Ceramic tile is the flooring choice for the new millennium. Sophisticated, stylish and so easy to maintain, floor tile is becoming a popular design choice.  From the elegance of realistically textured stone and marble-looks, ceramic is increasingly viewed as an affordable and attractive flooring choice. Although ceramic tile’s true origin and date remain a mystery, it is safe to say that ceramic tile is the oldest form of floor covering known to man.  Discoveries of ancient ceramics, similar to modern ceramic tile, have been found on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt.  Ceramic tile is simply a mixture of clays, which has been shaped and fired at high temperatures, resulting in a hard body.  Or otherwise, cooked dirt!

There are many types of tile on the market.  Many tiles look alike but vary in 

One of the first things to consider is to select a style tough enough to withstand the abuse it is going to take.  To minimize the possibility of choosing the wrong product, most manufactures use the P.E.I. (Porcelain Enamel Institute) guide to rate the durability of each tile.

The rating works this way:

Group I - Tiles are suitable for residential bathrooms where softer footwear is worn.  This one is pretty soft and will scuff up pretty easy.

Group II – Tiles suited to general residential traffic, except kitchens, entrance halls, and other high traffic areas.

Group III – Tiles suited for all residential and light commercial interiors such as offices, reception areas.

Group IV – Suited for residential and moderate traffic commercial applications.

Group V – Recommended for all interior and commercial uses.  This rating can be considered for exterior use because they are more frost-resistant.

This will take all the guesswork out of selecting the right tile for the job.  The tile rating has nothing to do with the quality or price, only durability.

Here’s something else to consider – The glaze on the tile you are interested in!  There’s a rating for that called MOH’s (Method Of Hardness).  The relative hardness of glazed tile is an important issue that should be addressed when selecting a tile.  The rating is scaled from 1 to 10.  The smaller the MOH’s rating is, the easier the glaze will scratch.  Choose a rate of 5 or higher for residential floor application, seven or higher for commercial use.  The main benefits of a glazed tile are the unlimited colors and stain resistance.  The benefits of unglazed tile are durability and slip resistance.

Diagonal or custom installation will require more tile than the square footage of the floor and it its best to order about 10 to 13% additional tile than the job requires.  This is important because of cuts and breakage.  Also you will want to keep some extra tiles and grout in case an accident occurs and some tiles need to be replaced.

Tile size and shape allows you to highlight different areas of a room.  When variation in size and shape are used together with a specific color the effect can be stunning.  Large tiles tend to visually expand a smaller area as well as unify larger areas.  Smaller tile add a rich texture when used in a small area.

Grout is an important design element.  Since it is used to fill the spaces between each tile careful consideration must be made about the type of grout you plan to use.  Grout is available in a wide variety of designer colors developed to enhance the beauty of the tile installation.  The selection of grout colors allow you to contrast, match and accent your installation.  Contrasting grout emphasizes a pattern created by the tile.  Matching grout is a colored grout designed to blend seamlessly with the color of the tile.  Accent grout is a shade slightly different than the color of your tile.  This gives more depth to your tile layout.

Last but not least, be sure to discuss the type of existing floor you are planning to use this tile on with your salesperson.