ceramic tile flooring

Ceramic tile is basically made of clay baked in a kiln and hardened through high or extremely high temperatures. Some terracotta tiles are an exception: they are simply cured.

Materials and types of tile

Ceramic tile comprises several types of materials: porcelain, terracotta, pavers, quarry, and common glazed and unglazed ceramic. Non-ceramic tile comprises cement-based tiles and stone tiles.

See:

Porcelain vs. other ceramic tile
Terracotta
Brick tile
Quarry tile
Paver tile
Cement tile

Technologies

Traditional ceramic tile technologies make extensive use of double-firing to bake and to glaze the tile. A more modern technology - technically known as monocottura – uses a single firing process, which can be more economical and produce an equally dense and durable tile, with an extremely hard glaze.

Ceramic tile: Glazed and Unglazed

Tiles can be glazed or unglazed. Glazed tiles incorporate a liquid glass (baked onto the clay’s surface). Glazing protects the tile from staining, and allows a large array of colors and designs to be added to the tiles.

Durability and hardness of ceramic tile

Glazed ceramic tile differs a lot in terms of appearance, durability, water absorption and hardness - features that should be taken into account.

There are very aesthetical though fragile or relatively fragile tile (terracotta, for instance), and extremely durable and water-resistant tile, but hard and cold, and more expensive (that’s namely the case of porcelain tile).

Durability, hardness or non-absorption depends on clay composition and especially on the firing process and on glazing (or its nonexistence).

See:

Selecting a tile flooring
Floor covering basics
Tile flooring basics

Glazed tile Pros

Glazed tile is more resistant to stains, and offers a wider range of colors and designs… Light-colored glazing is typically stronger than dark-colored one.

Unglazed tile Pros

Unglazed tiles are more natural looking and many of them have a higher wear-resistance (since the interior body of the tile doesn't differ from its surface); unglazed tile is more slip-resistant, due to its natural surface.

Ceramic Tile Designs

Ceramic tile offers a wide set of colors, designs, dimensions and shapes - square, round, octagonal, freeform... –, allowing multiple combinations and endless possibilities and effects.

All depends on your imagination and tastes. You may prefer sober one-color installations, or you may want to combine multiple colors or use decorative borders and insets with chosen tiles and colors.

You may use different colors and patterns to divide room areas and to create focal points, according to your preferences and needs.

Where to Use Ceramic tile?

In colder climates, ceramic tile is mainly used in entryways, corridors, bathrooms, kitchens and basements. In temperate and mostly in hot climates it may also be used, with advantage, in living and family rooms, or in bedrooms (cold and hard floor underfoot isn’t such a disadvantage in these climates)

Prefer vitreous and impervious tiles (that is, non-absorbent tiles) in basements flooring, or in bathrooms and other areas of the house where moisture and water absorption may be significant. Many outdoor applications also demand tiles with low moisture absorption (often less than 0.5%). Glazed tile and porcelain tile have that feature.

See:

Bathroom flooring
Kitchen flooring
Basement flooring
Living room and bedroom flooring

Durability & Life Expectancy

Ceramic tile may last the lifetime of your home, as long as you install the right type of tile (in terms of hardness, porosity...).

Typical Warranties

Some manufacturers offer warranties against fading, stains, etc. Warranties ranging from 10 to 20 years or even more are possible, but ceramic lifespan can easily outlast these warranty periods and most manufacturers (even the best) do not offer any warranty.

Care & Maintenance

Ceramic tile demands a very low maintenance: just sweep when needed, and use a mop and an appropriate cleaner to wash and dry occasionally. Only softer or porous tile demands extra cares or sealing.

Tile Price

Tile flooring is competitive, but its prices vary with its sub-types. Porcelain tile is more expensive than others types of tile. Some tile bricks and pavers are very cheap products.

Installation costs

Installation costs are often as expensive as the tile itself: costs in the $2-$6 per sq/foot range are common, but they vary a lot. All depends on local labor rates and subfloor conditions and needs.