Carpet Brokers of Central Florida, Inc.

Shade Variation

Source: Ceramic Tile Distributors Association

The color shade or shades of all tile varies in some degree from piece to piece and from production run to run. At least several pieces from the same production should be reviewed whenever possible to determine acceptable color shade variations. Any questions or concerns about your tile selection should be clarified prior to installation.

V1	Uniform	Minimal to no differences among pieces from the same production run.
V2	Slight	Distinguishable differences in texture and/or pattern within similar colors
V3	Moderate	While the color present in a single piece of tile will be indicative of the colors to be expected on other tiles, the amount of colors on each piece may vary significantly.
V4	Random	Random color variation from tile to tile, so that one tile may have totally different colors from that on other tiles. Thus, the final installation will be unique.

PEI Rating

Source: The Porcelain Enamel Institute

The PEI Rating of I, II, III, IV, or V defines the wear and durability of a tile's glazed surface.

Class 0	PEI I	Decorative
Class 1	PEI I	Residential and commercial wall and barefoot traffic
Class 2	PEI II	Wall and residential bath floor, soft-soled traffic
Class 3	PEI III	All residential and light commercial floors
Class 4	PEI IV	Medium commercial and light industrial, institutional, moderate soiling
Class 5	PEI V	Heavy and extra-heavy traffic, abrasive dirt

Design with Tile

Frost Resistance: Yes/No

Defines whether the tile is frost resistant. Product manufactured for use where freeze and thaw conditions exist.

Glaze Hardness/Methods of Hardness Scale (MOHS)

Testing of tile for surface resistance to scratching by using different materials. A tile that would scratch by applying talk powder to the surface would receive a rating of 1, while a rating of 10 would be given if the surface could not be scratched by diamond. A rating of 5 would be suitable for residential. A rating of 7 or higher would be suitable for commercial use.

Porcelain Tile

Dust-pressed ceramic tiles with water absorption levels of >0.5% and high mechanical and chemical characteristics. The surface of these tiles may be glazed or unglazed.

Water Absorption

This symbol represents the quantity of water that a single tile can absorb expressed as a percentage of the dry weight of the tile. High water absorption corresponds to a highly porous structure. Compact, or vitrified structures will feature low water absorption.

Percentage	Classification	Products
0 - 0.5%	Impervious	Porcelain tiles, frost proof
0.5 - 3%	Vitreous	Red and white body floor tiles, frost proof
3 - 7%	Semi-Vitreous	Non-frost proof red and white body wall and floor tiles
> 7%	Non-Vitreous	Monoporosa floor and wall tiles, double fire wall tiles

Porcelain is the best tile material, as it's extremely dense and ensures a non-porous surface. Ceramic is also very good, but slightly less durable. Based on strength, be prepared to enjoy your tile for many years with very little maintenance. Tile won't face or collect unwanted elements like dirt, traffic marks, allergens and soils. Most tile cleans with a simple wipe of warm water. While technology may help create a less expensive tile, or produce it more quickly, there is no substitute for artisan craftsmanship.

Slip Resistance (Coefficient of Friction: Wet/Dry)

This measurement is used to determine the aspects of slippage on a tiled surface. This includes wet and dry conditions, as well as the speed of the subject, the required force to move that subject and the angle of the tiled plane.

The Ceramic Tile Institute identifies tile in the following three categories:

Slip Resistant (Meets or exceeds ADA and OSHA requirements)	Coefficient of friction .60 or greater (wet)
Conditionally Slip Resistant (Meets or exceeds OSHA requirements)	Coefficient of friction is .50 to .59 (wet)
Questionable	Coefficient of friction less than .50


Terms and Definitions
Body/Bisque	Refers to the structural portion of a ceramic product and to the material or mixture from which it is made.
Dot-Mounted	Tile mounted into units or sheets using PVC material as a connector. Bonding the tiles together at the edges not covering the back.
Glaze	A glass-like coating applied to the ceramic body that is then fired. Also refers to the material or mixture from which such coating is made.
Glazed Tile	A fused, impervious facial finish composed of ceramic materials fused to the body of the tile which may be nonvitreous, semivitreous, vitreous and impervious.
Gloss	The term used for a tile which has a high shine to its surface. Can generally see your reflection on the tile surface.
Impervious	Water absorption of less than 0.5%.
Matte	A term used for a tile which a soft finish as opposed to a high-gloss finish. A matte finish is less likely to scratch than a high-gloss or semi-gloss tile.
Monocottura	Method of producing tile by single firing in which body and glaze are fired simultaneously in klins at temperatures greater than 1200 degrees.
Nominal Sizes	Approximate facial size or thickness of tile for general references expressed in inches or fractions of an inch.
Non-Slip Tile	Tile with greater non-slip characteristics due to an abrasive ad mixture, abrasive particles, grooves or patterns in surface or because of natural non-skid surface characteristics.
Nonvitreous	Water absorption greater than 7%.
Semi-Vitreous	Water absorption between 3% and 7%.
Sheet-Mounted	Tile assembled into units or sheets, either back-mounted or face-mounted, and bonded by suitable material to facilitate handling. Back-mounted has perforated paper, fiber mesh, resin or other suitable material permanently attached to the back and/or edges so that a portion of the back of each tile is exposed to the bond coat. Face-mounted has paper applied to the face of the tile, usually by water-soluble adhesive so it is easily removed prior to grouting of the joints.
Unglazed	Hard, dense tile of uniform composition throughout, deriving color and texture from the materials of which the body is made.
Vitreous	Water absorption between 0.5% and 3%.

Helpful tips by

* For an active family lifestyle, you may want to avoid a high-gloss tile, as it can become slippery. Stone-look porcelains, with their subtle texture and clefts, are a great choice for high-traffic areas.

* For a formal look, use a marbleized or glossy finished glazed tile. For a more casual appearance, consider a textured stone tile.

* In general, the lighter the tile, the bigger the room will look. In contrast a dark tile will "close" a room, although for certain applications, an earth-tone tile may be very appropriate.

* Remember the size factor. If you are installing tile that is too large in a small area, it may overpower the room, and you may not gain a full appreciation for the tile or color you have selected. As a general rule, the larger the tile, the larger the overall look.