What Differentiates One Tile From Another?

All ceramic tiles may appear alike. But like most products, they come in all  sshapes,izes, qualities and price points. So, what makes one tile more expensive than the next? And what factors affect performance?

Clay Body. The strength of the bisque (body of tile) is determined by its density. The strongest bisques have been "atomized" to create the smallest and fewest number of air pockets - this minimizes the chances of chipping. Atomizing the bisque grinds the clay into smaller, more rounded molecules, which ensures a denser product. This process also removes impurities in the base.

Glaze. The strength (or wear resistance) of the glaze is determined by its hardness. The hardness of the glaze is generally determined by the temperature of the kiln (oven), the colour (lighter is harder!), and the gloss level (shiny is generally softer than mat or satin).

Red Or White Body. There is a general rule of thumb that white bisque is superior to red. This is not completely true. There are good quality red bisque products, and poor quality white bisque products. Density and atomization are everything.

Water Absorption. Water absorption is also determined by density. Tiles that absorb more than 3% moisture are suitable for indoor use only, while tiles which absorb 0%-3% moisture are considered frost resistant and are suitable for interior or exterior use.

PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) Rating. The PEI Wear Rating Chart takes all the guess work out of selecting a tile durable enough to handle the job. Always check for the PEI rating.

Glaze Application. There has been a noticeable shift in demand towards products that show pattern variation and have hand-crafted looks. It is actually much easier to make tiles that look alike than to make tiles that look different. The more applications of glaze, the greater the opportunity to show variation.

Different Molds. Another way to add variation to tiles is to change the base molds used to create the texture of each tile. Obviously, the more molds, the greater the variation.

Thickness. A thicker tile is not necessarily a better or more durable product. It does, however, increase in price simply because it is more expensive to ship.

Details. Like all products, detail often makes major differences. Does the design of the tile run right to the edge of the tile? Is there glaze on the side of the tile (grout will not stick to glaze)?

Construction. Is the tile consistently square, thick and uniform in size?