Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile begins as clay, usually comprised of shale, gypsum, and sand, and is forged into a material known as bisque. The bisque can be shaped into tiles and then is fired (usually in a kiln). As a rule, the higher the temperature, the stronger the tile will be. Ceramic tiles can be glazed, unglazed, plain, or decorated and can be installed for a variety of applications, though most commonly for walls and floors.

Tile is porous by nature, and is therefore usually glazed, either before or after it is fired in the kiln. One of the merits of ceramic tile is that it can easily be made to a wide variety of specifications and uses because it is formed by a human process, as opposed to being quarried from the earth such as natural stone.

The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has developed a rating system for ceramic tile that gauges abrasion levels and rates different tiles for wear resistance. The PEI classifies each tile surface into one of five categories: class 1, class 2, class 3, class 4, and class 5+, with class 1 being rated for "no foot traffic," and class 5+ being rated for "extra heavy traffic." Entryways, for example, should have a tile that's rated for high foot traffic, and is easy to clean and resists moisture.

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