Ceramic Tiles
From Floor Coverings
Contents |
History of Ceramic Tiles.
Ceramic tiles have been around for thousands of years and have been utilized by many civilizations and cultures. Humans have long been used to forming pots and other structures out of clay, so tiles were probably an offshoot of that activity. They can be painted, glazed and colored with an infinite variety of materials, and also inlaid with mosaics and in modern times, an eclectic mixture of art or found objects. While often in exotic shapes and forms, most ceramic tiles are popular because they can be formed to a set size or pattern and this uniformity makes for an ease of installation that may not be found in some forms of natural stone or other kinds of tiles. And they fit into a box for shipping very easily, making them an economical product for businesses today.
Are Ceramic tile used in artwork and decorations?
Gorgeous hand painted tiles and reproduction of ancient artwork in a tile, such as found in Rome or Egypt, may be used in today's homes and buildings. Cities may use representative ones for overpass decoration, or bridges. Shops and stores often use ceramic tiles for decoration. Ceramic tile house number plaques are often seen along any residential street. Every ceramic tile can be hand created and unique, or mass produced to a high standard and durability. Of course, the quality of ceramic tiles can be as varied as the types you can purchase. If being used in a kitchen on various surfaces, perhaps a sample board with various shapes and colors can be created and then a homeowner can go around and see what goes with what, how the colors and finishes interact, how they clean up if on a backsplash or over a stove, and how well they wear if installed on a heavily trafficked floor.
Most popular tiles sold today.
The most popular and most sold tile today is still a 4-1/4" square tile. Larger tiles such as 18" x 18" ones can be placed on a floor on the diagonal, to make a small floor look much more expansive. Even floor tiles can be custom or readymade. Longevity and wear tolerance and absorbability are important factors in determining exactly which kind of ceramic tile would best serve your particular purpose. Glazed tiles have several types of surfaces, such as non-slip for public areas, or kitchens where small children often run. They are also good for walls but not for countertops where the glaze may get chipped or scratched heavily. Mosaic tiles are ceramic but they have different pigments in them and are more resistant to wear. They can also be used to make a wonderful depiction on your walls or on an entryway floor, such as in Ancient Rome.
What grout color do I use for my tiles?
When setting ceramic tiles, be sure and choose a complimentary grout color, and use those spacers as you lay down the tiles. That way you will get a smooth and straight line between your tiles. If you are placing the larger ceramic tiles on a floor, for instance, it can be difficult to get a perfect alignment, as it is sometimes with natural stone tiles, so staggering them (like stacking bricks to make a wall) will always turn out looking great. Ceramic tiles are really easy to clean and keep looking fresh and bright. Because ceramic tiles come in such a huge assortment of colors and sizes, you might save a lot of shoe leather and gas money by shopping online. All of the stores on the web are open 24 hours a day, a big timesaver as well.
