What is the difference between ceramic tile and porcelain tile?
What is sandstone or limestone?
What is travertine?
What is slate?
Setting out a tiling job...
DO's and DON'Ts of ceramic tile care
Care and maintenance of tile grout
Stain removal agents

What is the difference between ceramic tile and porcelain tile?
For centuries, ceramic tile has graced the surfaces of temples, homes and buildings and provided an excellent material for containers and utensils. Discovered and enhanced by the ancients for its enduring qualities, ceramic tile is generally identified by its red clay content. Typical uses for ceramic tile are countertops, backsplashes, vanities and flooring. Requiring a stronger material than ceramic, porcelain tile is developed by composing finer bisques, finishes and firing methods. Considerably stronger than ceramic, porcelain tiles can be used for all of the interior uses that ceramic tile can, and can also withstand the extremes of exterior applications as it is more resistant to extremes in temperatures. Porcelain typically lasts a lifetime and can mimic the beauty of natural stone.

What is sandstone or limestone?
Limestone is a form of marble that is less dense than marble or travertine. Limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting mostly of calcium carbonate and is formed from the remains of ancient sea creatures such as oysters, mussels, and other ancient shellfish and invertebrates, that have dropped to the sandy bottom of ancient seas, and then compressed over millions of years. Limestone is a common stone found in many parts of the world in good abundance. Limestone generally varies in earthy colors such as off-white, to a buff or beige color. If the limestone contains the mineral dolomite, it becomes harder in nature and can be polished to a shine much like marble can. It's best uses are for structural walls, entry walls, floors, fireplace surrounds, vanities and shower walls. It is generally not recommended for kitchen countertops and wet bars because fruit juices and alcohol products can stain it and limestone is prone to scratches. Before use, it is usually treated with a sealant.

What is travertine?
Travertine is a variety of limestone that is formed in pools by the precipitation of hot mineral-rich spring water. It is a form of marble that is less dense than high-grade marble. The holes characteristic of travertine, were created when carbon dioxide bubbles were trapped as the stone was being formed. It is a highly porous calcite. Travertine can have a honed surface, or the holes can be filled and then polished to a high gloss. It is best used in entry walls, floors, fireplace surrounds, vanities, shower walls, tub decks and mosaics. It is not recommended for kitchen and wet bar countertops as it can be stained by fruit juices and alcoholic products, as well, it is prone to scratches. Its colors usually range from beige to brown. It does require some special care and some cleaning products can be destructive to travertine surfaces.

What is slate?
Slate is a fine-grained, metamorphic rock, commonly derived from sedimentary rock shale. It is composed mostly of micas, chlorite and quartz. It is best used for floors, walkways and roofing and recently has been used attractively for kitchen countertops and wet bars. It is a dense composite that is very tough and typically comes in blacks, grays and greens, however other beautiful colors can also be found in slate products. Slate colors within the same color family often vary. Veined patterns from overseas have also recently been introduced. Unless its surface has been honed smooth, slate's surface can be recognized by its distinct cleft pattern. Note that it is a durable, easy care surface.

Setting out a tiling job...
• Any area to be tiled regardless on the size of the tile, but more importantly when larger tiles are used, setting out is important. This can be done by laying the tiles out "dry" to identify where tiles have to be cut to determine the size of the piece. Cut tiles should be to a minimum and in the least obvious places and if possible not less than 50% of the tile, this will enhance the installation. Setting the area out in grid lines will give a good perspective of the end result.

Movement Joints
• When setting out the tiling job ensure that structural, intermediate, perimeter, expansion and Construction joints are taken into consideration, as they are very important. This becomes even more important when grout joints under 3mm in width are considered in the tiling job.
• Ensure that all movement joints are of adequate width and also to the full combined depth of both tiles and adhesive.

Substrates
• With the use of large size tiles it is vital that the substrate flatness or plan is correct prior to starting tiling, otherwise tile to tile lipping can be a concern,especially when square edge tiles are used. Make certain that all individual tiles corners and edges are within 1mm tolerance or less.

Tools
• Due to hardness of the porcelain tiles some of the conventional tiling tools are not always adequate to achieve an acceptable cut. Mechanical saws for wet or dry cutting may be required to ensure straight cuts without serrated, chipped or brocken edges. Individual tile cuts may also have to be ground to eliminate any serration at the tile edge. On a square, arrised or bevelled edge tile, the cut should match the manufactured edge to have a uniform matching finish. You would need the appropriate grinding tool for this, but one must also consider this will take extra time.

Tile Bonding or Fixing
• Care must be taken to ensure the use of an adhesive that is recommend for porcelain or any dense tiles. The larger the tile size, the greater the concern of inadequate bonding. When fixing larger size tiles, the greater the possibility of air pockets remaining beneath the tile. Adhesive is to be applied with the use of the recommended notched trowel size, that the adhesive is of adequate tackiness and that each tile is well bedded into the adhesive ribs by sliding,tapping or beating(rubber mallet). Tiles 400x400mm and larger can also be fixed by applying the adhesive to the back of the tile, ( placing the tile in a frame made up to the size of the tile and deep enough to allow for the thickness of the tile and the required thickness of adhesive). Screeding the adhesive this way and placing the tile could even be easier and there would be no voids.
• Sand/cement mortar mixes are not recommended for extremely vitreous or compact tiles.

Grout lines widths
• The grout line width was actually determined at the point of " Setting out a Tiling job". However, the end user must always agree on the grout width joint to be used.The grout joint width should be between 1 or 5 mm, but whatever the selected joint width chosen, should be maintained throughout the total installation ie:- including borders, inserts and other features.
• Rectified products have been manufactured to be able to be fixed with butt joints or touching tile edges ie:- no grout joint. If an installation was to be fixed with butt joints in any particular installation, the fixer must be completely aware of the substrate condition, time span between placing the substrate and tiling, atmospheric condition on site, existence of in- floor heating and all other building material characteristics involved. Structural or any other movement joints must be considered.
• Grout joints should be fully filled and all excess grout should be cleaned off the face of the tile and no grout film be left on the surface.

Protection of work
• It is the tile fixers obligation to ensure that work is adequately protected from damage. A part of this is also to use metal angles at all edge transfers to other floor covering materials and using edging tiles or bullnose tiles to prevent square edge tiles from chipping.
• Tiling work should be protected during tile fixing and at anytime while ongoing work is being carried out.

DO's and DON'Ts of Ceramic Tile Care
Do not combine ammonia and household bleaches.
Do not use harsh cleaning agents (such as steel wool pads) which can scratch or damage the surface of your tile.
Do test scouring pads in a small area first.
Do use a silicone sealer on grout joints if continuous staining is a problem.
Do read and follow label directions for all cleaners.

Care and maintenance of Tile Grout
Grout may present a special cleaning problem because it is susceptible to many staining agents. Apply a silicone sealer to grout joints several times a year for maximum protection.
In addition to keeping the grout clean, be sure to keep grout joints in good repair. Scrape out loose, cracked or powdery joints and refill with a good grout.
One common grouting trouble spot is the joint between the tub and and the wall in your bathroom. As the house or tub settles, the grout may crack and crumble. It's relatively simple to remedy. Remove the old grout with a sharp pointed tool, watching out that you don't scratch tile or tub. Then dry the joint thoroughly and fill with a flexible caulking compound, such as silicone rubber caulking.

Stain Removal Agents