Historically Ceramic tiles have been made by man for almost
4000 years. Be it decorative tile work of Persia, mosaics of Spain, the
majolica floor tiles of renaissance Italy, the faiences of Antwerp or the tile
iconography of Netherlands all remain landmarks in the history of ceramic tile.
Though Ceramic tiles of modern world had humble beginnings as simple white or
beige color squares for bathrooms and kitchens, today they come in all sorts of
shape, size, color and design and have made their way into the rest of the
home.
What's more Ceramic tile have a true "Green"
pedigree as it is made entirely from natural, recyclable and biodegradable
materials. Being naturally waterproof and mould/mildew resistant, ceramic tiles
improve indoor air quality and as they need no polishing are installed faster.
There are various types of ceramic tile products available
in market that can be used as floor tiles, wall tiles or roof tiles with
literally thousands of styles and grades to choose from. However based upon the
material and properties of ceramic tiles they are divided into few broad
categories:
Vitrified tiles: These tiles are compact, scratch and acid
resistant and possess better mechanical strength. They are practically
replacing stone and marble as flooring due to their stone like qualities such
as seamless joint and uniform color and texture.
Porcelain tiles: These versatile tiles come with a plain,
rough, or polished finish and can be used in interiors and are an excellent
choice for outdoor conditions as they don't wear easily under heavy traffic.
Mosaic tiles: These are small tiles, about .75 inches to 1
inch in size mounted on paper sheets or latex mesh for easy installation. These
tiles can be ceramic, porcelain or glass and are most suitable on walls, curved
surfaces as murals, in water pools, and low traffic floors. They do not chip
easily and due to numerous grout joints are slip resistant too.
Glazed tiles: These non porous, smooth surface tiles are
stain proof, most suitable for low traffic areas, walls and countertops. The
large format glazed tiles with satin finish are quite popular these days.
Ceramic Wall Tiles India
Quarry tiles: These thick and dense tiles are mostly used in
heavy commercial establishments. Their natural color and rugged surface texture
gives them naturally stain resistant and slip resistant qualities.
Terracotta tiles: These handmade or machine made tiles are
often used as roof tiles, they feature a rustic look and stay cool in summers
and warm in winters though unglazed terracotta tiles need a coat of sealer
every year.
Tiles are the most versatile medium and design possibilities
are limited only by imagination. The latest tile design trends range from bold
colors to black and white scheme and from large sizes to tiny mosaic patterns.
While black and white is the minimalist design expression in step patterns,
diagonal designs and combination of patterns and textures, the vibrant color
palette brighten up the spaces and works well in homes. Bold colors tiles can
also accentuate the black and white layout. Another recent trend is the
metallic finish tiles in steel, copper, bronze, gold or silver, with fresh as
well as rusted and classic appearance. Ceramic tiles with steel inlays and
Stainless steel finish borders can give the most contemporary look. Oxidized
and weathered steel look are the other designer finishes in demand. In terms of
size large format tiles are the hottest look that gives a grand look to the
space.
With their flawless jointing and eye-catching finishes they
almost look like stone. Besides as the focus is now on natural materials, they
are being emulated in tiles too such as stone, wood and textiles, even natural
elements like bamboo and pebbles are being reproduced in tile finishes. As
natural design does not repeat itself similarly the emerging concept based
tiles- that are designs made using a combination of tiles, too break monotonous
pattern and are thus popular with designers. Similarly there is also an
inclination towards history and heritage; manufacturers are increasingly
borrowing from the past to capture the essence of old world and reproducing in
tiles. Retro is one of the hard to miss old school style reemerging today with
lime green, orange colors and checkerboard pattern. For luxury spaces there are
now high end tiles with gold and silver texture and Swarovski inlays. As also
the exclusive digitally printed ceramic tiles that are custom made with
complete image permanence.
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Ceramic tiles nowadays have become a major lifestyle product
and designer tiles have caught the fancy of Indian customers. With
technological innovations and designs, the options are endless in terms of
finishes and aesthetics as well as application for various uses. Today tiles
are used all over for interiors, residential as well as commercial spaces and
in fact are considered new fashion statement.
Ceramic Flooring Tiles