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Q-What are porcelain tiles?
A-Porcelain is a type of ceramic made from very fine clay that is fired at extremely high temperatures to remove moisture. Porcelain tiles have almost no absorption which makes them incredibly dense and hard-wearing. They can either be full-bodied and have the colour or pattern formed by the body of the tile, or glazed which means the design is applied only to the surface of the tile.
Q -Do I need to seal porcelain tiles?
A-Internal Porcelain and Decorative & Glazed tiles themselves do not require sealing. However, if using a cementitious/porous grout, this grout should be protected using our Fila Fugaproof Grout Sealant. This will ensure it becomes as impervious to staining as the tile. External or outdoor porcelain tiles are invariably more textured for slip resistance, and a surface sealant is optional to improve the material’s resistance to dirt and to ensure speedy cleaning. Porcelain tiles should also be thoroughly cleaned as part of the installation process. Any stubborn marks may require the use of a stronger detergent. Mandarin Stone can advise and supply all appropriate protective and cleaning products.
Q-How do I clean porcelain tiles?
A-Porcelain tiles require little maintenance other than a usual regime of sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and wiping. A PH neutral routine cleaner should be favoured, such as Fila Cleaner Pro. Where grout sealants have been used, abrasive, acidic or alkali household detergents should be avoided as these would remove the protection. Any stubborn marks may require the use of a stronger detergent. Mandarin Stone can advise and supply all appropriate protective and cleaning products.
Q-What’s the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles?
A-Ceramic tiles are fired at lower temperatures than porcelain and have greater water absorption because of this. Ceramic tiles are usually glazed with either high-gloss, colourful or patterned surfaces and usually for wall use only, although some ceramics can be used for flooring. Porcelain tiles are more often full-bodied and always suitable for floor use. Ceramic tiles should not be used externally as they would “pop” or crack in cold weather, whereas porcelain is frost resistant.
Q-Do porcelain tiles chip/scratch?
A-Porcelain is dense, hard-wearing and low maintenance. Its high density means that it does not chip or scratch easily, and damage will only occur if a very heavy object is dropped onto the material or dragged across it. Correct installation will further increase its durability ensuring resistance to decades of high traffic and wear and tear.
Q-What does rectified and non-rectified mean?
A-Rectified tiles are cut to size after the firing process. These are ‘dimensionally stable’ and will exhibit little variation in size of tiles from one production run. Tiles from different production runs will tend to exhibit greater variation and so enough tiles to complete the installation should be ordered in the first instance. Different sizes within ranges will vary significantly, however, so should not be mixed.
Unlike Rectified products, Non-rectified Porcelain or Ceramic tiles are not cut to size after the firing process. When firing, the wet clay is subject to expected shrinkage and warpage. The tiles are graded after firing but do not undergo any additional cutting. Because of this, greater variation in size between tiles should be expected than with a rectified tile. Non-rectified tiles are usually smaller, patterned or glazed, which would mean cutting after firing would affect the overall look of the material.
Q-Can porcelain tiles be used on floors and walls?
A-Porcelain tiles have an extremely dense body enabling them to be used on both floors and walls. Many choose the same tiles for their bathroom walls and floors, creating a seamless, modern and luxurious look. We would always recommend the same size tile be used on the wall and floor to ensure minimal sizing and batch variation.
If you have a question that’s not been answered here, why not visit one of our 15 UK showrooms? You can also request a Lookbook to discover our expansive range of porcelain floor and wall tiles. For more information, get in touch with our experts who are always on-hand to help.