You'll be presented with various possibilities for your project when you visit a tile store or home improvement store. Along with a wide range of costs, tiles in various shapes, sizes, colors, patterns, textures, and more vie for your attention. The process of selecting porcelain tile might be difficult, even if you already have a general notion of what you want.
Today's article takes you to understand some indicators that we need to know when purchasing tiles. Understanding these indicators will be very helpful for you to purchase high-quality tiles.
Table of Contents
Ⅰ. Porcelain Tile Ratings From China
We can easily decide where porcelain tile will work best thanks to our straightforward grading system, which provides information on the strength of the material.
Porcelain Tiles are classed from 1 to 5 based on their toughness and durability.
Learn more about porcelain tiles ratings following:
Ⅱ. Tile PEI for Porcelain Tiles From China
It was developed by the Porcelain Enamel Institute and is known as the PEI rating scale. In contrast to other materials that are evaluated, the tile grading system simply classifies the tile according to its best application.
For instance, tile with a PEI grade of 1, which is the lowest, can last for years and look gorgeous when it’s installed as a decorative wall tile. When you go to a tile store or home improvement store, the options for your project will be offered to you in an astounding array of ways.
The higher the PEI number, the more abrasion that specific tile can withstand before showing any obvious indications of disintegration. Therefore, a greater PEI indicates better fit for locations with heavier traffic. The number of rotational cycles that each tile can withstand before showing any symptoms of wear and tear is shown below.
Porcelain tiles have a different rating system set by the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI). Nevertheless, the PEI rating system follows almost the same principles as that of tiles.
PEI 1
Porcelain tile PEI 1 is the least resilient variety and should only be used on walls. Both floors and countertops shouldn't use it. As they still offer many of the advantages of harder porcelain tile grades, such as water and stain resistance, stunning patterns and colors, and little maintenance, these tiles are popular alternatives for kitchen backsplashes or bathroom walls.
PEI 2
PEI 2 tiles can be used as flooring in areas with low usage, such as bathrooms or bedrooms. They should not be utilized for tile flooring in commercial locations as they are not made to withstand high foot activity. This contemporary tile is perfect for use as wall coverings as well.
PEI 3
The majority of tiles categorized as residential floor tiles are PEI 3. They are suitable for light commercial applications like offices or small stores since they can withstand normal wear and tear and moderate foot traffic. Residential kitchens, living rooms, and corridors are perfect places to employ PEI 3 tiles.
PEI 4
The most common tile for commercial installations is PEI 4. It is designed for high traffic and is frequently used in offices, restaurants, and other places that require a hard-wearing, easy-to-maintain floor tile. They are frequently chosen by homeowners for areas with extra-sturdy floor tile, like laundry rooms and mud rooms.
PEI 5
The most durable porcelain tile currently on the market, PEI 5 tiles are utilized in locations with heavy foot traffic and a high risk of wear and tear. Installation of them in industrial buildings, hospitals, supermarkets, and schools is very common. Additionally, PEI 5 tiles can withstand corrosive chemicals. They come in a small selection of colors and patterns because their main function is durability.
Ⅲ. Tile Water Absorption
Water absorption rate is the most significant measurement of a tile. Water absorption gauges how much moisture a certain kind of tile will continually absorb. Some types of tiles may break if the moisture penetration is too high. The strength and durability of tile are typically stronger if it has a low water absorption rate, such as porcelain.
Low water absorption limits how much water can fail due to cyclic salt attack and freeze-thaw. The amount of water that is absorbed reflects the density of the tile body. The ability to be used indoors or outside is directly tied to water absorption.
Particularly in climates with frequent freezing and thawing cycles and significant rainfall, the chosen tiles for external applications should have a low water absorption rate. A tile with a low water absorption rate can also withstand stains from food and drink.
CONCLUSION
Selection is a crucial component as well. You can prefer bigger or smaller tiles, tiles with unusual forms, or mosaic designs that incorporate both tile and stone, depending on the type of installation.
Additionally, you can pick from a wide range of colors and patterns, which offer random variations among the tiles and can produce a distinctive, artistic impact.