Porcelain tiles, also often known as vitrified tiles, are widely used in home decoration and various building decorations.

Characteristics

Low water absorption rate: The water absorption rate of porcelain tiles is usually less than 0.5%. This characteristic gives them excellent frost resistance and enables them to adapt to various climatic conditions. They are not prone to cracking, deformation and other problems caused by water absorption. For example, in the cold northern regions, porcelain tiles can still maintain good performance.

High hardness and wear resistance: Their hardness can reach above Mohs scale 6. They have a compact structure and a hard and wear-resistant surface. Even after long-term use, scratches and wear are not likely to appear. In areas with heavy traffic such as living rooms, using porcelain tiles can maintain a long-lasting beauty.

Stable color: The color and texture on the surface and inside of porcelain tiles are consistent. The products are fully vitrified and will not change color. Moreover, they come in rich colors and can meet the needs of different decoration styles. Whether it is modern minimalist style, European classical style or Chinese style, you can always find suitable porcelain tiles to match.

Strong stability: Porcelain tiles have stable performance, are not easy to break, are corrosion-resistant, relatively light in weight, easy to process, and the price is relatively affordable. Therefore, they have become the choice of many home decorators.

Classification

Glazed porcelain tiles: The surface is glazed, making the colors and patterns more diverse and rich in decoration. At the same time, the glazed surface can also play a certain anti-fouling role.

Unglazed porcelain tiles: Among unglazed porcelain tiles, polished tiles are more common. Their surfaces are polished and as smooth as a mirror, with high gloss and texture, which can enhance the overall grade of the space.

Anti-slip porcelain tiles: With specially designed anti-slip surfaces, they increase the friction between the tiles and the soles of shoes, suitable for areas prone to water stains such as bathrooms, kitchens, and balconies to ensure walking safety.

Key Points for Purchasing

Check the appearance: The glazed surface of high-quality porcelain tiles should be smooth and delicate. The glossy glaze should be crystal clear and shiny, and the matte glaze should be soft and comfortable, without obvious glaze defects. The patterns and designs should be fine and vivid.

Measure the size: Good products have small size deviations. When a batch of products are placed vertically on a plane, there should be no uneven phenomenon. Meanwhile, the flatness of the tiles is also very important. You can closely attach the side and the front of the tile parallel to a flat surface respectively to observe the straightness of the side and the warping degree of the front.

Tap and listen: Gently tap the tile. High-quality products will make a clear and pleasant sound, while inferior products will make a “hollow” sound due to improper raw material formulations and other reasons.
Water test: Pour water on the back of the tile and observe how fast the water is absorbed. The slower the water absorption, the lower the water absorption rate and the better the quality. Tiles with no obvious water marks after wiping the water dry are high-quality products.

Daily Maintenance

Cleaning stains: For daily dust and stains, you can use detergents such as dishwashing liquid and soap mixed with water to wipe them off. For stubborn stains such as tea stains, coffee stains and soy sauce stains, you can soak them with bleach and then wipe them clean.

Repairing scratches: When there are slight scratches on the tile surface, you can apply toothpaste on the scratches. After a while, wipe it hard with a soft dry cloth to repair it.

Maintenance of gaps: The gaps between tiles are easy to accumulate dirt and bacteria. You can brush a waterproof agent in the gaps with a writing brush, which can play a waterproof and anti-mold role. You can also use a candle to smear on the tile joints to prevent excessive dirt attachment in advance.