Ceramic Tile Installation: Glazed vs. Unglazed
When faced with a ceramic tile installation, it’s important to know what type of tile will work best for the job at hand. All ceramic tiles come in one of four different grades that are best suited for different areas, both indoors and outdoors.
The two grades best suited for indoor use; away from damp areas, they are not vitreous or semi-vitreous, as they are the most porous of all tiles and will readily absorb moisture.
The other two grades are ideal for indoor and outdoor areas that tend to have high humidity, such as bathrooms and kitchens. They are known as vitreous and waterproof grades as they are non-porous and do not absorb moisture.
If you have a set of tiles and would like to know if they are porous or not, spray a few drops of water on the back of a tile and see what happens. If water is absorbed, then it is a porous tile and should not be used in areas with high humidity, as it can promote mold growth and damage.
The two main types of ceramic tiles are glazed and unglazed. Both types have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s good to know more about them before making a decision to install ceramic tile.
unglazed tiles
Unglazed tiles are hard, dense and fired only once. They’re available in a wide range of colors that stay consistent across the tile, so small scratches aren’t very noticeable, and they’re known to be a good option against general wear and tear.
Choosing unglazed tile for flooring is a good option as it has good traction compared to glazed tile which becomes very slippery when exposed to moisture.
Although unglazed tile is not the best option for stain resistance, there are special sealers that can be applied to protect the surface from staining.
glazed tiles
Glazed tile is an excellent choice for almost any ceramic tile installation job. They are made like the unglazed versions except for the addition of a layer of liquid glaze before the final firing. There are two ways in which enameled tiles are made, either single-firing or double-firing.
With a single firing, the tiles are made exactly like unglazed tiles, but the glaze coat is applied immediately before firing, which is done in one step, whereas the more traditional double-firing method fires the tiles. once, apply the glaze layer afterwards and then fire. them a second time to set.
Glazed tiles are available in a wide range of colours, textures and finishes. You can choose between matte, semi-gloss or high gloss finishes, it all depends on personal preference and the type of area being worked on.
These types of tiles offer much better stain resistance compared to unglazed tiles, however they become very slippery when wet, which is not recommended for home floors.
One problem that can occur with glazed tiles is that the color doesn’t stay consistent throughout the tile, so if they crack or chip, the interior color will show through.
Before choosing the type of tile you would like for your ceramic tile installation job, always consider the environment of the room and whether or not it will be a high traffic area, as each style is better suited for different areas.