Historically, ceramic tiles have been made by man for almost 4,000 years. Whether it is the decorative tile work of Persia, the mosaics of Spain, the majolica tiles of Renaissance Italy, the earthenware of Antwerp, or the tile iconography of the Netherlands, they all remain milestones in the history of ceramic tiles. . Although the ceramic tiles of the modern world had humble beginnings as simple white or beige squares for bathrooms and kitchens, today they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors and patterns and have found their way into the rest of the world. House.
Furthermore, ceramic tiles have a true “green” pedigree, as they are made entirely from natural, recyclable and biodegradable materials. Being naturally waterproof and mildew resistant, ceramic tiles improve indoor air quality, and because they don’t need to be polished, they install faster.
There are various types of ceramic tile products available on the market that can be used as floor, wall or ceiling tiles with literally thousands of styles and grades to choose from. However, based on the material and properties of ceramic tiles, they fall into a few broad categories:
Vitrified tiles: These tiles are compact, resistant to scratches and acids and have better mechanical resistance. They are virtually replacing stone and marble as flooring due to their stone-like qualities such as seamless joints and uniform color and texture.
Porcelain Tiles: These versatile tiles come in a smooth, rough or polished finish and can be used indoors and are a great choice for outdoor conditions as they don’t wear down easily in high traffic.
Mosaic Tiles: These are small tiles, approximately 0.75 inch to 1 inch in size mounted on sheets of paper or latex mesh for easy installation. These tiles can be ceramic, porcelain, or glass and are best suited for walls, curved surfaces such as murals, pools of water, and low-traffic floors. They do not chip easily and due to the numerous grout joints they are also non-slip.
Glazed Tiles: These smooth, non-porous surface tiles are stain-proof, best suited for low-traffic areas, walls, and countertops. Large format glazed tiles with satin finish are very popular these days.
Quarry Tiles – These thick, dense tiles are primarily used in heavy commercial establishments. Their natural color and rough surface texture give them naturally stain-resistant and slip-resistant qualities.
Terracotta Tiles: These handmade or machine-made tiles are often used as shingles, have a rustic look, and stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, although unglazed terracotta tiles do need a coat of sealer every year.
design trends
Tile is the most versatile medium and design possibilities are limited only by your imagination. The latest tile design trends range from bold colors to black and white schemes and from large sizes to tiny tile patterns. While black and white is the expression of minimalist design in staggered patterns, diagonal layouts, and combinations of patterns and textures, the vibrant color palette brightens spaces and works well in homes. Bold colored tiles can also accentuate the black and white design. Another recent trend is shingles with a metallic finish in steel, copper, bronze, gold or silver, both fresh and rusty and classic in appearance. Ceramic tiles with steel inlays and stainless steel finished edges can provide the most contemporary look. Rusty and weathered steel look are the other designer finishes in demand. In terms of size, large format tiles are the most attractive aspect that gives a grand look to the space.
With their flawless joints and eye-catching finishes, they almost look like stone. In addition, since the focus is now on natural materials, stone, wood and textiles are also emulated in tiles, even natural elements such as bamboo and pebbles are reproduced in tile finishes. As the natural design does not repeat itself in a similar way, tiles based on emerging concepts, which are designs made with a combination of tiles, also break the monotonous pattern and are therefore popular with designers. Similarly there is also an inclination towards history and heritage; manufacturers are increasingly borrowing from the past to capture the essence of the old world and reproduce it in mosaics. Retro is one of the hard-to-miss old-school looks making a comeback today with colors of lime green, orange, and a checkerboard pattern. For luxury spaces, there are now high-end tiles with gold and silver texture and Swarovski inlays. As well as the exclusive digitally printed ceramic tiles that are made to measure with total image permanence.
Today, ceramic tiles have become an important lifestyle product and designer tiles have caught the attention of Indian customers. With technological innovations and designs, the options are endless in terms of finishes and aesthetics, as well as application for various uses. Today, tiles are used everywhere for interiors, residential and commercial spaces and, in fact, are considered a new fashion statement.