Technical Information - What does that mean?
What isPorcelain?
Porcelain is actually a ceramic material characterized primarily by low porosity (absorption rates of less than 3%) and a colour that penetrates the entire body of the tile. Porcelain can be either glazed or unglazed depending on the look and intended use.
Ink jetPrinting?!
These modern tiles are made with a high-resolution inkjet printer that can print exact reproductions of natural stone or wood on uneven surfaces with a high degree of precision, making them nearly impossible to tell apart from the real thing.
UnglazedPorcelain?
Frost-proof and extremely durable, these tiles are ideal for outdoor use. Initially, the tile is matte. It can then either be semi-polished or fully polished. Polishing unglazed porcelain leaves a high-gloss finish. It is unfortunate that polished porcelains are more susceptible to staining since dirt gets trapped in the surface pores. If a routine reapplication of the protective treatment is maintained, sealants or other pre-surface treatments can prevent this problem.
GlazedPorcelain?
Porcelain tiles have a glaze covering the porcelain body, and the glaze’s hardness, just like ceramic tiles, determines their use. The body of some glazed porcelain tiles can withstand frost, therefore, it can be used outside.
SlipResistance
Various methods exist to measure slip resistance. Two of the most widely used in this country are the pendulum test and the ramp test. Dry ramp test is used to measure slip resistance for wet shoe traffic areas. In areas with higher slipping resistance, the R value is higher.
Tests measuring slip resistance on wet ramps are conducted in areas where barefoot people will walk. Typically measured in A to C grades. In general, A is suitable for mainly water splash areas, such as bathrooms, B is for pool surroundings, shower areas, etc, and C is for walk-through pools, ramps into pools, etc.
For more inforamtion on slip resistance testing please visit The Tile Association website here
Batches /Shades
In the same way as wallpaper, tiles are produced in batches, and a certain amount of shading is inherent to their manufacture. Make certain that the tiles have an acceptable blend of shades BEFORE you begin tiling. We will not accept any claims or retums for shading purposes once the tiles have been fixed to the wall or floor. We cannot guarantee that subsequent batches will be exactly the same shade, so please ensure that you purchase enough tiles for the job.
Sealing your Tiles
Some of our porcelain ranges need to be sealed. This should be carried out before grouting to prevent the grout staining the tiles. Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer and allow the sealant to dry before grouting Once grouted and cleaned, it is a good idea to reseal the tiles.
This will also seal the grout. The majority of our polished porcelain ranges arrive pre-sealed from the factory, but they will need resealing at regular intervals. Simply, you can do a test by placing a small amount of water on to the tiles and waiting to see if it is absorbed by the tile or not. If it is, you need to reseal the floor.
For more information on slip resistance testing please visit The Tile Association website here
