaired if damaged by water, fire or mechanical impact without replacing or disposing of the entire flooring material
- Ceramic tile is not an original nor secondary source of air pollution, and will not absorb odors from smoke, paint fumes or other contaminants, lending to enhanced indoor air quality (IAQ).
- The exceptional durability of ceramic tile is directly related to the impervious glazed surface, which, requires low-cost maintenance and no chemical or protective finishes.
- Much of the energy used in tile production is due to kiln firing.
- Reduction of firing times and temperatures can help reduce energy consumption - thinner tiles and varied composition can help this.
- Packing and shipping materials and energy are a large part as well, since Italy, Spain and China together produce about half of the world’s tile.
- In the US, almost half of all tile being used is imported.
Coefficient of friction
- Must use caution when installing as flooring.
- Can be honed or flamed to meet COF or can be installed in the form of smaller tiles with appropriate grout.
References
Notes
Student contributions
- Alison Smith, Spring 2008
- Jen Koffel, 2007
- Abigail Joyce, Fall 2005
See also
Similar materials
External links
Leading manufacturers
