Tiles FAQ 2024

The history of ceramic tiles begins with the oldest civilizations. It is known that Egyptians on the 4th millennium B.C. already used to decorate their houses with blue tile bricks. The glazed bricks were also very common in Mesopotamia; one of its famous applications is the Ishtar Door of Babylon.

Sourcing right tiles as per your need and choice is very important. Today, tiles can be sourced and find on various online shops with numerous options available in size, colours, textures, materials. One can also contact their nearby tile dealers.

Tiles are not waterproof, they are water resistant but in many parts you can consider and treat tiles as good as waterproof. Porcelain tiles can be installed indoors or outdoors. Due to the slightly different production process for ceramic tiles, we refer to all ceramics as water resistant. Even though ceramic tile will not be damaged by water, they might have some water absorption. For indoor installations, porcelain and ceramic tiles will be great for any normal wet environment, like a bathroom or shower wall. For outdoor installations, we recommend porcelain tile.

Well, it depends upon the type of tiles. But now-a-days many brands have tiles which are slip resistance. Vitrified tiles in general are slippery but the degree of this depends largely on the finish you choose. A glossy tile will be more slippery than a matt finish tile.

Yes, tiles are heat resistance, being one of the most commonly used tiles for fireplaces and radiant heat systems. It is also relatively inexpensive, and durable.

Ceramic, porcelain / vitrified and glass are environment friendly compared to other manufacturing and building materials. They are long-lasting, moisture resistant, durable, incredibly hard, and both chemically and physically inert. They are environmentally friendly to manufacture as compared to other building materials.

Laying or installing a tile on floors, walls or any other areas, requires careful preparation, understanding and attention to details. It needs an experience and skillful person. Tile masons are perfect for this job.

Yes, MDF board or chipboard can also be tiled over, but not in wet or humid areas. Bare plasterboard, MDF or particleboard should be sealed.

Cement is the basic and important ingredient to install and lay tiles on surface or walls. Tiles will stick to cement as long as, it should be clean, dry, cured and level, tiles can be installed directly on top of it.

A10 Yes, depending on what adhesive you use. The adhesive has to be able to bond to the plastic and to the type of tile you are installing. Plus the adhesive has to be heat resistant since it is a light and moisture resistant since it is outside. Plus the plastic can’t have too much deflection or it can cause the tiles to crack.

Yes, tile adhesive can stick on wood but depends upon the adhesive you choose. Adhesive which is a high strength, water resistant, ready mixed and is suitable for use on moisture stable timber based boards such as moisture resistant plywood and tongue and grooved timber can be used. Some adhesive are not suitable for fully vitrified or porcelain tiles.

The earliest use of tiles was found in Egypt, dating from about 4000 BC. Through history, tiles were made by Assyrians, Babylonians and the Islamic Empire.

Morbi is the hub of tiles manufacturing and producing in India. It is district place located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India. It is a home of more than 80 percent of tiles factories, having fully equipped state- of- art facilities, with top technologies and machineries, place in the factories. It is the 2nd largest tile production zone in the world.

Tiles are manufactured in factories. Tiles brands have their large scale factories where tiles are processed and manufactured. The production capacity per day of tiles varies from brand to brand. Morbi is known to be the hub of tiles in India where there are large and small scale tile factories.

There are various tiles available today. The process and raw materials are used are different of different tiles. The basic ceramic tile is made from natural clay, sand and water. Both porcelain / vitrified and ceramic tiles use clay in their creation, but porcelain tiles typically use heavier, denser clays than what is used in average ceramic tile. These harder clays used for porcelain tend to be white clays mixed with sand and feldspar.

Yes, tiles which are made out of ceramics can be painted. Use durable paints. Also, taking into consideration is the area where you would like to paint. One should avoid areas which are in contact of water, like bathroom or near shower or taps.

Tiles can be polished, cleaned, to make it shiny. One can polish floor, wall, countertops or kitchen backsplash tiles, with simple home remedies, to give a sparking effect. Well, there are many glossy, polished vitrified tiles available today.

As long as the existing marble floor is structurally sound and well bonded to its substrate without excessive deflection, you can bond over tile over the marble. To bond the porcelain tile to the prepared marble surface, there are flexible thin-set mortars that are recommended for bonding tile over tile too.

In most cases, you can absolutely tile over old tiles! No matter whether you are tiling over tiles on a floor or a wall, your new tiles will need a stable base. If the old tiles are in bad shape, the new tiles won’t adhere correctly.

Most ceramic tiles can be painted, as long as it’s not frequently subjected to water or heavy wear. For instance, you can paint tiles on a bathroom wall, but avoid painting tiles that line a bathtub, shower, or that is on the floor or a countertop. Repair chips, cracks and other surface damage before painting.

Ceramic tile & porcelain tile have some pores more or less; it will suck the water out of the mortar without allowing it to set properly, leaving weak bonds between mortar and tile. The purpose of soaking tile before laying is to make the pores fully absorb water, so as not to cause hollowing, shedding, or even cracks.

Ceramic tile is made from natural clay, sand and water. These materials are molded to form square or rectangular tiles and then baked in a kiln to remove most of the moisture. Porcelain tiles are baked at very high temperatures for long periods of time so that almost all the water is removed.

A23 There are various types of laying tiles on surface or walls. Make up only as much mortar mix as can be worked in 15-20 minutes. Use a notched trowel to spread the mortar evenly on a small area where you will start laying the tile. Position the tile in the mortar along the guidelines and press into place. Spread thin-set adhesive, then set tile in adhesive.

Digitally printed tiles are very popular and are used on various areas especially on walls in bathroom and kitchen. Because of its digital printing technology, you can get these tiles in various designs, textures, prints and colours. There is a screen printing involved touching the unfired clay and using at least some pressure to force ink through the screen mesh. In contrast, digital inkjet printing does not touch the tile biscuits. Rather it sprays ink onto them (from a short distance) and so minimizes breakage.

When looking for appropriate tiles for outdoor parking area, ensure that it is non-slippery and water-resistant tiles. Tiles with matt and rustic finish tiles are amazing options that proves to be just right for these spaces. These tiles do not crack or break easily. Pivots / porch are also highly recommenced and used widely in parking areas.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles- These are the most popular tiling materials that can be used for bathroom flooring as they are affordable, long lasting, scratch resistant, maintenance free and non-porous in nature. Another advantage is that these tiles are available in a variety of colours, textures, shapes, finishes and designs. Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are made with clay but the main difference is that porcelain tiles are made with finer clay and are subjected to a higher temperature and pressure. This process makes the porcelain tiles denser, stronger and more preferable than ceramic tiles.

For kitchens, this could include: quarry, stone, cork, vinyl, bamboo, ceramic, porcelain and glass. Applications like vinyl, cork and bamboo tiles are most commonly used in flooring. While quarry, ceramic, and porcelain can be used for counters and floors, Glass tile is commonly reserved for walls and backsplashes in kitchen.

Patio floor tiles, and specifically, porcelain exterior tiles, are often even more durable than natural materials like stone and wood, depending on the PEI rating, so you can really get the best of both.

Vitrified tiles for flooring are a popular flooring material in Indian homes because of their superlative properties like strength, non-porous nature, resistance against stains, and looks that replicate natural marble. They are commonly available in sizes of 2 x 2 feet or more; this makes installation fast and reduces the number of joints.

There are many options available and in a variety of materials. You can choose from vitrified, ceramic, mosaic and among others which are long-lasting and durable, preferably as per your needs, colours textures, designs and sizes which will suite your bedroom tiles designs and bedroom interiors. With a plethora of patterns, motifs, and colors in both floors and wall by all leading tile brands, you can make your bedroom space more attractive and maintenance free.

Now-a-days brands have come up with tiles that can be used on floors as well as walls. The benefit of considering these both is that one can choose tiles which are wider and include larger format tiles, plus it means you can match the floor and wall tiles to create a continuous surface and a contemporary aesthetic, though heavy large format tiles may be a load for some types of walls.

Tile absorbed too much water. This is especially the case if the tile is cracked. Then the outer layer is not protecting it well enough. So, if the moisture is absorbed, the tile swells, expands and the pressure is created. As a result, the tile pops.

Tile cracks because of the various reasons. For example, floor tiles are sometimes installed without a slip sheet to allow for expansion. In those cases, cracks in a concrete slab can cause tiles to crack. Faulty application of the thin-set adhesive is also a common defect for cracking a tile.

Tiles play an important role in interior design, setting the look and feel of the house. Tiles are used to create the desired ambience but can also be difficult to choose. Today, tiles have become an important material in decorating, renovation in architectural and interior designs. Because of its various characteristics such as resistant to impact, force, stain, and water absorption, tiles have become a popular choice amongst end-users.

Moisture causes a variety of unwanted effects beneath tile, culminating in a compromised substrate-tile bond — the substrate is the tile installation surface. Moisture may be coming up through your home’s concrete slab, causing the tiles to lift up, or loose tile may indicate an unseen plumbing leak inside a wall.

The most common cause for falling tiles is water infiltrations. If water gets behind the tiles and in the grout, mildew can grow and it will cause the adhesive to deteriorate. Many people strip the loose tiles, sand them and reposition with new adhesive.

The hollow-sounding areas could signal several things: the thin-set adhesive could have deboned from the back of the tiles, or the thin-set could have deboned from the substrate. If the substrate is a bonded mortar bed, it’s possible that the mortar bed has deboned from the concrete slab.

If the area of the floor is directly exposed to sunlight, there are the chances of popping up of tiles because the direct sunlight will result in heat leading to expansion of tiles. Hence if adhesives are not strong, it may pop up and buckled tiles. High Moisture area is also a common reason for tiles to popping.

A tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps. For shapes to tessellate their interior angles must sum to 360. You can tessellate with more than one shape, e.g. two octagons and a square.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles are the most popular tiling materials that can be used for bathroom flooring as they are affordable, long lasting, scratch resistant, maintenance free and non-porous in nature.

The virtues of ceramic tile for bathrooms and kitchens are well known, but many of those advantages also make it a good choice for living rooms. Porcelain / Vitrified tile is durable and easy to maintain. It can handle even the highest traffic locations without showing much wear.

There are so many options in tiles for outdoor areas. The matte finish, anti-slip porcelain tiles are perfect choice for outdoor floors and walls. They are easy to maintain and are very durable. A tile which gives a natural finish and elements is one of the best outdoor tile options if you are looking for natural stone.

Ceramic tile is heat resistant, not heat proof. Ceramic tiles are heat-resistant, but not necessarily heat proof. With an almost limitless selection of color and designs, as well as the ability to withstand heat, ceramic tiles are a common choice for kitchen counter tops.

Marble Effect is the best choices for kitchens. The real stone can be either polished or matt, effectively doubling the options available. From Crema Marfil to Carrara to Nero Marquinia, every imaginable colour is covered, with the veining the most obvious decorative feature. It’s usually the showpiece of a kitchen, around which the rest of the room is built. Like marble, granite can also be polished, but it has a more uniform look, and thus is not as popular for kitchen floors.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles
Whether your tastes run to stone or wood lookalikes, colorful penny tiles, or lattice-patterned squares, you’re likely to find that the offerings of ceramic and porcelain tile are some of the best in bathroom floor tile. Like vinyl, ceramics score high with regard to maintenance, too, but they are not nearly as comfortable to the bare foot.

Glass Tiles
The aesthetic appeal of a glass floor tile is twofold: Covering part of the floor in a thin layer of glass creates the illusion of depth and, if tinted, a lovely stained-glass effect. Installed properly, this type of tile holds up well—just be sure to select textured glass to prevent slips. Small glass tiles with lots of grout joints are also slip-resistant Stone Tiles Stone tiles were once confined to the foyer. In the past decade, however, they have become popular in other rooms as well, bathroom included.

Vinyl Tiles
Vinyl is the most popular bathroom flooring material, because of its low cost and high degree of practicality. It is well-suited for every bathroom in the house, from the master bath to the powder room. Hands down, it beats other popular choices for safety, comfort, and durability. Almost as important, vinyl tiles have come a long way in aesthetic appeal and ease of installation. The material is self-adhering and can be cut with a utility knife.

Ceramic Tile is made from clay, formed in a uniform shape, glazed with coating for strength and baked to harden. It is very heat resistant, being one of the most commonly used tiles for fireplaces and radiant heat systems. It is also relatively inexpensive, and durable.

Adhesive for Tile-on-Tile Application is single component cement based polymer modified adhesive for fixing tiles over tiles on floors and walls in interiors as well as exteriors. The product contains special additives that provide excellent bonding & grabbing properties.

For flooring, Vitrified tiles are the best bet since they are durable and can withstand heavy traffic. For walls, you can choose either ceramic or porcelain tiles as they are non-porous or do not absorb stains. For outdoors it’s best to opt for either matt finish or anti-skid tiles to avoid slips.

The virtues of ceramic tile for bathrooms and kitchens are well known, but many of those advantages also make it a good choice for living rooms. Ceramic tile is durable and easy to maintain. It can handle even the highest traffic locations without showing much wear.

Tiles are the best materials to choose for your home, for floors nd walls. Tiles are available in glazed (polished) and unglazed varieties. They are the popular choice for home. There are also cement/concrete tiles which are extremely durable and strong, making them perfect for driveways and exterior floors. The Terracotta tiles are also becoming famous which are made from natural clay. There are various tiles options which are used in homes in different areas such as Mosaic tiles, Natural stone tiles, Vitrified tiles, Quarry tiles etc..

There are many options available and in a variety of materials. You can choose from vitrified, ceramic, mosaic and among others which are long-lasting and durable, preferably as per your needs, colours textures, designs and sizes which will suite your bedroom tiles designs and bedroom interiors. With a plethora of patterns, motifs, and colors in both floors and wall by all leading tile brands, you can make your bedroom space more attractive and maintenance free.

Tiles near wash basin areas is a good idea, as the area is exposed to water, tiles which are water resistance and which are very easy to clean are highly recommended. You can select tiles depending upon the interiors of your house. There are many options available in the market.

Well, the short answer would be a simple no – you should not attempt to install tile without grout.

No. Because the purpose of skirting is also to neatly hide the gap between the wall and the flooring finish. No matter what that flooring material happens to be.

The visibility of joint lines develops a blackish shade over the period of time which tends to look dirty. One can easily overcome this problem with vitrified tiles as they are join free. Vitrified tiles are thicker on surface and can easily resist scratch and stain. They are also resistant to chemical and acid.

Tiles without joints or gaps are not true. It is recommended to use narrow, minimum 1 to 2 millimeter joints. There is also a rectified tile. In order to lay a porcelain floor with minimal joints, one should buy rectified tiles with its evenly cut edges, milled at right angles, so that the tiles can perfectly fit each other.

You can paint over ceramic tile walls in a bathroom, but you will lose some of the interesting characteristics of tile since the grout lines will be the same color as the tile. Also, you will have better luck if you avoid painting tile which receives a lot of water or wear, such as tiles around shower and wet areas.

If your tile is looking worse for the wear, you might be able to spruce things up with a simple regrout job. As long as your tiles are adhered properly and in good condition, laying new grout is a job almost any homeowner can tackle on their own. You can apply new grout right over the top of the old grout. … Once you’ve removed the old grout, make sure to clean the area so there is no grout dust or debris that will get in the way of the new grout.

Yes, tiles can be removed and reused but it is not recommended as the risk of chipping and damage is there, if not removed properly. There is a proper guide for removed tiles and also requires various tools.

Ceramic and Porcelain / Vitrified tiles can be recycled but at the same time can be challenging. There are some recycler companies too.

Whether you have ceramic, vinyl, stone, or any other type of tile flooring, giving your tile a shiny luster doesn’t have to be difficult, time-consuming, or costly. The keys to a polished tile floor are a clean and well-buffed surface and regular maintenance.

Porcelain is the go-to tile for any outdoor space. Because they are fired at extremely high temperatures, they are able to avoid freezing in the cold months and cracking in the intense heat. Also, with resistance to mildew and staining you won’t need to worry about their shiny new look fading away any time soon.

Ceramic tile is made from natural clay, sand and water. These materials are molded to form square or rectangular tiles and then baked in a kiln to remove most of the moisture. Porcelain tile is also made from clay but tends to be made using denser types of clay than ceramic.

The basic difference between the two is their making. While tiles are modified and man-made, marble is carved out of its natural form to sync with your interiors.

Stone are more expensive material then tiles so in terms of cost tiles are more preferable than stone. Stone expense also extends into the installation phase compared to tile installation. Most natural stone have certain restrictions in colour patterns, while in tiles you can find wide range of colours. Stone tend to be porous and moisture-sensitive due to the material’s inherent defects, such as the inclusion of tiny fissures, holes, chips and weak spots, while tiles are tiles has hardly any pores available for moisture to infiltrate.

Granite is definitely expensive as compared to tiles. Granite slab cost between 100 per sqft to 500 per sqft. Whereas tiles can be easily available between 25 per sqft to 500 per sqft.

A67 Porcelain / Vitrified wood look-a- like tiles that are designed to have the appearance of real wood. It often comes in planks, like real wood, but is also available in unique shapes more common to tiles.

Faux marble is porcelain or ceramic tile made to look and act like real marble. It is often finished with a variety of colors and materials to mimic the natural veining patterns that marble has to offer.

Carpet tiles also known as modular carpets or square carpets are squares cut from wall to wall rolls which can be fitted together to make up a carpet. Carpet tiles are generally available in following sizes: 48×48, 50×50, 60×60 and 96×96 cm. Carpet tiles can be used as an alternative to wall to wall carpet in almost any situation not requiring unique customization and offer easy installation and maintenance, longevity and the same qualities as wall to wall for creating a healthy, comfortable indoor environment.

Granite tiles bring the authentic and genuine look of natural granite stone. They are a replica of actual granite. The wavy pattern so commonly seen in granite natural stone is also replicated in granite tiles to lend authenticity because of its technology, it gives you so many choices and options that are available in the market.

Wooden floor tiles are amazingly attractive. They are a replica of the actual wood. They are easy on maintenance compared to natural wood. With many options available colours, design and textures, they add a timeless look to the space and offer an earthy touch to your home and other areas. Tiles like wooden floors are highly recommended and very popular.

Sheets or Panels have great benefits when it comes to resisting the weather. They usually have a high durability, and due to their size and weight, they can be handled and placed quickly and easily. They can be found with various forms of section that increase the inertia of the sheet, so that you can even find self-supporting sheets. There are various tile sheets available today such as Zinc Galvanized Steel Sheet, Stainless Steel Sheet, Copper Foil, Thermo acoustic Metallic Sheet, Polycarbonate Sheet, Fiber Cement Sheet, and Fiberglass Sheet.

Tiles like bricks give a perfect illusion of an authentic bricks when used on walls. When planning to make some structural changes and looking for distinctive styles, these tiles are highly recommended for your home because of its contemporary look and amazing colours and style available today, they add a lot of charm and class to the space because of its brick look. The trend of 300x 600mm, glazed vitrified tiles are very much in.

Tile like stickers can be found on various online sites. They have become an easy to go option replica of actual tiles. They come in various designs and colours. Place the tile wall stickers in a row, a square, or cut them up and place them in any position that you want. They are mostly used as a kitchen backsplash. You can also get your personalized one.

Both are good and both have pros and cons but Tiles you can say is far better than marble as it can be recycled, non-toxic and are manufactured using safe processes. Marble is more expensive than tiles. This is because tiles are man-made while marble is a natural stone which has to be mined and extracted using costly procedures.

Granite is one of the hardest, most durable flooring materials available; making it less likely to crack or chip than tiles however, granite is more porous than tiles, making it more likely to stain. Overall, granite probably requires more regular maintenance than tiles. Tiles have wide range of varieties and options to choose from whereas granite has limitations. Tiles are cheaper than Granite.

Although we might think of marble as the stereotypically superior flooring material, when it comes to durability, Tile is actually more durable! Tiles are also superior when it comes to use in outdoor settings, and it is more resistant to scratches than marble.

Tiles are best for small stairs and outdoor stairs. Tile can be easy to clean in basements and mud rooms and offers a unique and attractive look. Today, decorative and Moroccan tiles are very much in trend for stairs, which adds a colourful and attractive look to it. Also, handmade cement tiles are very good option for stairs.

Tile flooring is extremely tough and tiles are often difficult to crack. This makes tile flooring moderately more expensive than carpet, but it is less costly when compared to hardwood / wooden flooring. Also, depending on where the tile floor is installed, it can add long-term value to your home. So definitely tile can make your job easy over wooden flooring and is very durable.

Well, do the floor first because removing and replacing flooring or carpeting is dirty work. If you paint first, and then do floors, there is a good chance that a lot of dirt, dust, and sawdust or tile/stone dust will end up on your freshly painted walls and trim.

Well the price of tiles and marbles depend upon the type you consider and also the prices depend and vary from brand to brand. You can say that the standard low/small range tile price starts from 24 per sqft. to 55 per sqft. And the price goes higher to the premium and high quality range. Marble price depends open which type of marble it is. The price starts from 40 per sq.ft. to 1400 per sq.ft. and above..