Tile > About Ceramic Tile

About Ceramic Tile

There are so many styles to choose from when it comes to ceramic tile that it can be a real challenge to select the right tile for the your room.

Tile Size
Choosing the correct size to fit your area is simple. If you have a small room, for instance a 9' X 9' area, we would recommend that you stick to a 12" X 12" or 13" X 13" tile. If you use a larger size in a small area, it may tend to appear overpowering, and you may not get the full overall presence of the tile. A simple room of thumb is, the larger the tile, the larger the overall look. With a larger tile, you will have fewer grout joints or grout lines. With fewer grout joints, the overall look will be less busy, and will look larger.

Style
When it comes to ceramic tile styles, the choices are virtually endless. Even so, there is still a method of shopping for the right style. Just try to imagine what look you want in your home. Do you want the warm, somewhat rustic look? If so, consider a stone look. There are usually mixes of color in each of the stone-look tiles. However, there are also many available in solid and slightly shaded colors. There is a wide range from those with rustic edges, with the appearance of having been cracked or hammered to a smoother stone finish

Would you prefer the formal high gloss look? This has been an elegant and popular look for a long time. There are a few considerations in using high gloss tiles. If you have an active family lifestyle, with kids, etc., or if you have anyone living in your home who is disabled, or very elderly, the high gloss tiles can become extremely slippery when wet. In addition, they tend to show more day-to-day soil than the textured or less glossy tiles do.

Textures
The different textures of ceramic tiles are directly related to the style, and whichever style you decide on will most likely determine the texture you get. If you are looking at the stone-look tiles, they will most likely have a rougher texture, while the marbleized tiles will have a smooth, glass-like feel.

Other textures are a matte finish, which is a smooth finish but duller appearance, and is generally not slippery as a high gloss finish. There is also a rippled high gloss finish which is also referred to as an "orange peel" finish. Another texture is the non-skid finish. This is available in a few different variations, but the most common finish looks and feels like a heavy grit sand paper. This finish is sometimes used outdoors on patios, walkways, around pools, or in commercial application.

Tile Ratings
There are different qualities or "groups" that are used to rate a ceramic tile. These groups are:

• Group I  >  Light Traffic
  These tiles are usually used in residential bathroom floors and are not recommended for any area that will have any constant or heavy foot traffic.
   
• Group II  >  Moderate Traffic
  These tiles can be used on residential interior floors but should not be used in areas such as kitchens, entry ways, stairs, or areas that me have contact with sand or gravel and then be walked on.
   
• Group III  >  Moderate to Heavy Traffic
  These tiles can be used for any residential or light commercial application. The only place this tile would not be used is in a heavy traffic commercial area such as in a bank at a teller window, a restaurant, etc.
   
• Group IV  >  Heavy Traffic
  These tiles can be used for any residential and most all commercial
  applications. These tiles could even be used in such heavy traffic areas as a shopping mall.
   
• Group V  >  Ultra Heavy Traffic
  These tiles can be used for all residential, commercial, as well as industrial applications where extreme durability is required.

Competitive Pricing!

(972) 562-8610

Visit the Heritage Showroom

Located near the historic square in downtown McKinney, our showroom features many options for your floors, from a complete line of hardwood flooring products to the natural beauty of marble, granite, and travertine.  Ceramic and porcelain tile rounds out the breathtaking options for upgrading and beautifying your home. You can get wonderful ideas for flooring your home, and plan your next project with our experienced staff.  We welcome you to our showroom, or to take advantage of a free in-home estimate by calling (972) 562-8610.

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Serving North Texas since 1978