1. What is tile flooring?

Ceramic tile is manufactured the same way it has been for thousands of years, and the tiles that result from the process continue to inspire awe with their variety and beauty.
Tile flooring is manufactured in a five step process:

1. Mining: The clay an minerals used in the tile is mined or collected.
2. Blending and Mixing: The clay and minerals are combined and mixed to the unique specifications of the particular type of tile.
3. Pressing: The tile is pressed or formed into a shape.
4. Glazing: Glaze is a decorative element applied to some tiles. Glaze consists of frit, a glass derivative, and dyes to add color. The colors and luster of a glaze emerge during the firing process.
5. Firing: The tile is placed in a kiln where the temperature is raised to around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Monocuttura tiles are fired once where the raw tile and the glaze are heated simultaneously. Biocuttura is double fired tile: first the raw claw of the tile is fired and becomes dried and strengthened. Then the glaze is applied to the hardened tile and first a second time.

2. Benefits of tile flooring

Design statements: Tiles can often have a stronger impact on the style of a room than other flooring options. Because tiles are so distinctive in shape, size, color, finish, and how they are used with other tiles, tile flooring can strongly evoke a period, a place, or a theme, which can then be carried through with paint, furniture, and other decorations.

Tile has been used for thousands of years, and its dramatic benefits continue to endure:

• Durable: Tile outlasts every other type of flooring. With age, it can develp a patina that even improves its rich appearance.
• Resilient and Easy to Maintain: you do not have to baby tile. Sweep it, vacuum it, or mop it. Tile does not require special handling and cleans up easily.
• Environmentally friendly: Tile is made of simple, natural materials. Tile does not give off noxious gases and does not host odors, bacteria, or allergens.
• Resists scratching and chipping: Many tiles are designed to resist scratching and chipping. If you are looking for these qualities, check the manufacturers specifications and claims.
• Ease of repair: Tile flooring is very durable, but if you have a tile that does split or chip, it is a relatively easy repair to remove and replace one or several tiles.

3. Should you buy/do you need tile flooring?

Tile is a durable and attractive material to use for flooring. Often, people add new floor tiling because they are redecorating a room or several rooms. Once the tiles are installed, they cannot be move. So whether you are redecorating or adding tile on its own, you should try to make sure you'll be happy with the look in the years to come. Get samples of the tile and place them in the area where you're planning to install them. If you are redecorating, try to implement as many of the other elements of the project (paint, lighting fixtures, furniture) prior to installing the tile.

4. What's new about tile flooring?

Glass tiles are becoming popular, as are hand painted tiles. Another tile that is "new" is one that is "old", and we are seeing antique tiles that have been salvaged from old buildings being used, often in combination with new tiles. Heated sub-flooring installed under bathroom tiles was once a rarity seen only in the homes of the rich; heated sub-floors are now becoming much more popular and common.

5. Selecting tile flooring

There are eight factors for you to consider when you are selecting tile. We have defined these eight factors and we present the options relating to each.