When looking around the market for residential flooring tiles, all you see is the final product. But do you ever wonder how it reached this stage? If so, you’re going to learn everything today!
Porcelain vs Ceramic
If you want to understand how residential flooring tiles are made, you first need to know that every material is different. For example, the process for porcelain tiles is very different to the one utilised for ceramic tiles.
Porcelain – Although porcelain tiles might seem ubiquitous in the market, manufacturers need specific clay for them to work properly. From here, they add feldspar and sand to the mix. One of the reasons that porcelain is so resilient and reliable as a tile is because of the high temperature during the firing stage. This is one of the biggest differences between ceramic and porcelain.
Ceramic – On the other hand, ceramic is more common for tiles because manufacturers can use any natural brown, red, or white clay as a starting point. Meanwhile, porcelain clay is denser and finer. While ceramic is also fired, it’s at a lower temperature than porcelain. Why is it fired at all? To eliminate as much water as possible from the material.
When both have gone through this process, it’s then cut to shape and a pattern is applied. Not only are porcelain tiles cooked at a higher temperature, but they’re also normally in this stage for longer. With a lower water absorption rate, porcelain is better for bathrooms and toilets while ceramic is ideal in living areas.
Hand Made Tiles
When you think of the residential flooring tiles niche, you probably picture lots of machines and equipment controlling the process. While this is accurate in many areas, it’s important to highlight that some companies still offer hand made tiles. Whether a business owner or homeowner, handmade tiles are the best way to get something truly unique (something that wows people as they enter your business or home!).
Ultimately, many different methods exist for homemade tiles, and therefore most companies have their unique process of achieving a high-quality finish and style. This being said, the producers still need to remove as much water as possible. Therefore, they start breaking the source clay down into manageable lumps using a cutting wire. From here, the tiles are sliced and dried.
To help the glazing process later, the surfaces are smoothed over and dried once again. Once the firing process is over, the producer will ensure that everything has gone smoothly (excuse the pun!). If they spot cracks or warping in any tiles, these tiles won’t make it any further because this will only lead to problems for the customer.
Next, all that’s left to do is decorate the tiles, and this is where companies who allow for tailoring will take their orders from customers. As a customer, this is great news because you can choose a residential flooring tile that suits the decor in your home. Rather than searching for weeks for something that might work, you choose the colours and patterns yourself.
Summary
How are residential flooring tiles made? For the most part, it depends on the material and the manufacturing method. However, it starts with a lump of clay and goes through several steps to both remove moisture and shape the clay correctly. By the end, you’ll have a porcelain, ceramic, or slightly different material ready for use in your home.
If you choose a producer of handmade tiles, it’s easy to get products designed for YOUR home. People won’t be able to stop themselves from complementing your unique tiles!