You hear the term everywhere when looking for a new floor or wall: ceramic tiles. It is the undisputed favourite for bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. But what exactly is ceramic? How is it made, and why do so many people (and tilers) swear by this material?
In this article, we delve into the world of ceramic tiles. We explain how this ancient yet ultra-modern material forms the perfect base for almost any interior.
What exactly is a ceramic tile?
To keep it very simple: ceramic is essentially just baked earth. The base material consists of a careful mix of clay, sand, and other natural minerals. This mix is pressed into a mould under enormous pressure and then fired in a special kiln at extremely high temperatures (often between 1000°C and 1250°C).
This heat causes the minerals to fuse together into a rock-hard, solid, and non-porous material. Often, a liquid glaze layer is applied to the tile before firing. This glaze layer provides the colour, pattern (for example, a wood look or marble print), and protection against scratches and stains.
Why is ceramic so incredibly popular?
It's easy to explain why we in the Netherlands overwhelmingly choose ceramics. The material combines beautiful aesthetics with unparalleled technical convenience. These are the main advantages:
- 100% Moisture and dirt resistant: Because ceramic is non-porous, water, grease, or dirt cannot penetrate the tile. This makes them ideal for wet areas like the bathroom, or behind the stove in the kitchen. Even red wine can be wiped off effortlessly.
- Wear and scratch resistant: Firing at high temperatures makes the surface extremely hard. Heels, sliding chairs, or your pets' claws won't leave scratches.
- Maintenance-free: While natural stone or wood regularly needs to be impregnated, oiled, or sanded, ceramic only needs warm water and a splash of all-purpose cleaner.
- Colourfast: Lay a ceramic floor in a sunny conservatory? No worries. Ceramic does not discolour or fade under the influence of UV light. The floor will retain its exact colour for decades.
Do you have underfloor heating? Then there is arguably no better choice than ceramic. Baked earth is a fantastic heat conductor. It absorbs the heat from the pipes very quickly and radiates it evenly throughout the room. Moreover, ceramic retains heat for a long time, which significantly reduces your heating costs! In addition, a ceramic tile hardly shrinks or expands, meaning the chance of cracks due to temperature differences is negligible.
Ceramic versus Natural Stone
People often hesitate between real natural stone (such as real marble, bluestone, or travertine) and a ceramic variant. Natural stone is literally cut from mountains and has a beautiful, authentic charm where no two tiles are the same. The big disadvantage? It's porous, prone to staining, requires a lot of maintenance, and is often quite pricey.
However, thanks to modern 3D printing techniques, ceramic is now indistinguishable from real natural stone or wood. With ceramic, you bring the luxurious and warm appearance of nature into your home, but enjoy the convenience of a maintenance-free, stain-resistant floor. A win-win situation!
Is there a difference between wall and floor tiles?
Yes, absolutely. Although they are made in a similar way, floor tiles are fired at a higher temperature, making them even denser and harder. After all, they must be able to bear the weight of furniture and people walking on them. Wall tiles are often slightly softer, lighter, and thinner, making them easier to glue to a wall or to drill holes in for pipes.
Tip: A ceramic floor tile can always also be used as a wall tile (provided you use good adhesive), but a wall tile absolutely cannot be laid on the floor. It would then quickly break or scratch.
Experience the benefits of ceramic yourself?
Whether you're looking for a tough concrete look, a warm ceramic wood look (parquet), or a lush marble look; ceramic makes it possible. At Budget Tiles, we have a huge collection of top-quality ceramic at the sharpest prices in the Netherlands.
