Buying tiles and ceramics is one of the most important choices when constructing or designing the interior and exterior of a building. These materials have a significant impact on the beauty and appeal of the building, but when purchasing, you should not focus only on their appearance. Tiles and ceramics must have acceptable durability and meet standard technical specifications so that you don’t need to replace them after a short period.
In this article, we aim to familiarize you with the most important technical specifications of tiles and ceramics, so that when you plan to purchase, you can make a more informed and logical decision.
The Most Important Technical Specifications of Tiles and Ceramics
If you are planning to buy ceramics or porcelain tiles, you should definitely pay special attention to the technical specifications printed on their packaging. These specifications provide important information about the product's quality and characteristics. Below, we will introduce some of these specifications.
Tile Grade
The grade of a tile refers to its quality level. The lower the grade, the higher the quality, and consequently, the higher the price. For example, a tile with a grade of 2 will have a higher quality and price compared to a tile with a grade of 3.
For areas that are more prone to wear and tear, such as the flooring of buildings that are exposed to pressure daily, you should use tiles and ceramics with grade 1 or 2 quality.
Abrasion Resistance
Another important technical specification of tiles and ceramics is their abrasion resistance class. This refers to how resistant these products are to wear. This is particularly important for tiles and ceramics with glossy surfaces.
Professional builders recommend using tiles and ceramics with an abrasion resistance class of 3 for residential buildings or environments that are less exposed to wear.
Coefficient of Friction (COF)
Another factor to consider when purchasing tiles, including porcelain ceramics, is the coefficient of friction (slipperiness) of the product. This feature indicates how resistant tiles and ceramics are to slipping, with higher values meaning less friction.
The coefficient of friction of tiles and ceramics should be determined based on the application and the location where they will be installed. For example, in high-traffic areas, a coefficient of friction of 0.6 or higher is recommended, and a minimum slip resistance coefficient of 0.45 is considered.
Multicolor Tiles (Face)
The term "multicolor" refers to tiles and ceramics that, like natural stones, contain veins of different colors, creating a color pattern on their surface. Some tiles and ceramics have this multicolor feature and resemble natural stones, while others have a completely uniform and single-colored surface.
Choosing multicolor tiles depends on personal preference, but if you are looking for tiles for a residential environment, it is better to choose a higher grade of multicolor.
Resistance to Temperature Changes
If the environmental conditions of your living or working space involve significant temperature fluctuations, you should use tiles and ceramics with high resistance. This feature is particularly important for tiles and ceramics that will be installed in outdoor spaces, such as terraces, exteriors, etc.
Water Absorption Class
Another critical technical specification of tiles and ceramics is their water absorption class. This indicates how resistant the products are to moisture, helping you choose the appropriate option based on the humidity of the environment. Even if you use the best porcelain tile adhesive, moisture could damage the tiles or separate them from the intended location.
Chemical Class
The chemical class is another technical specification of tiles and ceramics that shows how resistant these products are to color changes, damage, chipping, etc. The higher this class, the better the quality of the tile or ceramic.
Resistance to Stains
This characteristic indicates the level of resistance of tiles and ceramics to stains. The lower the stain resistance class, the more prone the product is to staining.
This factor shows the product's resistance to stains; the higher the class, the less it will stain.
Other Specifications
In addition to the features and specifications mentioned so far, the following factors can also help you while buying tiles and ceramics:
Dimensions and size Manufacturer brand Production date Weight Thickness Number of pieces per carton Color Application
Conclusion
In this article, we aimed to introduce you to some of the most important technical specifications of tiles and ceramics. This way, you can consider not only the appearance but also the technical specifications and characteristics of the products when purchasing, ensuring that you buy the best and highest-quality product based on your expected application.