FAQs
The following questions are answered below:
- What is the difference between a Ceramic Tile and a Porcelain Tile?
- How can I tell if a tile is Ceramic or Porcelain?
- What are the benefits of using tiles?
- What factors make for a quality tile?
- What about tiles being slippery?
- What can I do if I have slippery tiles installed?
- Are tiles cold?
- Can I use a wall tile on a floor?
- Can I use a floor tile on a wall?
- What is required for tile maintenance?
- Can I install tiles myself?
- What surfaces can tiles be laid on?
- Why are there are so many adhesives, primers and grouts and will they all work together?
- How do I find a good tiler?
- How do I calculate tile quantities?
- How do Tilers charge?
- What is set out and how are quantities calculated?
What is the difference between a Ceramic Tile and a Porcelain Tile?
Ceramic is a generic term that applies to tiles that are made from red or white clay base and a glaze that is then kiln fired. Not all ceramic tiles are equal in quality or performance or artistic design. Water absorption can be up to 10%, which limits the applications for Ceramic tiles: they cannot be immersed in water or subject to freezing or frosts. Ceramics tend to be lower in strength than porcelain tiles.
A porcelain tile is defined by its lower water absorption typically 0.5% The clay is a better quality, usually white and the tile is fired at a higher temperature typically 1200 degrees C. As red clays are becoming more scarce, more porcelain tiles are produced. Tile Clearance Centre has a full range of both Ceramic and Porcelain tiles.
How can I tell if a tile is Ceramic or Porcelain?
If it's red it's probably ceramic. If it's white underneath it may be porcelain or ceramic. An easy test is to put a small amount of water on the back of the tile, if it is absorbed quickly then it's probably ceramic, if the water stays in a puddle on the surface, it's porcelain. Remember an absorbent tile should only be used for interior flooring and walls and not in an immersion or permanently wet, or frost prone situation.
What are the benefits of using tiles?
Tiles are excellent for design impact. Tiles are a blend of technology and art, the artistic values of carefully chosen tiles can compliment any design or become a statement in itself. Also the symmetry of tiles properly set out can be a pleasing design element in itself and can add interest to a surface.
Tiles are also useful for energy efficiency Houses. Houses with concrete floors benefit hugely from a tile floor over other floor coverings. The concrete slab becomes a thermal buffer capturing and releasing heat energy depending on the inside temperature and thereby maintaining an even temperature. Covering a concrete slab with carpet or wood veneer insulates the slab and thereby reduces this very desirable thermal buffering effect.
Tiles make for easy maintenance. Glazed tiles are impervious to dirt and grease and household chemicals. They are easy to clean by vacuuming/ mopping, sweeping or wiping.
Tiles have excellent durability. Quality tiles installed properly will easily outlast the building they are in.
What factors make for a quality tile?
In general porcelain can be considered to be better quality due to their low water absorption and higher toughness.
Consistency of size of the tile: if they vary more than a millimeter or two or are out of square or not true (i.e. they will not sit flat on a flat surface) they will be more difficult install correctly, and they will look like poor quality tiles.
Detail in the glaze: the complexity and creativity of the design and how authentic it looks if it is trying to replicate stone or marble for instance.
Degree of variation: Many tiles are designed to replicate natural stone, marble etc. In nature you will see infinite variation and that is part of its charm. If a tile is replicating natural stone, and is laid as the same tile repeated it will look artificial. In other words a good quality tile will have a degree of variation in the pattern.
What about tiles being slippery?
They can be if you choose the wrong finish for the situation. As you would expect highly polished and shiny surfaces will be slippery when wet and should never be used in an entrance exposed to weather or around a swimming pool to name a few. More grip can be easily achieved by choosing low slip or grip tiles we have a lot to choose from.
What can I do if I have slippery tiles installed?
Ensure that they are being cleaned with correct tile cleaners (see our section on tile care). Cleaning will make a big difference. Siliconised floor polish will make an otherwise safe floor very slippery dry or wet. In some circumstances they can be treated to reduce the slip; talk to us for advice.
Are tiles cold?
It depends on what's underneath them. An un-insulated wooden floor in an un-heated area will be cold in winter. A concrete / tile overlay floor in a heated house will be reasonably comfortable underfoot due to the thermal mass of the concrete remaining at a relatively stable bearably warm temperature.
Under tile heating is a popular, energy efficient and very effective way of warming a tile floor and the surrounding area. We can advise you on underfloor heating options.
Can I use a wall tile on a floor?
No. Never. The glaze will probably be too soft and the tile will be more likely to crack chip and chip and scuff.
Can I use a floor tile on a wall?
Yes, it will probably be overrated for the task. The wall lining must be sufficiently rated for the weight of the tile which can easily be 20 Kg/ square meter.
What is required for tile maintenance?
Showers require regular cleaning; abrasive cleaners should not be used or required. If soap scum is allowed to build up, grout will satin and silicone beading may grow unsightly mould internally which will require replacement of the bead. See our section on tile maintenance.
Can I install tiles myself?
A simple job like setting tiles behind a basin: Yes. A bathroom with a fall, waterproof membrane: not recommend. Check out or DIY section on this site to get an idea what is involved.
What surfaces can tiles be laid on?
Concrete, existing tiles, steel, butynol / Butylclad / EPM, Plywood particle board, brick, in fact just about any rigid surface with less then 1:360 deflection. Some of the above examples are extreme and we do not recommend them, we have adhesives for most applications.
Why are there are so many adhesives, primers and grouts and will they all work together?
Don't mix systems. Different manufactures use various technologies and they don't always work together. With tile adhesives and grouts and the various system components you generally get what you pay for, the most critical parts of any system being the water proofing system and the adhesive. We strongly recommend ASA adhesive products, which come with a 10 year guarantee.
How do I find a good tiler?
Be careful, tiling is an unregulated trade meaning that anyone can print a business card and call themselves a tiler. If waterproofing is involved then you will want to know that the system used is proven and the applicator is trained, and that the work will comply with local council requirements. Ask us for a recommended tiler in your area. As with any tradesperson ask them some questions and references to validate their skills.
How do I calculate tile quantities?
It depends on how the tiles are to be set out, large tiles in a small area will lead to more waste than small tiles in a large area. A rough rule of thumb is to add 10-15% to the calculated area. Allow a few spares on top of this figure for breakages and surface defects being inherent risks with the product.
In the end your tile installer must specify the quantities required as they have control over the waste and the set out used on the job. Have a look at some set out options for some ideas.
How do Tilers charge?
Mostly by the square meter.
Why do some tiles that look similar cost so much more then other similar tiles?
In general you get what you pay for. If you value durability or have a demanding application then high-quality porcelain will perform better and often cost more. If you value leading edge technology and the latest fashion, then you will need to pay more for top end Italian porcelains, as compared to similar looking products coming from elsewhere.
What is set out and how are quantities calculated?
Set out refers to how the tile grid is laid out on the floor or wall in relation to that surface. Think of the grid as a movable object over a static surface. It's part of the tilers skill to make an attractive set out, but it is an area where compromises and judgments often need to be made and you might not always agree with the choices your tiler makes. Once the tiles are laid there is no going back.
