CERAMIC TILES

What are Ceramic Tiles?

Ceramic tiles are tiles which are made from ceramic
materials like earthenware and porcelain.
Ceramic tiles are thin slabs that are generally used to surface
floors and walls
They are made from clay compositions and other inorganic
raw materials, that are ground and/or slipped, moulded and
subsequently dried and fired at adequate temperatures to
make them acquire the required properties in a stable way.
Ceramic tiles may be unglazed (UGL) or glazed (GL).
Unglazed tiles undergo a single firing; glazed tiles have a
vitreous coat applied between the first and second firing
(double firing) or before the only firing (single firing).
There are numerous styles of ceramic tiles available, from
terra-cotta roofing tiles used in Mission-style architecture to
delicate hand-painted porcelain tiles intended for ornamental
splashbacks in kitchens.

Where are ceramic tiles

used?

Bathroom Tiles
Garden Tiles
Printed Floor Tiles
Crystal floor tiles
Rustic floor tile

Things to consider
There are two important things to
consider
when choosing ceramic tile flooring.
The first thing to consider is the
function of the tiles.
The second thing to consider is the
aesthetic of the tiles

Types of ceramic tiles

Type of
tile

Body

Mouldin
g

Standard
measure
ment (cm)

Thickne
ss
(mm)

Glaze

Group
standard
ISO 13006
UNE EN 14411

Ordinary
ceramic

Porous

Pressed

10 x 10 to
45 x 60

<10

Yes

BIII

Stoneware
ceramic

Nonporous

Pressed

10 x 10 to
60 x 60

>8

Yes

BIb-BIIa

Porcelain
ceramic

Nonporous

Pressed

15 x 15 to
60 x 60

>8

No

BIa

Catalonian
ceramic

Porous

Extrude
d

13 x 13 to
24 x 40

<8

No

AIIb-AIII

Rustic
ceramic

Nonporous

Extrude
d

11.5 x 11.5
to
37 x 37

>10

No-Yes

AI-AIIa

Earthenwar
e ceramic

Porous

Extrude
d

Wide
variety

>10

No

AIIb2-AIII

Installation of ceramic
tiles

To install ceramic tile you need to acquire some basic material like adhesive
for tiles, a grout mix, measurement tape, pencil, level, saw to cut tiles, sponge,
notched trowel, tile spacer, rubber float, and spacer.
Firstly set the right lay out of your wall and measure the length and width of
the wall, then locate and begin installation from the centre of the wall. To
ensure whether the tile pattern fits properly on the edges, dry fit the tile.
Now draw few vertical and horizontal lines on the wall with the help of pencil
and the size of the tile has to be same on reaching each end.
Now apply the tile adhesive on the wall using notched trowel and fix the tiles
on the adhesive but never forget to leave some space between the tiles which
can be done using tile spacer. To attach the tiles firmly to the adhesive press
and twist the tile on the adhesive.
Trim the tile if required, and if the tiles are sharper at the end sandpaper could
be used to smoothen them.
Allow the tiles to dry for about 24 hours.
Further check the tiles next day and remove the tile spacer.
Now mix the grout and apply it at an approximately 45 degree angle using
rubber float. The excess grout must be wiped off with a sponge.
Remove the haze that appears on the grout after 60-70 minutes.
Finally take the caulk and seal the edges.

Advantages and
Disadvantages
Advantages of ceramic tiles
Easy to maintain as they offer ease of maintenance.
Tiles are adaptable to every application or design.
Long lasting
Gives a variety of installation choices
Highly durable
Easy to repair
Disadvantages of ceramic tiles
Ceramic tile is brittle
Any impact may cause it to crack
These tiles are slippery if wet
Expensive than others types of flooring

Cost factor
The average is Rs.138 sq. ft. range. The
kind of pattern that you lay the tile in can
affect the cost some. Doing diagonals
may require more additional material
than just doing a standard tile pattern.
And then you've got all kinds of
accessories like inlays and risottos that
help dress up the floor. These are
typically sold by the piece and can add
some significant cost to the floor as well.

VITRIFIED TILES

What Is Vitrified Tile?

Vitrified tile is a tile that has undergone a certain process that
gives it extremely low porosity, and thus, very low water
absorption.
This makes the tile hard and strong, as well as stain resistant.
There are various benefits to using a high quality vitrified tile
over natural marble or granite tiles- the overall durability and
strength of the tiles, although they are often more attractive
in the long run as well.
Vitrified tiles are man-made, so their quality can be
guaranteed.
Tiles that do not meet quality standards are simply not
packaged and sold.
They are resistant to water absorption, so they generally hold
up better in wet environments like bathrooms and kitchens.
Vitrified tile is an alternative to marble and granite flooring.

Where are vitrified tiles

used?

Bathroom Tiles
Indoor Tiles
Printed Floor Tiles
Outdoor pathway tiles
Kitchen tile

Things to consider
There are two important things to
consider
when choosing vitrified tile flooring.
The first thing to consider is the
function of the tiles.
The second thing to consider is the
aesthetic of the tiles

Types of vitrified tiles

There are several categories of vitrified tiles:
1) Soluble salt
2) Full body vitrified tiles
3) Nano polished Vitrified tiles
4) Glazed Vitrified tiles (GVT)
General sizes of vitrified tiles that are available in market:
1) 600 mm x 600 mm
2) 800 mm x 800 mm
3) 925 mm x 925 mm
4) 605 mm x 605 mm
5) 1000 mm x 1000mm
6) 1200 mm x 600 mm
7) 2400 mm x 1200mm

Installation of vitrified
tiles

Prepare the base (On which tiles have to be fixed) with cement and sand before laying the
tiles. The thickness of base may be about 25mm.
Check the level of the base carefully.
Apply Cement, Water slurry on the leveled base.
Make a mortar of cement and water with creamlike consistency and apply it over whole
surface of back side of tiles (Soaked in Water) and place these tiles on the base, tap them
into place and bring them in level with adjacent tiles using a wooden mallet.
Tiles have inherent property of shade variation. To minimize the problem of shade variation,
spread all the tiles (to be laid in a room) in an open area with proper illumination and
observe them for color uniformity. If some tiles do not match with others take them out and
use them for skirting. Start laying. Start laying work only when the tiles spread on floor are
acceptable to you.
It is a better practice to lay the tiles with 1mm gap and later filling this gap with a grout.
Gaps between tiles should be filled with grout after 24 hours of laying the tiles.
After filling the joints with grout, excess grout should be wiped/cleaned using a damp cloth
or sponge.
Allow the bed tiled floor to dry for 3-4 days.
A very thin film of cement may remain even after wiping the floor and it should then be
cleaned with a dilute acid swipe of the floor.
The floor should be covered with polythene and POP (Plaster Of Paris) before undertaking
any furniture / polishing / painting or any work on the vitrified flooring. Direct contact of
wood polish chemicals (with tiles) should be avoided.
The tiles should be laid in such a way that arrow marks shown at the back of the tile point
in the same direction . This will maintain the continuity of the design.

Advantages and
Disadvantages

Advantages
Low porosity
Very low water absorption
Stain resistant
High durability
Good strength
Not expensive
Non- abrasive
Disadvantages
Brittle
Cracks easily
Rough handling breaks the edges
Difficult to install

Cost factor
Top quality tiles cost around Rs. 50 to
Rs. 55 per sq. ft and cost of vitrified
tile flooring including their fixing is
around Rs. 75 per sq.ft.
4 Available size of vitrified tiles is as
large as 8 feet X 4 feet. Bigger sizes
give feeling of vastness but are
costlier and less stronger than
smaller sizes. Best is to choose 2 feet
X 2 feet size of tiles.

Vitrified Tiles Vs. Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are simply clay tiles that have been molded into tile shapes and cooked in batch
inside a kiln, where heat hardens the clay permanently. These tiles are rigid, durable, and longlasting. They resist heat very well and manufacturers coat them with glazes to give them protection
against water and different colors or patterns.
Vitrified
Vitrified tiles are also made from clay, but they have additional ingredients, like silica, quartz, and
feldspar. When these ingredients cook inside a kiln, they melt and form a glass substrate throughout
the tile. This glass addition makes vitrified tiles very strong and smooth, with far fewer pores in their
surfaces than ceramic tiles.
Applications
Vitrified tiles are much better at resisting water than ceramic tiles. Homeowners should choose
vitrified tiles if they want tiles in a wet location, or outdoors, where water can seep into the tile and
freeze in colder months, cracking the tile as the moisture expands. Vitrified tiles are nearly water
proof and will last much longer around moisture than ceramic versions.
Surfaces
Vitrified tiles are not usually glazed. Instead, a dye is mixed in with the clay to change the entire
color of the mixture. After it has been fired, the tile is either polished to a sheen or left in a rougher
unpolished state. This means that if a vitrified tile is scratch, it will retain the same color and
properties as before, but ceramic tiles have a glaze that can be scratched off.
Installation
Vitrified tiles are slightly more difficult to install than ceramic tiles. Their nonporous surfaces
resist other substances, including adhesives that ceramic readily accept. Installers must use special
cement-based glues when installing vitrified tiles, which are more expensive and raise the cost of
buying and laying the tile.