Knowledge Center

The two most common clay body type colors are red body and white body. Many people believe that one color is superior to the other, but this is not necessarily true. The quality of the tile has more to do with the quality of the manufacturer and denisty of the clay rather than the color of the clay. The myth that white body is superior to red body probably stems from the fact that most porcelains are white body and thus considered a more durable product, however, some porcelains can still be made with red body depending upon the manufacturer and geographic location.

We have established at this point that the color of the tile body does not determine the quality of the tile. But something to consider is if the tile ends up chipping then the body color will show through. This is why so many manufacturers have moved towards producing color body tile which stains the body to the color of the glaze surface. This synchronizes the color of both the glaze and body to lessen the visibility of any impact chips which may occur. The color remains consistent throughout the tile, but any surface design does not continue through the tile body.

Through body porcelain (sometimes referred to as unglazed porcelain) tiles are produced using colored raw materials that permeate the entire tile, incorporating uninterrupted color and pattern features seen on the surface all the way through the tile body. The surface design is evident in a cross-section of the tile body, providing outstanding abrasion resistance and durability.

The breaking strength test is a good indicator of the chip resistance of a tile because it tests the strength and density of the bisque. In order to determine the breaking and flexing strength of the tile there is a standard test method used to evaluate individual pieces. A force is applied to an unsupported portion of the tile until breakage occurs. The ultimate breaking strength is then recorded in pounds.

When choosing tile for your wall you want to look for a breaking strength of 90 lbs or greater. When choose a tile for your floor you want a breaking strength of 250 lbs or greater. Tiles with higher breaking strengths can usually be expected to withstand impact and breakage better when installed.

There are several tests conducted by the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) which evaluate the effects of various household chemicals and substances, specifically alternations such as discoloration, changes in gloss, blistering, softening, swelling, and/or loss of adhesion.

Commons tests are ASTM C650, ASTM D1308 and ASTM D3023. Each of these tests involve placing a substance on the test subject (eg. tile) and allowed to set for at least 24 hours. The subjects are then examing for alternations to the surface.

This tile has been subjected to substances such as ink, boiling water, coffee, crayons, condiments and a variety of chemicals and tests have shown it to be resistant to these substances. Does this mean you can spill red wine and conveniently clean it up a day or two later without it possibly staining? No. Nothing is 100% chemical proof but at least this tile has pasted test showing it has proven resistance.

The Coefficient of Friction (COF) of tile is a numerical value that measures the slip resistance of a tile. It is a scale from 0 to 1 and the higher the number the more slip resistant the surface. In order for a tile to pass ADA compliance it has to meet the recommended COF of .60 for accessible routes and a .8 for ramp surfaces.

As a homeowner, if this tile has a COF of .60 or higher that means it has enough texture that you are fine to install it in an environment that could get wet such as a kitchen, bathroom or foyer. A wet floor is a slippery floor. Therefore, floor mats should be used near entry ways during inclement weather. Dusty or dirty floors are slippery. Owners should make sure that floors are cleaned as often as needed and that foreign objects are removed as soon as possible. Consider the material being used on a subjective basis. Lightly textured surfaces tend to be more slip inhibiting than slick or highly polished material.

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Frost resistance goes hand in hand with water absorption and is important to consider when choosing tile for outdoors. Basically the less water the tile absorbs, the greater its frost resistance. When water soaks into a tile it can stay there until colder weather comes and freezes it. The water then cracks the tile when it expands. Frost resistant tiles have a water absorbency rate less than 3% but greater than 0.5%. Tile that absorbs 0.5% or less water is referred to as frostproof, because it offers the highest defense available against frost.

However, no tile is 100% frostproof. Even if only 0.5% of the water porcelain is exposed to is absorbed into it, it will still do some damage. Outdoor porcelain tiles will not last as long as indoor porcelain tiles in a cold climate, no matter what. But the less absorbent the tiles are, the better lifespan they will have. This is why porcelain tiles are ideal for landscaping, and recommended above ceramic versions.

Tile comes in either a glazed or unglazed finsh. The body of the tile (called a bisquie) may be coated with a glaze or without depending on the intended purpose.

Tile glazing is a clear, reflective glass topcoating applied to tile to protect it from scratching, staining, fading and fire damage. The glaze is mostly used in residential buildings and is slip resistant and easy to clean. Tile glaze can give the tile a smooth or textured surface and is available in many designs and colors.

Unglazed tile have no glazing on the surface. The color of the bisque goes all the way through the tile from top to bottom. The through color means the tile won't show wear form scratches like glazed tile. Tiles like quarry tile are unglazed and used in both commercial and residential areas. Depending on the type of unglazed tile you may need a special sealer.

Glazed Porcelain

Glazed porcelain has several advantages and disadvantages over unglazed porcelain. The advantages include more colors, textures and styles to choose from. Porcelain can be glazed in one single color or multiple colors, overlapping one another for new, modern looks. A glazed porcelain tile can have textures and colors not available in unglazed tiles, which can enhance the look of the tile design. The glaze on a porcelain tile can chip, which will expose the clay body beneath the tile. Additionally, if bullnose tiles, or edge tiles, are not available, a bullnose tile cannot be made from the field tile, since to do so would be to remove the glaze from the tile's edge. Glazed porcelain tiles can also be more expensive than unglazed, due to the extra steps taken in manufacturing.

Unglazed Porcelain

Unglazed porcelain tiles have color that goes straight through the body of the tile. This means the surface can be ground to a high gloss, chipped, cut or bullnosed without changing the color of the tile. Unglazed porcelain tiles are therefore more durable and suitable for commercial applications, although they provide no advantages in residential settings. Colors and styles may be more limited in an unglazed porcelain tile, since colors and textures are limited to those able to be produced from the clay body itself. Unglazed tiles are typically less expensive than glazed porcelain tiles.

When a tile is considered modular it means that it falls within a set specification for both facial dimensions and thickness to be installed alongside other sizes of tile in that same series. In other words, you can use different sizes, if they are all modular, from the same series to make a pattern. Whenever installing a tile pattern it is important to inform a sales rep so they can check calibration and ensure the different tiles can be used together.

The relative hardness of glazed tile is an important issue that should be addressed when selecting a tile. Scratching the surface of the tile with different minerals at the same pressure performs the test and subjectively assigns a "MOH'S Scale Hardness" number to the glaze. The softest mineral used is talc, #1 if no scratch; the hardest is a diamond a #10 if no scratch. Other minerals of varying hardness make up #2 through #9.

When selecting floor tile a value of #5 or greater is suitable for most residential floor applications. For a commercial or high traffic application normally a value of #7 or greater is recommended.

The Coefficient of Friction (COF) of tile is a numerical value that measures the slip resistance of a tile. It is a scale from 0 to 1 and the higher the number the more slip resistant the surface. In order for a tile to be considered OSHA compliant, the tile has to meet the recommended COF of .50 in both wet and dry conditions.

If a tile has a wet and dry COF of .50 or greater it is recognized as meeting the standards set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

Please visit our tile pattern page

Roto-Color Printing

Roto-Color is a printing technique where a rotating drum applies tile ink to a tile. Tile is placed on a conveyor belt and passes underneath a set of rotating drums. The more drums in the printing line, the more variety from tile to tile.

Inkjet Printing

Inkjet printing is often referred to as HD Tecnhology. HD Technology is the process of taking high resolution images from a computer and printing those images on the tile. This technology has drastically improved the appearance of the tile and makes it virtually impossible for the human eye to distinguish a difference between the printed tile and a true natural stone. HD Technology allows the creation of hundreds of tiles before a repeated pattern will come through. Since the tile is printed with an inkjet printer, the difference from dye lot to dye lot is less than your standard roto color or screen printed tiles.

The variation of color, texture, and tone between individual ceramic tiles is termed as color shade variation. Variation in color and shade is an inherent characteristic of any fired product and can actually enhance the character and beauty of the finished project.

The color shade varies to some degrees in pieces of ceramic tile, in every style and from each production run. You should review several pieces of the same style of ceramic tile from the same production to decide for acceptable color shade variations. Although many of the products reflect a slight variation, there are items that display moderate to dramatic variation in range. Also clarify all questions about your choice of ceramic tile selection prior to installation.

V1 Uniform Appearance

Minimal to no difference among pieces from the same production run because each ceramic tile is manufactured using the same glaze applications and body texture.

V2 Slight Variation

Distinguishable differences in texture and/or pattern within similar colors.

V3 Moderate Variation

Though the colors present in a single piece of ceramic tile may indicate the colors to be expected on other tiles, the amount of colors on each piece might vary significantly.

V4 Random Variation

Random color variation from tile to tile, so that one ceramic tile may have a totally different color from that on other tiles. Thus, the final installation will be unique.

Glossy

A glossy surface is one that has a reflective material added to the glaze during production. This reflective material creates a glossy appearance to the tile. Many manufacturers use glossy and polished interchangeably, but a polished surface is created after the glazing process. The polished surface is created by a series of sanding or grinding the glazed tile until a smooth reflective surface is created. Due to the amount of glaze that is removed during the polishing process, polished tile may need to be sealed to protect it.

Linen

Matte

Polished

A polished surface is created by a series of sanding or grinding the glazed tile until a smooth reflective surface is created. Due to the amount of glaze that is removed during the polishing process, polished tile may need to be sealed to protect it. Many manufacturers use glossy and polished interchangeably, but a true glossy surface is created during the glazing process.

Semi Gloss

Undulated

Unpolished

The unpolished surface is any tile that has not undergone the polishing process. An unpolished surface is generally only defined when some surfaces in that product series are polished and in different types of natural stone.

Smooth

A tile with a smooth surface is one that does not have any, or has very slight indentations, in the surface. Smooth tiles generally carry a lower slip-resistance than textured tiles but are generally easier to clean.

Texture

Textured tile is any tile that has slight to heavy indentations in the glaze or tile surface. Slip-resistance is generally higher on a textured tile than a smooth tile but cleaning is usually more difficult.

Tile density and moisture absorption have an indirect relationship to each other. As the density of the tile increases the moisture absorption rate becomes less. Tile density and moisture absorption are important to understand when selecting the tiles for different applications. The smaller percentage of water absorption the better the tile will perform when placed in a submerged or wet application.

Tile basically falls into one of the following four categories:

1. Non-Vitreous: indoor use only tile that has 7% or greater absorption rate
2. Semi-Vitreous: indoor use only tile that has 3% to 7% absorption rate
3. Vitreous: Frost resistant tile that has .5% to 3% absorption rate that is suitable for indoor and outdoor use
4. Impervious: Strongest frost proof tile that has 0% to .5% absorption rate that is suitable for indoor and outdoor use

If you are looking to put a tile outdoors we highly recommend a dense porcelain product with a low water absorption rate below 0.5%. When putting tile indoor the water absorption rate does not apply as much but still has an impact on a tiles ability to resist staining.

The water absorbing characteristic of a tile is determined by immersing an unglazed tile in water. After it has soaked, it is weighed to find the amount of water absorbed. The water absorbed is expressed as a percentage of the weight of a dry tile. Water absorption applies only to unglazed surfaces. Any glazed tile surface should be impervious to water.

Choosing the right floor tile is important. As well as considering the decorator angle of the room and floor covering, the durability of the tiles is vital. The current rating system for ceramic tile in place today is really the only reliable gauge for consumers to use in determining wear expectations for a particular tile choice. The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has developed a rating scale that can effectively guide a consumer through the arduous process of choosing the right tile for lets say a family room or busy kitchen area.

Tiles vary in their degree of resistance to wear. Some tiles will only be suitable for light duty, others are able to cope with the rigors of a heavy commercial area like a factory floor or a railway station. Always remember though, a floor tile can be used on a wall, but never use a wall tile on a floor.

Care must be exercised when selecting tiles. Tiles must be suitable for the job they are intended for, and it is important to ensure the intended use is communicated clearly to the tile consultant at the time of selection. Most tiles are rated - 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 for the following uses:

Class 1

Floor coverings in areas that are walked on essentially with soft soled footwear or bare feet without scratching dirt (eg., domestic bathrooms and bedrooms without direct access from the outside).

Class 2

Floor coverings in areas that are walked on with soft soled or normal footwear with, at the most, occasional small amount of scratching dirt (eg., rooms in the living areas of homes, but the exception of kitchens, entrance ways and other rooms which may have a lot of traffic).

Class 3

Floor coverings in areas that are walked on quite often with normal footwear and small amounts of scratching dirt (eg., halls, kitchens, corridors, balconies, lobbies and terraces).

Class 4

Floor coverings in areas that are subjected to considerable traffic with some scratching dirt so that the conditions are the most severe for which glazed floor tiles are suitable (eg., entrances, work rooms, restaurants and exhibition and sales rooms as well as other rooms in public and private buildings not mentioned in Classes 1, 2, 3).

Class 5

The maximum resistance achieved for glazed tiles against footwear traffic and resistant to staining agents. Specifically designed for heavy traffic commercial applications and locations.

Antiqued

Brushed

A brushed finish is achieved by taking a steel brush, or other hard material, and applying the brushes to the material. This finishing technique changes both the feel and the look of the tile and is most commonly used on travertine.

Filled & Honed

The filled and honed finish is accomplished by using an epoxy resin to fill in the voids that naturally form in stone, and then using an abraisive material to create a smooth, flat surface.

Flamed

Flamed stone is the process of exposing a stone's surface to high temperatures which creates a textured appearance and may alter the colors due to oxidation. A flamed finish is generally reserved for limestone and granite.

Honed

The honed finish is accomplished by using an abraisive material to create a smooth, flat surface.

Polished

The polished finish of a natural stone features a shiny, smooth, and reflective surface.

Tumbled

The tumbled finish, also known as antiqued, on natural stone is the process of placing the tile in a drum with abrasive materials. They are turned together and result in an aged or worn look tile with rounded edges.

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Plank

The term plank, when used to describe hardwood flooring, means that the hardwood is at least 3" wide. Wide width hardwood planks are a great addition to large rooms, but can make smaller rooms look even smaller.

Strip

The strip design in hardwood refers to any hardwood flooring that comes in widths less than 3 inches. The strip design is often used in smaller rooms to make the room look larger.

Parquet

Parquet Wood flooring is a geometrical pattern composed of individual wood slats glued in place or fastened mechanically. The overall quality of parquet floors can differ dramatically. Generally, the fillets or slats used are often not of the same quality used in other wood flooring.

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Ply is another term for layer, as in a layer of wood, typically used to describe engineered hardwood construction layers. Since wood flooring is highly susceptible to scratching, the number of plies in a piece of floor is worth considering.

Engineered wood is made up of multiple layers, usually with three or five plies. The first ply is the prime part of the material - a piece of real wood that is the species you are buying such as oak or maple. The other layers are made up of different species, or different grades of the same species, which are stacked and glued together under high heat and pressure. The layers are typically constructed with a method called cross-ply lamination to enhance the strength of the floor.

The benefit of having floors with more plies is that additional plies help resist denting and cupping caused by excessive moisture. The cross-ply lamination technique creates a floor that is more durable.

Floors with more layers are also less likely to be affected by changes in humidity levels and moisture because they resist the natural tendency of wood to expand and contract. Engineered floors are, therefore, more dimensionally stable and allows for flexibility of installation (floating or glue-down method below, on or above-ground level).

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Selecting a wood species can help you create many different looks or design sensibilities. Following is a quick description of some of the more popular varieties.

American Cherry

This species, in terms of flooring, may be the most misunderstood wood choice. A single board probably won't be indicative of what the floor will look like because there's quite a bit of color variation. American Cherry, which is considered a soft wood, starts with a light reddish cast and soft grain. But there is a good percentage of boards (8% to 12%) that are white. Some people love the variation and the overall look these boards give a floor and a room, but others ask that these white boards be culled from the batch. In such cases, it's necessary to order 15% more boards than the job requires. But note that there is no return possibility for this material. American Cherry also changes dramatically with time and light exposure. An area rug, if left in the same place for months, will cause an obvious spot. All American Cherry darkens with age.

Ash

Ash has a similar grain to oak and compares well in terms of hardness. It has a bit more yellowish tone, which gives customers another option for matching similar-colored cabinets. Ash also provides just enough of a different look to give a room a unique feel.

Bamboo

Technically, this description doesn't belong here. Bamboo is a grass, yet it's even harder than Rock Maple. It's one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable flooring products. It also provides several different looks, with vertical and horizontal configurations that offer different appearances. Bamboo is available in its natural light color, or in darker tones achieved through a carbonizing (smoking) process.

Beech

Beech creates an elegant wood flooring with tight, straight grain lines. The even grain is also indicative of Beech's density, hardness and durability. Beech flooring has a reddish brown hue.

Birch

Birch has a straight, closed grain that is evenly textured, with occasional attractive wavy lines. Its colors range from a light sapwood to reddish brown heartwood. As flooring, Birch is attractive and durable with a hardness rating that is just shy of red oak.

Brazilian Cherry

Unlike American Cherry, Brazilian Cherry is a darker wood that is very hard and suitable for high traffic areas. There are noticeable variances in the wood, and it will darken with exposure to light. But it's a great choice if you like darker woods and want a species that is extremely tough. The grain is also a bit more interesting than many standard hardwoods.

Hickory

Hickory provides a combination of hardness, strength and durability that no other wood flooring can match. Harder than rock maple, hickory's beauty comes from its unexpected color variations, knots and streaks of mineral color.

Maple

Maple's popularity has increased steadily in the last decade. Its uniform grain and light yellowish coloration make small gaps and minor imperfections more visible. And it's not easily stained on-site. For people who like light colors, though, there is a subtle beauty to maple that changes with the angle of light against it. Prefinished options found on South Cypress Floors offer a much wider range of color than ones that can be applied on-site. Maple's hardness and strength also increase the value of a home. Maple is 50% harder than Red Oak, which is why it's commonly used in basketball and racquetball courts.

Oak

Most wood floors are still made of oak varieties. Red oak, with its slight reddish tone is used in nearly 70% of wood floors. White oak, which tends to have a slight greenish tone, is also a popular species. Oak has pronounced grain and hides the wear imperfections that come with everyday living. These woods hold nearly any kind of stain well, from the natural, light colors commonly used in the West to the dark, traditional stains commonly found in the East - and everything in between.

Pecan

Pecan is harder than red oak and offers excellent protection against indentations and wear. This type of wood holds stain very well, and enhances the tight grain to create a beautiful floor.

Pine

A pine floor offers lots of character. It's generally full of dark knots and mineral streaks that offer high contrast to light colored wood. Pine is a softer wood and may dent more than other hardwoods. However, to most people who are charmed by the look of a pine floor, imperfections only add to the appeal.

Walnut

Walnut is a very dense, very dark and very beautiful wood. It's also quite expensive. While walnut is often used in flooring, it's seldom used for an entire floor. Mostly, you'll find walnut used to create interesting shapes, patterns and borders in contrast to lighter colored wood floor.