Advice on the best products for your tiles.
For a selection chart, please
see our 'Selector Chart'.
Our product FAQ also deals with some common questions relating to the
correct use of our products.
Terracotta
True terracotta tiles are full bodied (the same colour and material
through the tile) and made from clay and then baked in a kiln. They are
very hard wearing so do not need surface protection. They are generally
anti-slip and often used outdoors and in wet areas (e.g. pool and patio
areas).
Terracotta tiles come in many shapes, colours and sizes. Some
terracotta tiles are punched (compressed and cut) by hydraulic presses
and this makes them smooth uniform and low in porosity. Others are shaped
by extrusion before baking and these are generally higher in porosity.
Extruded tiles appear generally more rustic than punched tiles.
Terracotta’s porosities vary according to the make and model so accurate
coverage of sealers is difficult to predict.
Seal & Shine and Natural
Stone Sealer may all be used. The coverage
and finish required being the deciding factors when choosing a sealer.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are manufactured from raw materials that do not differ
much from that of vitreous china. The tiles are pressed dust mixed with
colouring oxides in order to give them their colour. They are full bodied
and have excellent mechanical and chemical properties. Porcelain tiles
can come in various finishes, mostly natural, honed or polished. These
processes give them their level of gloss.
Porcelain tiles are extremely
low in porosity and absorb less than 0.5%. All the above factors make
the tile suitable for almost any application from exterior home patios
to airport floors and walls.
Although unglazed porcelain tiles are highly
vitrified they still need to be treated in order to prevent them from
becoming dirty and then ultimately staining.
The treatment specified
for porcelain tiles is Invisible
Sealer as it is the only sealer that
is able to penetrate (impregnate) and seal the tile from within. Invisible
sealer is a very effective repellent and helps to keep the tile clean.
Invisible sealer will make no visual change to the aesthetic finish of
the porcelain.
Porcelain tiles can also be glazed during manufacturing.
Glazed porcelain tiles do not need to be treated.
Slate Tiles
Slate derives its properties during the change from sedimentary rock,
shale and clay to metamorphic rock due to extreme heat and pressure.
Slate is mined (cut) from the earth in large slabs and then split. The
point at which the slab is split determines the colour of the surface
of the tile. After the slab has been split it is then cut to size by
machine.
There are many shapes and sizes of slate and also many colours.
The colours vary from black, silver greens and many different browns
and red. The most appealing thing about slate is its natural variations
in colour. No one tile is identical to another.
Slate is sold most commonly
with its natural textured finish, but can also be honed (smooth and matt)
or polished (smooth and gloss). When protecting slate it is of the utmost
importance to protect the surface, thereby protecting the colour. If
the surface is not protected then it is likely to be abraded away and
will expose a different colour below. For example a brown tile may be
abraded away and expose a black core.
The two ways to protect slate are
to apply a surface sealer that will protect the tile from the top, or
to apply a penetrating sealer that will bond and strengthen the tile.
Hence there are two sealers that are specified for slate tiles. They
are Seal & Shine and Natural
Stone Sealer.
Sandstone & Limestone
Sandstone is mined (cut) from rocky beds formed millions
of years ago. These rocky slabs are then machine cut to size. Its texture
and hardness are attributed to its origin. Sandstone consists of sand
bonded together with minerals such as silica, clay and iron oxides by
mother nature. Some sandstone even contain fossils of plants. Sandstone
has natural earthy appeal and is available in many colours (light creams
to deep reds) and sizes. No two sandstone tile are alike. Sandstone has
excellent anti-slip properties making it suitable for use on patios and
pool surrounds. Sandstone is available in its rough natural finish through
to honed (smooth and matt) to polished (smooth and gloss). Sizes vary
from 150mm x 200mm to 600mm x 600mm tiles.
Sandstone is generally very porous and needs to be sealed with suitable
sealers. There are two recommended sealers for sandstone. They are Seal & Shine and Natural
Stone Sealer. Seal & Shine will not change the colour
of the tile dramatically (which is important in this type of tile), and
will have a slight gloss finish. Natural Stone Sealer will colour enhance
the tile and sometime cause the tile to acquire a greenish tinge. That
is why it is important to test in an inconspicuous area before sealing
the whole floor. Natural Stone Sealer will give a sheen finish.
Limestone is very similar to sandstone in almost every
aspect except that consists mainly of calcite so is particularly sensitive
to acids.
Granite,
Marble & Travertine
Granite comes from previous molten lava that made
its way to just beneath the crust of the earth. The molten lava crystallized
under pressure while it was cooling down over 750 million years ago.
This granite that is now close to the surface is mined from the earth
in large slabs. The granite is then cut to thinner slabs and then again
to make tiles and counter tops and other decorative ornaments. The tiles
and countertops are mechanically polished to give them their high gloss
finish.
Marble occurs when limestone which is sedimentary
stone is recrystallised due to extreme heat and pressure. The stone is
mined from the earth in a similar manner to granite. Marble is mechanically
polished to a high gloss but is also available in matt and in many different
colours. Marble is relatively soft and needs to be protected from wear
and tear as well as staining. Marble is extremely sensitive to acids
and easily etched by common products such as cool drinks, lemon juice
and vinegar.
Travertine falls between limestone which is sedimentary
and marble which is metamorphic. Travertine is characterised by vein
like holes which are caused by hot springs travelling through it. Its
manufacture and properties are similar to those of granite and marble.
All the above are very low in porosity, hence a high viscosity penetrating
sealer must be used. In most cases Invisible
Sealer may be used but please
consult Tilecare Direct for a specification.
Cement Tiles
Cement tiles are available in many earthy colours, shapes and sizes.
The cement tiles are full bodied and generally quite thick and heavy.
Although the surfaces are rather smooth the body of the tile contains
stone chips. They have a cottage / rustic appeal.
Cement tiles are manufactured
using white cement, colour fast dyes and hardening agents. The mixture
is poured into moulds, shaken to rid it of air bubbles and excess water
and then allowed to set in the mould. After the cement is sufficiently
set the tile is taken out the mould and stacked to dry. Once dry a protective
coating of Seal & Shine is applied to the tile to protect the surface
during transportation and most importantly during installation.
Cement
tiles are the only tiles to which we prescribe a pre-seal. The reason
is that all other tiles may be washed with Residual Grout Remover to
rid it from grout stains. If an unprotected cement tile is washed with
an acid it will be damaged and is likely to loose its colour and surface
texture.
When protecting cement it is of the utmost importance to protect
the surface, thereby protecting the colour. If the surface is not protected
then it is likely to be abraded away and will expose a different colour
and possibly the stone aggregate below. The two ways to protect cement
are to apply a surface sealer that will protect the tile from the top,
or to apply a penetrating sealer that will bond and strengthen the tile.
Hence there are two sealers that are specified for cement tiles, they
are Seal & Shine and Natural
Stone Sealer.
