Ceramic tiles have graced the floors and walls of dwellings for centuries due to this material’s beauty and hardwearing nature. Modern ceramic tiles offer consumers more colour, texture, and patterns than ever before, and Classic Ceramics stocks a range of exclusive ceramic tiles, perfect for your next project.
Advances in manufacturing techniques make ceramic tiles virtually indistinguishable from natural marbles, travertines, and other stone products. Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles are a fantastic choice for any residential or commercial project.
Let’s learn a little more about the different types of ceramic tiles, starting with firing techniques. Once tiles are formed and dried, they are placed in a kiln to fire at high temperatures. This process ‘sets’ the tiles, basically cooking them.
Monocottura tiles
Monocottura means ‘single-fired’ in Italian. A relatively new way to fire, the greenware (raw clay) is shaped, glazed, and fired within a roller kiln in a process that can take as little as an hour. Producing tiles this way creates strong, durable ceramic tiles with a hard glaze that are typically tougher wearing than double-fired (bicottura) tiles. Monocottura tiles are commonly favoured as interior floor tiles and for outdoor applications as they have a flat rear surface, making them easier to install than bicottura tiles.
Bicottura tiles
Bicottura means ‘double fired’ in Italian. The bicottura process is where a simple ‘biscuit’ is made then fired. This tile is then coated with a glaze and fired a second time. This process can take several days and typically produces ceramic tiles less durable than monocottura tiles. However, many people believe the bicottura process still produces better decorative ceramic and mosaic tiles. Often slightly softer than moncottura tiles, bicottura tiles are better suited for walls, splashbacks, and low-traffic areas.
Ceramic Tile Types
Ceramic tiles are produced to different specifications depending on their intended use. Each tile type (wall, floor, interior, exterior, mosaic, etc.) displays different slip resistance, wear, and porosity characteristics, ensuring you choose the right tile type for your project. For instance, wall tiles are typically glazed with a semi-gloss or matte surface and feature a low slip resistance, making them slippery when wet. You wouldn’t lay wall tiles on the floor, as they would form a slip hazard. If you’re not sure which tile you need for your project, contact one of our experienced team members for help.
Are you an Architect or Designer and would like to discuss tiling options for a residential or commercial project?
Please make an appointment with one of our in-house experts to talk about your ceramic tile needs in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.
Are you looking for a bespoke option?
Our Classic Design Studio can help bring your vision to life. This service allows for making specific items such as step nosing and skirting pieces where the small details make all the difference.
Contact us today for more information.
Choose Classic Ceramics for your ceramic tiles
We strive to match the perfect product to every project. Whether it’s a residential project or a large-scale commercial venture, we chase excellence in everything we do. Choose Classic Ceramics for your ceramic mosaic, wall, and floor tiles in Australia.