Vitrified tiles are manufactured by mixing 60% silica and 40% clay in a process known as vitrification. The process makes them very non-porous and hard. This is a great advantage to have over marble and other stones, which are porous, and therefore need a lot more care. Vitrified tile has excellent resistance to abrasion, and it is almost maintenance-free. It’s an excellent choice for use in areas that see a lot of foot traffic.
Vitrified tile also has another big advantage over other types of flooring. The designs on these tiles are printed on with soluble salts, or penetrating pigments, that permanently place the design into the tile. The abrasion resistance and hardness of vitrified tile means that for all practical purposes, the design will be permanent. If there is a drawback to vitrified tile, it would be that it’s not available at this time in very many different shades, like stone tiles are.
Another advantage of vitrified tile is that it does not noticeably contract or expand with changes in temperature and moisture. Other surfaces are much more likely to have this occur, including wood. This makes vitrified tile easier to use for a joint free application. You can also create man-made gaps between each tile using spacers, and then fill that space with grout. This will help the tiles react to extreme changes in the environment, even though they don’t need as much “give” as other tiles.
Vitrified tiles are basically maintenance free. You can sweep them clean as needed. You are better off, too, to include a few steps that will keep them looking their best for years or even decades.
If you use a floor mat at entryways, this will help to keep down the amount of dust that might be carried in by foot traffic. This is true not just for vitrified tile, but also for wood or stone. You should also avoid using cleaners on your floor that clean through harsh chemicals. A damp mop will probably be enough to clean your vitrified tile, since it is non-porous and hard.
You can also set up a cleaning for the grout joints two or three times a year. If you scrape out powdery, loose or cracked joints and refill them with new grout, it will keep your grout joints in excellent condition. Vitrified tile is a very elegant and beautiful type of flooring, and with proper maintenance and care, it can last for many years.
In using vitrified tile, you can apply it in areas that will become wet, as well as entryways, pathways, or individual rooms. It can be utilized in high traffic areas, and it will stand up to a lot of abuse. It’s easily maintained and cleaned, too. If you lay this tile on wet areas like backsplashes or bathroom floors, use a standard dry grout mix rather than ready-made grout. Under normal conditions, vitrified tiles will give you many years of beauty and enjoyment.
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