Bathroom Tiles

Bathroom tiles have evolved greatly in the last centuries. The Romans used floor tiles in many of their homes especially those that belonged to the nobility. They perfected this technology from the Greeks who in turn got t from the Egyptians who used floor tiles to beautify their courts. In the early stages, concrete tiles were the most prevalent and their use was widespread especially in most of the major cities. The Greeks transitioned to granite and so did the Romans, later incorporating porcelain and marble to enhance the durability of the structures. Today we have many different types of bathroom tiles. We have porcelain, marble, granite., concrete, terra cota and ceramic. Porcelain, ceramic, marble and concrete seem to have the lion’s share of the market.

Porcelain
Porcelain tiles are somewhat a variation of the ceramic tiles. The only difference is that they absorb water very slowly. To create porcelain tiles, a combination of oxides is heated to over 1000 degrees. Porcelain is especially resillient and that is why it is used for bathroom floors and also for some walls.

Ceramic
This is also a variation of porcelain and is widely common in many homes. Ceramic is created also by combining clay with chemical oxides and heating it in controlled environments. Ceramic bathroom tiles can also be combined with porcelain and are also very water resistant. Ceramic tiles also do not succumb to wear and tear making them the perfect choice for bathroom floors and walls.

Terracotta
This is also a form of clay-like rock material which is also a popular ingredient for making bathroom tiles. Terra Cota means “baked earth” and this has been a common way of creating tiles especially for the Egyptians who used this technology to strengthen their building materials.

Concrete
Concrete bathroom tiles are the traditional tiles that we know and that have been on many floors for hundreds of years. They are created by heating natural clay in specialized equipment and then squeezed. The bathroom tile brand of terracotta, is also a variation of this. Concrete bathroom tiles are very ideal if you are afraid of slipping since their rough surface prohibits this. Concrete is common for front porches but not necessarily for the bathroom tiles because in the bathroom,it is essential that the tiles be easy to clean. Concrete is not easy to clean and can also be harsh especially to bare feet.

Today, it is not uncommon to see a combination of these tiles in the same home. The living room could have marble tiles while the bathroom could spot porcelain. This all depends on the preferences of the home owner. Places with small children may also have a combination of the above.