NEW ARTICLES  HOT ARTICLES  TOP RATED  ADD AN ARTICLE  UPDATE AN ARTICLE  GET RATED 
  HOME     MY ACCOUNT     POWER SEARCH     REGISTER     SUPPORT     SUGGEST CATEGORY  

What are Ceramic Tiles?
47513 Home & Family > Home Improvement Oct 11, 2007 WJaegel What are Ceramic Tiles? Ceramic tiles are variously shaped slabs, made from a mixture of clay, sand, and a host of other natural ingredients. Since decades, it has been a popular decorative option. According to certain records, its history dates back to 4th century BC when ceramic materials were used to grace houses. There are also records regarding its usage by Mesopotamians during the 4000 BC. In China, it became more popular during the reign of Shang Yin Dynasty in between 1523 and 1028 BC. After sometimes, they became an important segment of Islamic architecture. Apart from these, Assyrians and Babylonians also used it. Meanwhile, its production and usage gained much popularity in Europe, the examples for which are the faiences of Antwerp and the floor tiles of renaissance Italy. Later, it was widely accepted across the world as a popular decorative and flooring option. Now, it has been fondly used as a popular wall and flooring options in a variety of areas like homes, offices, churches, and mosques. As mentioned earlier, ceramic tiles are primarily made from clay and a range of raw materials. Sometimes, even items such as old florescent bulbs, auto windshields, and ground glass used for its making. Among the steps involved in the most modern production method are batching, mixing and blending, grinding, spray drying, drying, glazing, and firing. Batching is to determine the amount and the type as well as the color of raw materials required for its manufacture. In mixing and grinding, clay and other materials are blended whose combination gives a semi fine powder. Later, some water is poured on it to get a mud-like item. Drying involves the pumping of this mud-like item to a large dryer, whose result is fine clay powder. The next step is glazing, which provides it a glazing look. During this process, a liquid made of colored dyes and flirt (glass derivatives) is poured on the tile using a high-pressure spray or by directly pouring on the tile. The last but the important step is firing. In this phase, the tiles are heated at a desirable temperature in the kiln. On the completion of these steps, ceramic tiles attain properties like hardness, rigidity, and fragility. Different types of ceramic tiles are now made available that suit your pocket and match with your lifestyle and preferences. The most popular category of ceramic tiles is glazed tiles and unglazed tiles. The main difference between both the tiles is that unglazed ones are fired only once, while manufacturing of glazed ones undergo a special process, namely, glazing. Glazed tiles are available in an infinite variety of colors and styles, apart from a range of finishes like matte, satin, and high gloss. Unlike glazed tiles, unglazed ceramic tiles possess natural colors. Clinker, red stoneware, and terracotta are some of the popular types of unglazed tiles. The ceramic tiles are again classified into floor tiles and wall tiles. Floor tiles are considered one of the best options to beautify floors in areas like bedrooms and lounges, whereas wall tiles are used for surfacing fireplaces, kitchen and bathroom walls. Depending upon its usage, ceramic tiles are again grouped into five categories. Soft as well as scuff, Group 1 is most suitable to surface bathrooms. Group 2 is considered the best for common residential purposes, however, not recommended in areas like kitchens. Apart from its applications in residential areas, Group 3 can be used in office spaces. Group 4 are used both in residential and commercial areas. The last group is intended for heavy traffic areas like restaurants, shopping complexes, and malls. There is also a special category, called whiteware, which are exclusively designed for special purposes like adorning the interior or exterior of a building or home. In contrast to other flooring options like marble and granite, ceramic tiles offer a range of benefits, including easy installation, cost effectiveness, durability, resistant to chemicals, and stain resistant. Further, they are regarded as a boon for allergy and asthma sufferers, as they are easy to clean and are resistant to dust, abrasions, and chemicals. Above all, this flooring option can easily be fitted to any surface. Nowadays, ceramic tiles come in a plethora of styles, fashions, designs, and finishes. A recent addition is decorative tile. Also, popular nowadays are hand painted ones. Maverand offers the largest variety of ceramic tile, marble and granite mosaic and garden decorations. All products are carefully selected and come from the most qualified factories in Hong Kong and China. send email to WJaegel

Write a Review   Add to My Favorite   Refer it to Friend   Report Article  

Average Visitor Rating: 0.00 (out of 5)
Number of ratings: 0 Votes

Visitor Rating


Other links owned by this user
Dog sledding in Whistler dates back to centuries ago when dog sleds were used as one of the main transportation means during winter in North Canada.
Category:

The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is an incredible tourist destination, blessed with magnificent island-dotted blue seas, hidden coves and secluded bays, beautiful lagoons, forested hills, lush green forests, and enchanting view of tropical sunsets.
Category:

Koh Samui, also known as Samui, is Thailand's one of the most idyllic islands, located in the Gulf of Thailand. Situated about 85 km east of Surat Thani and about 700 km south of Bangkok.
Category:

Manila is one of the most tourist destinations in the world, with a spectrum of attractions, ranging from colonial edifices and historical and cultural sites to beautiful parks and interesting museums. Discussed further in this article are some of the mos
Category:

PE in Asia has come along way in the past couple of years and with capital committed for the region combined with capital already sitting in PE funds looking for investment opportunities, the indications are that the trend will continue for some time.
Category:

by a barrier reef, the island is noted for its incredible lagoon within which lie many small islets or motus.
Category:

The capital city of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. An eclectic confluence of rich culture and heritage, Hyderabad, along with its twin city Secunderabad, is a 400-year old city, which is much famed as t
Category:

Whistler, acknowledged as the 'Natural Year-Round Playground and becomes a sought after destination for enjoying skiing and other activities like snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and sleigh riding.
Category:

Steeped in history and tradition, Hanoi is not only the capital but also the cultural, economic and political center of Socialist Republic of Vietnam. A burgeoning hub of international trade and center, this unique city is stunningly located in the northe
Category:

People refurbish homes and offices for a myriad of reasons. For instance, in home renovation, it may be to widen the living space or bedroom, update the kitchen as well as dining space, or to install a trendy window or exterior siding or to install a high
Category:

Are you bored of giving the typical gifts to your spouse or lover on their special days such as wedding anniversaries or Valentines Day? Then, this time make your beloved ones feel truly special by presenting them something unique in the form of romantic
Category:

Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated places in the world, is famous for its charm and diverse culture. The residents here lead different way of life and the society is contemporary and capitalistic. Even though the people still follow the Chinese
Category:

Pattaya is a beautiful sea-side resort destination, situated along a breathtaking bay on the East Coast of the Gulf of Thailand, in eastern Thailand. Pattaya is truly a paradise that caters to every type of tourist.
Category:

Phuket, also known as the 'Pearl of the South,' is the largest island in Thailand, spread across 570 sq km. Located in the sparkling as well as clear green water of the Andaman Sea, Phuket is about 890 km from Bangkok.
Category:

Many Asian firms and business set ups face some key challenges for recruiting executives including mid as well as senior level managers. Executive recruitment is a specialized field dealing with recruitment of specialist or senior level personnel for a bu
Category:

Whistler is perhaps the North America's most sought after vacation spot. Apart from being a favorite ski and golf destination, Whistler also boasts of a well-earned reputation of being one of the most popular health and wellness destinations in Whistler.
Category:

Pacific Islands, otherwise Oceanus, is a constellation of more than 25,000 islands as well as atolls of more than 20 nations and territories that are spread across the central and western Pacific Ocean.
Category:

Seychelles, situated in the Indian Ocean, is an independent country which gained independence from the UK in 1976. Over the last ten years or so, the Seychelles offshore financial services industry has experienced a significant increase in business depth,
Category:

In today's dynamic business world, the success of corporate governance largely depends on fulfilling a multitude of secretarial works, legal necessities, and constitutional compliances. No matter it is a small business set up or a large business corporati
Category:

English as a Second Language (ESL), alternatively known as English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL), refers to an intensive English language learning program or course taken by speakers of other languages.
Category:

Other links at Home & Family > Home Improvement
Food is an undeniable part of our lives and so are kitchens. Functioning appliances make it easier to store and prepare our food. The latest kitchen equipment makes that so much easier.
Category:

Homeowners who draw their water from a private well are frequently plagued with iron bacteria in their tap water. Signs of iron bacteria include reddish brown or yellow slime that can clog plumbing and cause offensive odors. This article discusses how iro
Category:

Shopping for a pool is like shopping for anything: a computer, a pair of runners, the latest GPS or a bag of beans.
Category:

Many people are finding that the ever increasing price of buying a home is making it impossible to get on the property ladder. However, there are options available which most people wouldn't even normally think of. One of these is to self build your own h
Category:

Whether you're designing anew home, remodeling your bathroom, or adding a bathroom to your existing home, you'll need to choose bathroom taps for your new bathroom. Ceramic disk valves vs conventional valves Do the taps you
Category:




Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics

Articles: 68285
Categories: 501

Yahoo Entertainment
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional   Valid CSS