TILERS IN
SURREY
TYPES OF TILES

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are made of clay that is baked (known as firing) in a kiln. The wet clay, usually quarried, is extruded into shape before firing. Ceramic tiles are always glazed as they are fired at a lower temperature than porcelain. They can be either monocottura (single fired), where the glaze is applied before the initial firing; or bicottura (double firing), where the tile biscuit is fired, and possibly decorated, before the glaze is applied for a second firing.

Finger and Pencil Tiles

Finger and pencil tiles are decorative tiles similar to mosaics, the main difference being that pencil and finger tiles are long and thin as their names suggest. These can be used in the same way as mosaic tiles, or individually to create a thin strip.

Glass Tiles

Glass is a popular material for decorative tiles. Many small mosaics are made from glass for its reflective properties, but larger format glass tiles are often used for splashbacks and feature walls.

Glazed Finishes

Many tiles, such as ceramic and some porcelain tiles, have a glazed surface. The glaze is a layer of glass that protects the tile biscuit and makes it more slip resistant. The glaze is added to the tile biscuit by firing in a kiln at temperatures greater than 1000 degrees Celcius. Glaze is available in glossy, matt, and textured finishes.

Listellos/border Tiles

Listello (or border) tiles are long, narrow decorative tiles mostly used to create a border around a room.

Metal Tiles

Metal tiles can either be made entirely of metal, or be made of a different material (such as a ceramic tile) that has a metal plating. Being a less common choice, metal tiles are bound to stand out and have visual impact: but beware that they may wear over time.

Mosaic Tiles

Mosaic tiles are one of the most popular choices for decorative tiles or a feature. Small tiles, often square, are laid together to create a larger effect. This is usually either a picture or a block colour for a high visual impact.

Polished Finishes

The surface of unglazed tiles (like that of porcelain tiles) can be polished and honed. While it is common, and quite popular, to polish tiles to a high shine (such as polished porcelain); tiles can also have a semi-polished finish.

Honed tiles are semi-polished, meaning that they are less shiny than fully polished tiles, but are also less slippery and less likely to show dirt. Honed tiles are a popular choice for commercial and high traffic installations

Lappato is also a light polish finish

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles are also known as 'vitrified' tiles, and are a high quality tile that is extremely strong and virtually nonporous. This makes them almost impervious to liquid.

Being strong and nonporous, porcelain is usually unglazed and can have a polished, natural, or textured finish; but is also available with a glaze which can have a gloss, matt, or textured finish.

Printing on Tiles

Some tiles are printed. This can either be done using traditional methods during the firing process (these tiles tend to be handmade), or by using modern digital printers. Digitally printed tiles are generally extremely high-resolution, resulting in a realistic print. The realism of our Better Than range is achieved through this kind of printing.