On Tiles

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There is a myraid of tiles available out there for wall tiles and floor tiles, and there are many different types of tiles. Here's a general overview for reference:

Homogeneous Tiles
  • Whole tile is made of the same material. A section of it will let you see the same material and colour as the surface
  • Lower water absorption rate and higher density than ceramic tiles
  • Stronger and tougher than ceramic tiles
  • Could be polished to have a reflective shine like those of a mirror
  • Suitable for both floor and wall
  • Affordable
Ceramic Tiles
  • Made of clay with glazed surface. A section of it will let you see the clay below
  • (Non-porcelain ceramic tiles)
  • More interesting surface designs possible as compared to homogeneous tile
  • Are glazed, and not polished
  • More suitable for floor as it will not be able to withstand loading of high human traffic
  • Affordable or expensive depending on design
Porcelain Tiles
  • Made of clay, newer form of ceramic tiles
  • A type of ceramic tiles
  • Lower water absorption rate and higher density than ceramic tiles
  • Stronger and tougher than ceramic tiles as it is fired at a much higher temperature
  • Suitable for both floor and wall
  • Affordable
Marble Tiles
  • Cut from a stone
  • Tough to fire and erosion
  • Suitable for both floor and wall
  • Much more expensive than homogeneous tiles
Granite Tiles
  • Cut from a stone
  • Super tough
  • More widely used as floor tiles and also as kitchen tops
  • Much more expensive than homogenous tiles
Mosaic Tiles
  • Made up of small pieces of material, could be ceramic, glass, porcelain, etc.
  • More widely used as wall tiles
  • More expensive
Rectified Tiles
  • Tiles that have been grounded or sawed after firing to achieve more precise tile size
  • Could be used together with "homogeneous tiles", for example - "rectified homogeneous tiles"

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