Porcelain Tiles 101
PORCELAIN TILE
Porcelain tile has always been a great option for durable application for floors, walls, showers, fireplaces, water features, and even outdoors. What mostly sets porcelain tile apart is its ability to mimic other products like natural stone and hardwood, while providing durability and very low maintenance.
HOW IT’S MADE
To form the mixture that becomes porcelain tile, water is mixed with raw materials like feldspar, clay, silicon sand, porcelain, and others. This mixture then goes through a spray dryer to create a perfect consistency by removing excess moisture. It is then pressed into the mold that determines it’s size and shape. This product is called a Greenware. After it has dried, pattern and color are then printed onto the surface of the tile using state-of-the-art inkjet technology. A glaze is then applied to protect the pattern and durability of the tile. The final step is a fire in the kiln and you are left with a beautiful product.
The most amazing trait about modern porcelain tile is its ability to genuinely mimic the color, pattern, and often times texture of other materials like; marble, limestone, travertine, slate, concrete, and now even hardwood floors. While the porcelain designs are able to mimic the design of these other products, it retains its durability and low maintenance qualities.
APPLICATIONS
Porcelain tile applications are incredibly versatile. They can be used in floors, walls, kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, outdoor, commercial, and more. The numerous sizes and designs now available in porcelain tiles are making it possible to design an entire space with just porcelain.