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Man Made Tile
Ceramic Tile
A ceramic tile is a mixture of clays, which is shaped and fired at high temperatures and then
glazed. Tiles are also rigid and feature a relatively high resistance to shock. The use of ceramic
tile goes back 18,000 years ago - with fragments found on the banks of the Tigeres River.
According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), porcelain tile is defined as a tile
made by the dust press method that has a dense body such that water absorption is less than 1.5
percent.
- Ceramic Tiles - Interior/exterior, walls, interior floors, showers, tub surrounds, backsplashes, fireplaces, bbq's, kitchen countertops, vanities
- Porcelain Tiles - interior/exterior, all areas including commercial/heavy traffic areas
Natural Stone
Granite
Granite is an igneous rock, which was formed by slowly cooling pockets of magma (hot
liquid) that was trapped beneath the earth's surface. It is the result of about 570 million
years in the making. Granite is an intrusive rock - it forms deep underground and consists mainly of feldspar and quartz. Granite is the hardest known material used in commercial and residential applications
- Granite can be used anywhere - interior/exterior, counters, walls, fireplaces, shoer/tub/vanities, flooring, fountains
- 6.6-8.5 on MOHS hardness scale - very durable
- Weather resistant
Limestone is made chiefly of calcite, a mineral form of calcium carbonate. It is also
thought of as a "young" marble. Limestone was formed over many years (320 million)
at the bottom of oceans and lakes - a sedimentary stone. Limestones have an
accumulation of shells, bones,and other calcium rich goods.
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- Limestone can be used interior/some exterior - walls, fireplaces, shower/tub/vanities, flooring
- 3.0-4.0 on MOHS hardness scale - very soft
- If shells are still visible (although polished) it is considered a limestone not a marble
Marble
Marble is formed from limestone by heat and pressure in the earth's crust. These forces cause
the limestone to change in texture and makeup. Marble is a metamorphic rock, which means,
"changed form". This process took well over 540 million years. Marble is mostly made up of
calcite - a mineral form of calcium carbonate. The purest calcite marble is white. The minerals
that result from impurities give marble wide variety of colors.
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- Marble should be used on the interior - walls, fireplaces, shower/tub/vanities, flooring
- 2.2-5.5 on MOHS hardness scale - very soft
- Green & black marbles should NOT be installed in water areas
- Not recommended for food service applications
Onyx is a translucent stone with a layered appearance. It is similar to travertines - it is formed as
a result of cold solutions of carbonated water dissolving existing stone and re-depositing into a
new stone. The term "onyx" to designate onyx marble is a misnomer. True onyx (silicon dioxide)
is a semi-precious stone.
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- Onyx can be installed in bathrooms & low traffic areas
- Onyx is very soft and brittle - scratches easily
- Beautiful when lighting is installed behind the stone
Slate is a metamorphic rock. Most slate is formed below the earth's surface by changes
in the makeup and appearance of shale, a sedimentary rock. Shale consists of Clay and
fine particles of quartz. Heat from deep in the earth changes some of the clay in shale
into mica and chlorite. Slate results when pressure created chiefly by mountain-forming
movements in the earth's crust squeezes the mica and other materials into parallel
layers.
- Slate can be used interior/exterior - walls, fireplaces, shower/tub/vanities, flooring , fountains & backsplashes
- 6.0 on MOHS harness scale - very durable
- Shaling (pieces falling off face) is common in the first 6 months of installation
Travertine is limestone that has been formed over a long period of time. The product is porous
with many visible holes. It is available in colors ranging from ivory to golden brown. The holes
and cavities may be filled with matching Portland cement, colored epoxy, or polyester resins.
Travertine is a sedimentary calciferous stone formed in hot springs. Typically, hot water passes
through limestone beds and takes the calcium from the limestone into suspension and takes that
solution to the surface where the water evaporates and leaves the calcium crystals in layers on
the surface.
- Travertine can be used interior/exterior - walls, fireplaces, shower/tub/vanities, flooring, backsplashes
- 3.0-5.5 on MOHS hardness scale - moderate strength
- The Coliseum in Rome is made of travertine
- Unfilled gives a rustic appearance while filled gives a more formal look
Other Tile
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Tile Outlet Always in Stock carries a full line of tools & supplies.
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