Ever Interested In The Different Types Of Tile?
Because tile sometimes has to coexist with water
, determining how much water a particular tile can absorb is important. The amount of water a tile absorbs depends on the number of air pockets in the tile's bisque. The presence and number of these air pockets depends not only on the temperature at which the tile was fired but also on the amount of time it spent in the kiln and the composition of the clay. (The glaze on tile absorbs no moisture, regardless of the firing temperature or time in the kiln.)
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) measures the permeability of various types of tile by comparing the dry weight of a finished tile with its weight after it's been boiled in water for five hours. The four categories of tile established by ANSI, as presented in its handbook of standard specifications (see the Resource Guide at the back of the book), are nonvitreous, semi-vitreous, vitreous and impervious. Knowing how permeable a tile is important in deciding which kind of tile to use for a particular installation. Tile that absorbs little or no water, for example, is more suitable for a wet installation (a shower stall, for instance) than tile that really soaks up a lot of water.
Nonvitreous tile
Nonvitreous tile readily absorbs water, about 7% of its weight, meaning that air pockets make up about 7% of this tile's bisque. Because this type of tile is fired at relatively low temperatures for a comparatively short time, it requires less energy to manufacture and is usually less expensive than vitreous tile.
Since nonvitreous tile absorbs so much water, it's not a good choice for tiling wet areas or for exterior installations. In wet areas, this tile's porous bisque may not dry out completely between uses and may, in time, harbor bacteria. And because nonvitreous tile lacks what is termed freeze/thaw stability, when it's installed outdoors in cold climates, the water it absorbs in winter will expand as it freezes, causing the tile to crack.
For setting nonvitreous tile in any installation, some adjustments should be made to accommodate this tile's high water-absorption rate. Set tiles immediately after the adhesive is spread. And before any nonvitreous installation is grouted, the unglazed portions of the tile should be misted with water to prevent the porous bisque from sucking liquid out of the grout and causing the grout to cure prematurely. This adjustment may not be required with a polymer-modified grout mixture.
Semi-vitreous tile
Semi-vitreous tile is fired at about the same temperature as nonvitreous tile but usually for a little longer, which produces a somewhat less porous bisque. This tile has an absorption rate of from 3% to 7% of its weight and is, in effect, a transition tile between very porous nonvitreous tile and essentially nonporous vitreous tile. With proper waterproofing, semi-vitreous tile can be used for wet interior installations, but because it's not really freeze/thaw stable, it should not be used outdoors in cold climates.
Vitreous tile
Vitreous tile is fired at temperatures of around 2200 degrees F for up to 30 hours, which causes the ingredients in the bisque to fuse together like glass. Because of its very dense body, vitreous tile absorbs only from 0.5% to 3% water and is therefore an excellent choice for any installation, including those that will get wet or that will freeze. This tile's dense bisque also accounts for its high compressive strength (that is, it can withstand the compression of a heavy load without fracturing). Since it is able to bear considerable weight, vitreous tile is generally more suitable for floors than soft-bodied, nonvitreous tile.
Impervious tile
Impervious tile, as its name suggests, is almost waterproof. This tile absorbs less than 0.5% water and for this reason is frequently used for sanitary installations in hospitals and pharmaceutical plants. Impervious tile is easily sterilized and can withstand repeated cleaning and disinfecting. And since this tile absorbs practically no water, germs have little chance of finding a home in an impervious installation. Like other tile, impervious tile, too, can be installed with either organic mastic or a thinset adhesive, though a polymer-modified thinset should be used for wet installations. Unless the weather is hot when the tile is installed, impervious tile does not need to be misted or sponged down before grouting.
None of the four types of tile are any more difficult to work with than another. With regard to cutting, all can be trimmed with the snap cutter, biters and wet saw, though because of their density, vitreous and impervious tiles are likely to require a bit more pressure and time to cut than soft-bodied tiles.
by: Matt Millsap
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