Tile

Ceramic

— the most common modern type of finishing tile. Crafted from clay, quartz sand and some additional minerals; one of the distinguishing features of the tile is the presence of glaze — a characteristic shiny coating.

In general, tile is quite reasonably considered a less reliable material than porcelain stoneware or clinker, but its strength and durability is often quite enough for various tile applications. In addition, it is worth clarifying that there are two types of ceramic tiles that differ in production technology and, accordingly, in properties.

So, the oldest and still the most common technology is double firing: first, the base of the tile is fired, then glaze is applied to it and the process is repeated. This tile has a porous structure, it is not very durable and is designed mainly for interior wall use. At the same time, this technology is well suited for creating complex decorative materials.

The second option is single firing, when the base dries up, glaze is applied to it and only then the product is fired in its entirety. Such products have increased strength and resistance to various adverse factors; they still do not reach the reliability of porcelain stoneware or clinker, but they are noticeably superior to double-annealed tiles, among such materials there are often solutions for flooring and for exterior decoration.