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Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile comes in a variety
of shapes,
sizes, colors, finishes, and
strengths (tile
also is available as porcelain,
natural stone,
marble, granite, and a few other
exotic materials
like stainless steel). It's important
to
pick the right tile for the purpose
and the
appearance you want.
Shapes
The most common shapes are square
or rectangular,
but octagonal (like a stop sign)
are available
in some lines as well as other
shapes. When
choosing rectangular shapes for
wall tile,
they are generally installed
in modern rooms
with the narrow side at the top
and bottom,
but we've seen some extraordinary
installations
using them horizontally to achieve
a brick-like
layout.
Sizes
Here, too, there is a wide variation.
Floor
tiles generally run from about
1 inch to
12 inches on a side, with even
larger sizes
available for a premium price.
Small tiles
are great for tiling over uneven
surfaces
because they conform better and
are less
likely to crack on pressure.
Large tiles
require fewer grout lines and
thus provide
more tile appearance per square
foot. However,
keep in mind that larger tiles
generally
call for wider grout lines as
the dimensions
result in higher variances. In
addition,
if used on a wall, larger tiles
require a
stronger adhesive.
Colors
You name it, you probably can
find it somewhere,
although there are some common
solid colors:
white, blue, yellow, red, black,
and green.
Finishes
Tile range from a rough, hewn stone type
surface to a mirror like smoothness. When
picking the finish, keep in mind that smooth
finishes are slicker and increase the likelihood
of being slippery when wet, so use them cautiously
for floors in wet areas such as bathrooms.
Strengths
Wall tiles are made lighter in
order to hang
better, but they are also weaker
and their
use as floor tiles are limited.
Some tiles
are made for both floor and wall
use. Consult
with the manufacturer for the
intended purpose
of the tile you are considering. |
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