Tile is argued to have made its first appearance around 4000 years ago, but some archaeologists insist on a much farther reaching conception. It has been recorded in ancient Egyptian and Greek cultures for uses varying from roofing, to decorative wall tiles, to flooring. The lifespan of tile says a lot about the popularity offered. At different times in history, it was limited to only the prestigious: royalty, nobles, honored scholars and the like. With mechanical advances, it became available to the rest of society.
Tiles began as clay, worked together and pressed flat, then put into an oven and fired. These earliest examples were without glaze. It is unclear whether or not it was a happenstance discovery, or if it was intentionally sought out. Likewise, it is unknown exactly where tile originates from. It has roots deep in the Middle East, and abundant appearances through Greece. It is even reported in the pyramids of Egypt.
As tile became more popular, it was incorporated into fantastic works of art. The Ishtar gate of Babylon is a fine example of ancient tile work. It features vivid creatures in and is world-renowned. Records of battles and historical events often are portrayed on tiles throughout early civilization. Mosaic style tiles impart information to us about humans, using individual pieces of different color or featuring different engravings and paintings to come together to illustrate a bigger picture.
Progression in mechanical development led to automation of firing tiles. The first glaze was made of copper. Applied in liquid form, the tile was then fired again to complete the process. A rotary belt carried tiles ready to be fired through an oven, where they would harden up. This process greatly advanced the production of tiles, and made it available for more homes than previous.
In modern times, you will rarely see a home without at least one tiled room. Whether it is the bathroom or the kitchen, tiles are and have been a great choice for areas that are prone to moisture. Little maintenance is required to keep them in order, and they are hypo-allergenic, easy to clean, and come in a variety of sizes and styles. Materials range from marble to slate to ceramic, allowing you to customize the appearance you want to produce.
Types of Tile Flooring
Tiles are available in many different styles, ranging from indoor use to outdoor. Before looking at the actual styles of tiles, better to look at its practical properties as flooring.
Tiles have a porosity rating defining how absorbent they are towards moisture. There are four ratings, ranging from least absorbent to most, respectively: Impervious, vitreous, semi-vitreous, and non-vitreous.
The next factor to look at is the tile rating itself. There are five number referenced categories set down by the Porcelain Enamel Institute. The higher the number on a scale of one to five, the more "hardness" the tile possesses. The hardness is decided using Friedrich Mohs' scale used in mineralogy and gemology. The firing process will typically strengthen the hardness rating. Once and twice fired tiles vary in that once-fired tiles are basic, just hardened from bisque – the raw material of tiles – and twice-fired are augmented from their first firing with decorations and coloring.
Ceramic tiles are the most widely used of all tiles and are used in nearly any setting. They are an ideal choice for sanitary, glossy flooring that presents a nice atmosphere as well as provides the easiest of all flooring maintenance. They are generally divided into two major categories: glazed and unglazed.
Glazed tiles are the typical shiny tiles you might see on a countertop or in a bathroom. At different times in history it was used as roofing, as the glazed nature of the tiles made it a natural choice for keeping water out. In ancient China, it was overlapped in various patterns according to dynasty.
Unglazed tiles, on the other hand, are a wise decision for high-traffic areas because of their scratch-resistance. Alternately, unglazed tiles also provide grip essential in wet floor areas; A safe choice for laundry rooms or kitchens, or around the pool.
Porcelain tiles are a high-quality ceramic tile that is normally decorative and often set as a mosaic (explained next). Porcelain is known for its beauty in tile form, and it used in a variety of other uses that show its intricacy. Dolls, pottery, dishware, and complex mosaics are fine examples of porcelain displays. They are available glazed or unglazed.
A mosaic is commonly accepted as any piece of art or interior decorating that uses small pieces to portray a larger picture from the collective displays of every piece. Popular mosaics decorate countless buildings, both as decorative art and as fashion. St. Peter's Basilica, amongst other prominent cathedrals, boasts famous mosaic pieces. Mosaic tiles are each unique, in that it is typically a custom designed picture put into a setting for display.
Quarry tiles are unglazed tiles of very durable composition. They can be set indoors or out, and are typically red or brown in color, although other varieties are offered depending on the manufacturer.
The dual meaning of Terra Cotta sometimes confuses people unaccustomed to the term. It can represent a certain tile of ceramic tiles or a specific color (somewhere between orange a brown). The tiles of this material are made from clay, essentially, and have been used for thousands of years.
The final type of floor tiles covered here are Terrazzo tiles. These are cement tiles that that have stone chips or similar effects on the uppermost layer of the cement as an ornamental appearance. The tiles are then sanded smooth.
Installation of Tile Flooring
A level and thick subfloor is particularly important when installing tile. It is a common recommendation that the subfloor be at least 1" thick. This is because of the nature of tiles. While hard and resilient, tiles have the tendency to crack when placed over a softer subfloor. It is also particularly important for the floor to be level in all places. A small recess in the subfloor could lead to damaged tiles.
Begin by measuring one wall and finding the middle point. Then, pull a chalk string from the base of the middle of that wall to the wall opposite. Repeat with the remaining two walls (assuming the room is square or rectangle). This should give you the "exact" middle of the room.
From here, lay four rows of tile down along the four lines, one for each line. You will most likely be met with gaps at the end of each row between the last tile and the wall. Measure the gap and compare the amount with the length of your tile. If it is half the length of the tile or more, push the row of tiles down until one of the end tiles is flush with the wall. This should make enough room to add at least another tile.
If the distance between the end of your last tile and the wall is less than half of the length of one of your tiles, another tile won't fit into the gap if you pushed the row to the wall. You'll end up needing to cut a tile to fit, but that's later on.
For installing tile in a wet or moisture-prone area, an underlayment with a waterproof membrane is necessary. Concrete-fiber board is the recommended use.
There are an unlimited amount of patterns to the order in which you grout and put down the tiles, so do what you feel is best. Some recommendations are to begin with four rows following the lines, then additional rows following the first rows, and so on.
When you've decided on a route for installing, its time to set the adhesive. Be sure to mix only enough adhesive to last the next thirty minutes, or else you may be mixing adhesive quicker than you can lay it down. You'll end up with a bucket full of rock-hard glue that's now useless.
Begin by spreading the adhesive with the trowel and smoothing it with the notched edge. When the rows of upraised adhesive are sufficiently spaced, place the tile atop it. You can choose to place plastic spacers at the corners of the tile to help line up the next tile in line, but it is not necessary. Continue placing tiles in this fashion until the desired area is covered except for the marginal gaps near the walls. Now you can measure and begin cutting the tiles to place there.
For a small job like this, tile cutters should suffice. Follow the directions in using the chosen tool to get the best results.
