Buy and Current Sale Price of Vitrified and Glazed Tiles
You may have read and heard claims about the allegedly “poor” qualities of vitrified porcelain tiles and the rationale for avoiding their use
Let’s examine that do these assertions clarify the situation
The majority of tiles, whether glazed or unglazed, have the same function and are potent to be slippery when wet, but because they are designed specifically for outdoor use, textured or grip-finished tiles are less likely to be slippery than matte-finished tiles
If both your foot and the floor are dry, you will not fall
If the floor is wet and your foot is wet, you won’t fall
We step onto a bath mat regardless of the tile floor because slipping can occur when one surface is wet and the other is dry, as is the case when departing the shower cubicle
Installation of vitrified tiles is difficult
This allegation is unclear because no justification is supplied, despite the fact that vitrified porcelain tiles are not more difficult to install than marble tiles or ceramic wall tiles
Due to its high strength and hardness, porcelain tiles are sometimes cut with a bench saw cooled by water
Large porcelain tile sizes like 450x900mm, 900x900mm, 600x1200mm, etc
may now be manufactured
The frequent usage of large format tiles suggests that there is a demand for such tiles, although these sizes must be cut with a bench saw
It goes without saying that two men will be required to install a 900x900mm tile due to its size and weight, but the same is true for 600x600mm marble tiles
To preserve stability, high-quality adhesives are required
It is unclear how the use of “high-quality” adhesives may be deemed a disadvantage
You surely wish for your wall and floor tiles to last as long as feasible, correct? If installation costs are amortized throughout the lifetime of the tiled area, the longer the tiles remain in place, the less they will cost
This claim also implies that all other types of tiles can be installed with adhesives of inferior grade
Vitrified tiles must be put by a trained tile layer in order to create thin, uniform, and clean joints
Again, it is unclear to me why hiring an experienced tiler is considered a disadvantage of vitrified tiles
Legally, the same statement could be made if “vitrified” was replaced with “ceramic,” i
e
, “Ceramic tiles must be installed by a skilled tile layer to ensure thin, even, and tidy seams
” In actuality, wall tiles, which are often produced from bicottura ceramic, require cleaner seams than other types of tiles
Along the grout line, defective or damaged vitrified tiles must be removed, which may cause damage to surrounding tiles
Several of these concerns require attention
This situation applies to any tile, whether it is made of monocottura ceramic, glazed or unglazed porcelain, marble, or granite
If the grout is removed beforehand, the likelihood of shattering neighboring tiles is considerably reduced, but the softer the tile, the more probable it is to absorb damage
Since fully vitrified unglazed porcelain tiles are so scratch- and chip-resistant, the likelihood that they will require replacement is minimal
Moreover, because the color permeates the entire surface, chips and scratches are not evident
Even though chips are visible on glazed porcelain where the glaze color differs from the vitrified porcelain body, the glaze on high-quality porcelain tiles is highly resilient
Given that they are designed and manufactured with walking in mind, these tiles are intended to be stepped on
If they are so tough to cut that a saw with a diamond blade is required, they will survive wear and strain
Typical quality porcelain tiles have a glaze with a MOHS hardness of 8, which is stronger than certain volcanic rocks such as granite and quartz and tougher than the majority of marbles (MOHS 3-4)
The hardest substance known to mankind is diamond, with a hardness of 10
Every two years, the grout must be resealed or it will begin to look dirty
If time is allowed for the sealant to dry, the tiles will acquire a hazy gloss
This cannot be a tile problem; it must be a grout or sealant problem
Nevertheless, it is deceiving
The grout is cleaned concurrently with the floor
Mold-inhibiting chemicals may be applied throughout the grout-making process
Using a high-quality sealant reduces the frequency of sealing to once every 15 years or so
If the sealer is applied with a tiny brush and any excess is wiped away before it dries, it will not produce a “hazy finish
” If none of the aforementioned steps are taken, you will have a “hazy finish” regardless of the type of tile used
As it is unlikely that you would find the same tile after a few years, you should purchase a few extra tiles for future repairs
This is truly excellent advice; however, it applies to all kinds of tiles, not just vitrified tiles
Using vitrified porcelain tiles is not in any way precluded by this
The rule of thumb when purchasing any type of tile is to account for a 10% waste factor, with an emphasis on the “wastage factor
” Even if you don’t have any spare tiles after the job is complete, having some is the cheapest form of insurance
Numerous circumstances can need more tiles, but plumbing issues or a change in the kitchen’s layout are typically to blame, so adding a single tile will not be sufficient
Remember that the waste factor should rise with tile size; if your tiler breaks one tile, you will lose anything from half a meter to an entire meter
If you use 100x100mm vitrified porcelain tiles, they are not only exceedingly durable but also uniformly colored and come in 100 pieces per square meter as opposed to only one or two
Furthermore, our company has produced the same hues and shapes for almost a century
Vitrified tiles are not eco-friendly due to their energy-intensive and carbon-intensive manufacturing process
In light of this argument, we must avoid automobiles, cows, and airplanes
If only it were true, which it is not
Reputable tile manufacturers in Europe have made it a standard practice to impose strong environmental regulations on their manufacturing processes
Ceramic and porcelain manufacturers in Europe are committed to employing waste-free production methods and abundant, natural resources
Italy, Spain, and France have some of the world’s strongest environmental standards for porcelain tile makers
Legislative regulations govern the use of raw materials, anti-pollution manufacturing techniques, post-industrial recycling, air quality, and the use of recycled materials for product packaging
As a result, industrial operations have a smaller negative impact on the environment, and the products that result have exceptional ecological features
European environmental standards for the porcelain sector are recognized and confirmed by ISO 14001, EMAS, and the Ecolabel of the European Union
Porcelain tiles contribute to energy efficiency at the end of the supply chain due to their thermal mass, which reduces peak heating and cooling to a pleasant temperature in the house or office
Ceramic and porcelain tiles have the lowest carbon footprint of any flooring material due to the origin of their materials
The cost of vitrified tiles is more expensive
This statement is almost never qualified
What is more expensive? Although European porcelain tiles, both glazed and unglazed, may be more expensive than porcelain objects from non-European countries, are you truly comparing apples to apples? the environmental reasons indicated above, it is easy to comprehend why European ceramic products are more expensive than tiles from countries with no environmental concerns
In the Life-Cycle Assessment conducted by the European Union, porcelain and ceramic tile rank highest for anticipated life and lowest for cost per square meter each year (LCA)
The question of price comparison has taken on a completely new dimension as one compares not only the initial cost of, say, real Carrara marble tiles versus the glazed porcelain lookalike, but also the shipping and installation costs, the cost of special adhesives required for stone versus that for porcelain, and the look and feel of concrete, metal, and a variety of woods
Consequently, it is essential to respond to the initial claim by asking, “Compared to what?” Are you comparing apples to apples? All porcelains, whether glazed or unglazed, are valid when used properly and under the appropriate conditions
This is an example of “horses for courses,” as a Ferrari cannot be used to plow a field or traverse a deep forest
Although there are no constraints on how our vitrified unglazed porcelain can be used, they are more aesthetic than technical in nature
These aesthetic limitations are the result of size and the absence of glazed, “faux” finishes
The ranges, however, provide both professional specifiers and end-users with the ability to develop unique patterns with an extensive color palette that coordinates with large format, inkjet glazed porcelain, or handmade subway tiles
