Have you ever gazed at a pristine floor, only to realize that it’s a tile and not marble
Vitrified tiles have come a long way from plain colours and patterns to almost mimicking the finesse, luxury and importantly the sturdiness of natural stone
Vitrified tiles are similar to their traditional ceramic counterparts, but are much less porous and are suitable for a wider range of projects. They are also made of clay but are mixed with slightly different elements. The clay is mixed with quartz, silica, and feldspar and then heated in the kiln at very high temperatures. These extra ingredients create a glass element inside the tile making the tile very hard and resistant to any type of absorption.
Vitrified tiles are generally 10 to 12 mm thick, half the thickness of natural stones like marble or granite but possess better mechanical strength and scratch resistance.
Vitrified tiles are highly suitable in places where there is high traffic and are best suitable for commercial purposes. They are largely used on floorings, kitchen backsplash, bench tops, and showers. They are often used outdoors due to their water and frost resistance.
There are four types of Vitrified tiles – Full Body, Double charge, Glazed and Polished glazed.
Full body vitrified tiles come with a uniform colour throughout the body. (Can insert pictures for each one of these)
Double charge vitrified tiles are fed through a press that prints the pattern with a double layer of pigment (two kinds of colours are fed into the machine).
Glazed vitrified tiles, as the name implies, are finished with a glazed surface. The glazed surface allows any type of design and textures on it. They come in a variety of finishes viz. glossy, matte, rustic, wooden, etc.
Polished glazed vitrified tiles are the same as the glazed vitrified tiles with polish on top of it to make it more shining. They are not as durable as double charge vitrified tiles.
Vitrified tiles are available in a multitude of colours, designs, textures, and prints. They can be found in anti-skid, granular or glossy variants. Through an adept combination of design and ingredients, vitrifies tiles almost simulate natural material such as wood and stone.
Vitrified tiles have risen in popularity of the years because of the numerous advantages it comes with. They are cost-effective, easy to clean, water-resistant and highly durable giving them an edge over other options.