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Tiling

Tiles have for years been used in bathrooms and kitchens but currently they are creeping into a lot of other areas such as passages, foyers and entrance ways, and even living rooms. Natural stone and tiles are warm in winter and cool in summer and are an excellent alternative to timber flooring for showing off a designer or Persian rug.

Ceramic Tiling

The term 'ceramic tile' actually covers several groups of tile product. Pressed floor tiles are complex blends of fine clays, calcined flints and other carefully measured ingredients which are compressed under great pressure. They are then fired into thin, critically sized tile modules which have a very strong finish. This manufacturing process is similar to that used when making pressed ceramic wall tiles, but quite distinct from quarry tiles which use production techniques more closely related to those used in brick manufacture.

Most pressed ceramic tiles are imported from Britain and Europe and come in a great variety of colours and patterns, as well as glazed and unglazed finishes. Today's modern technology has allowed massive improvements to the hardness capabilities and colour options for glazed floor tiles. This has resulted in an increase of their use in heavy duty commercial areas like walk-ways and shopping malls where previously only unglazed floor tiles were suitable.

In the home, many pressed ceramic floor tiles can be used on the floor and continued up the walls for an uncluttered and co-ordinated appearance, especially desirable in small spaces.

Glossy, semi-gloss and matt surfaces are available on glazed tiles which all have a hardy, long-lasting surface and are easy to clean.

Mosaic tiles are simply smaller pressed tiles meshed together in squares to simplify their application. Most mosaics come from Japan, Korea and Thailand. There is little difference in quality between them, but the Japanese tiles are more accurately laid on mesh and therefore better presented.

Quarry Tiles

These are produced from a variety of local clays and, because of their thickness and end use, size and finish are not critical. They are extruded, not pressed, and have a traditional, hand-made appearance. Some are indeed still handmade in the traditional manner.

For interior flooring they can be glazed or unglazed or sealed after they are down with several coats of silicone wax polish. If they are used outside they should be left unglazed so they grip when wet. This is especially important on steps, for obvious reasons.

Quarry tiles are easy to sweep and clean with a sponge or mop and they will keep their good looks for an endless period of time.

They can be used plain or in mixed colours and shapes to create borders and central areas of interest. Colour and shade variation is an inherent quality of all fired ceramic products and it is suggested that when they are being laid they are selected at random for a varied and natural overall effect.

Quarry tiles are made of natural materials and have a mellow, solid, timeless appearance which is always in fashion. In fact, as they age, they improve in looks, often taking on a glowing patina rather than a high gloss. They also integrate easily with other flooring materials. If you need to make a transition from carpet or timber or even grass, tiling will easily achieve the change without jarring the senses.

Any tiling, however, is only as good as the surface it is laid on and should be laid on a clean, rigid surface in a mortar bed or with correct adhesives.

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It is possible to fix tiles on to a timber floor after the boards have been secured with a chicken wire and building paper overlay ready for a mortar bed. Another method is to cover the wood with a rigid sheeting and fix the tiles to it with cement adhesives.

Marble

Marble is a quality product with a cool, elegant appearance and touch. It varies in cost depending on its origin and quality of finish, but still compares with other premium flooring and products.

New Zealand marble is quarried at Takaha near Nelson and distributed throughout the country. It comes in two colours — white with grey veining, and white with bronze veining.

Imported marble comes in a range of colour tonings ranging from white through to cream, grey, black and shades of green and brown. Veinings vary from white to cream, dark green, pink, black and brown. There are, however, about eight basic marbles distributed throughout the world and most of these come from Italy. Other marbles come from Greece, Portugal, Taiwan, India, China and Iran.

Marble is quarried and rough-cut at its place of origin but final cutting and polishing is done in New Zealand by manufacturing stonemasons. Tiles range in size from 300 x 150mm to the standard 300 x 300mm and are usually 12-20mm thick; but marble also comes in large slabs which can be cut to specified requirements. These are often used in commercial buildings.

Marble in any size is best laid by a professional. Tiles are fixed by an adhesive or in a mortar bed (timber floors require an underlay) and then grouted and polished. It can be honed for non-slip areas, or highly polished for either flooring or walling requirements.

Maintenance is simple. Just a regular wash with mild detergent followed by a clear water rinse. To prevent staining, spillages should be wiped up immediately.

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Slate

Slate was first introduced in New Zealand in 1978 and since then has become widely used as a flooring material.

It is a natural product with a timeless durability, low maintenance and a lovely, rustic appearance. Colours are mainly grey/black but can also be green, purple, brown or a combination of all these colours.

Apart from colour, it differs in type according to the way it has been cut. Chipped edge or hand-cut slate is cut at the quarry face using a hand operated guillotine or a machete. This method produces a rough or chipped edge to the sides of the slate which is generally unsuitable for flooring, except for very light traffic areas, as it is too thin. Sawn-edge slate tiles have been selected in the quarry, transported to the factory and cut to an accurate straightedge size with a diamond saw. These are the common flooring type.

Slate lasts forever. It is easy to care for and will blend happily with any style of existing decor. It is, of course, a natural product — a metamorphic rock formed over millions of years by the deposit of mineral rich silt. The sedimentary deposits undergo a dramatic change due to pressure and are pushed into sheet-like layers called cleavages. Slate comes from Africa, Europe, China and India and varies in colour according to its origins.

A good slate has a regular cleavage which is tight and not flaky. The thicker and tighter the cleavage, the better the quality.

Like ceramic tiles, it should be laid on an even, rigid surface. Surface sealing is recommended for slate that is laid indoors.

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