Heather Mihalik
History of Tile: Samples of early clay and mud tiles are dated at seven thousand years old Decorative tiles found in Egypt date back to 4000 BC The art of manufacture of tile was famously demonstrated by the Assyrians and Babylonians in Mesopotamian architecture The Chinese popularized distinct styles and glazes which were widely adopted by the Dutch, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italians. Tile production quickly evolved in North and South America from the efforts of European colonists o Mexico today is still recognized for the hand made and painted tiles of its contemporary artisans Prior to the early 1900s tiles were only produced to adorn important public buildings and for homes of the wealthy Today tiles can be both affordable and luxurious for everyone and the design possibilities are endless http://www.tilemastercanada.com/about-tile-history.php
Description of Material Ceramic Tile: mixture of clays and other natural materials, shaped and fired at high temperatures. Traditional ceramic tile can be naturally-colored and left unglazed (terra cotta) or they can feature colored or glazing from matte to high gloss. Porcelain Tile: Like ceramic tiles, but are composed of finer clays and fired at higher temperatures. That process makes porcelain tile more homogenous, much stronger and less prone to moisture and stain absorption. For those reasons, it can be suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations. Natural Stone: consist of any product quarried from the earth. Each type of Natural Stone will vary from piece to piece in regards to color, surface texture, edge treatments, durability and maintenance. Marble: Coloring is extremely varied and often accompanied with lots of veining and other mineral deposits. Granite: Hard and crystalline in nature, granite is most often seen polished. Limestone: Fossilized seashells and other sea life and treasures are often found in limestone. Primarily light beige and tan in coloring. Travertine: Water and gases percolating through the stone give travertine its characteristic holes. Slate: Coloring can vary widely. Typically it s not finished as the natural cleft surface is its focal point and source of interest and beauty. http://www.mosaictileco.com/type_of_tile_description.htm
Typical Application Wall tiles Floor tiles Decorative tiles (backsplash, etc.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_l6cde8rsa
Cost Tile is easy to clean and perfect for rooms that need to be waterproof, like bathrooms. This flooring option ranges from inexpensive to quite pricey, depending on the type of tile you choose. Stone: Typically most expensive, costing $7 to $20 per square foot for the material itself based on what kind of stone you choose. Options include marble, granite, and travertine. Stone is also expensive to install; expect to pay $6 to $8 per square foot for a contractor to lay the floor. Ceramic: Just as expensive to install, but the material is less expensive then stone. Usually $5 to $15 per square foot. Installation will be more if unusual pattern or multiple colors and sizes. Vinyl: The cheapest choice for floor tile. Vinyl comes in sheet form or individual tiles and typically don t require grout, which lowers the overall cost. Vinyl tiles range for $1 to $4 per square foot and installation costs of $1 to $2. http://www.ehow.com/about_6494340_average-cost-tile-flooring.html
Method The three methods for installing tile: Mortar and Wire Reinforcement This requires the most steps and is therefore the most time-consuming and costly method, but is an excellent way to assure a solid, level installation on both horizontal and vertical surfaces Mortarboard Saves time and money by eliminating the wire step and the time for wet mortar to harden. Usually discouraged on horizontal surfaces because raw wood cabinets are rarely level. Glue (mastic) Least expensive method is to glue the tile directly to the surface. Save some money by gluing tile backsplash to the wall instead of using mortar and wire, but tile glued directly on wood will crack because wood expands and contracts http://www.homeadvisor.com/article.show.understanding-tile-installation-methods.10726.html
Construction Detail
Specifications (Porcelain Tile)
Sustainability RECYCLED CONTENT: Most of our ceramic tile suppliers manufacture their products in a closed loop process that recycles raw material and water wastes back into the production cycle. Even the leftovers are ground up for use in paving bricks and road filler. MATERIAL EXTRACTION: Ceramics are made from 100% natural and plentiful raw materials that are usually found in close proximity to the factories, thus reducing fuel consumption and transportation costs. WASTE REDUCTION Ceramic tile has been proven to survive fire and floods, can be installed over existing tile and salvaged or disposed of easily. Its colorfast and non-fading nature means it never needs replacement throughout its lifespan.
Installation Costs http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_tile_floor.html
Installation Costs http://www.rempros.com/tile_installation_prices.html
Manufacturers Armstrong Tile Arizona Tile Bisazza Mosaico Dal-Tile Corporation Del Conca USA Eleganza Tile Marazzi Nemo Tile Pave Tile and Stone Vilagio Tile and Stone