Vitrified Tile

Is Vitrified Tile better than Hardwood Flooring?

What are vitrified tiles?

Vitrified tile is made with 40% clay and 60% silica in a process called vitrification. The process of manufacture makes them extremely hard and non-porous. This is a great advantage over natural stones like marble or granite which are porous and need a good deal of care.

Vitrified tiles are virtually maintenance free and have very good abrasion resistance. This makes them very suitable for use in high traffic areas.

Here is another huge advantage vitrified tiles have over most other floors. The designs on vitrified tiles are printed with soluble salts which are essentially penetrating pigments that penetrate the tile to a depth of 2 to 3 mm below the surface of the tile. That means the design is present at depths of up to 25% of the tile’s thickness! The high hardness and abrasion resistance of vitrified tiles essentially means that the design is permanent.

Unfortunately, vitrified tiles are not currently available in a wide variety of shades or at least not in as many shades as natural stone tiles are.

We all agree that Hardwood floors are gorgeous and add a great deal of elegance and charm to a home. Hardwood floors require a great deal of care and maintenance to keep them looking great. There are many of us who cannot spare a lot of time to give them the required care, that’s why vitrified tiles can be a great option.

Vitrified tiles are very attractive too. And unlike hardwood floors, these are very durable. They’re much harder than natural stones, and pools of water can definitely not damage them, unlike hardwood floors.

More advantages of vitrified tiles

Vitrified tiles hardly expand or contract with changes in moisture and temperature, unlike other floors such as wood. This means that they may be used for a joint free application. But instead of a joint free application, it may be better to create uniform gaps between tiles by fixing them using spacers and then filling the space with grout. This would especially be recommended when the tiles would be exposed to extremes of temperature – either very hot or very cold.

Vitrified tiles are virtually maintenance free. They may be swept clean. But still, it would be better to take a few steps keep them looking great.

Care and cleaning of vitrified tiles

It would be a good idea to place a floor mat at any entrance to minimize abrasive dust being carried in by people. This is true for any floor you may choose to have, whether stone or wood.

Since vitrified tiles are extremely hard and non porous, a damp mop is more than likely good enough to clean the floor. You should avoid using cleaners with harsh chemicals to clean the floor.

You may also want to clean the grout lines a couple of times a year or so. Keep the grout lines in good shape by scraping out cracked, loose or powdery lines and refilling them.

Vitrified tiles can be extremely beautiful and elegant and with the right care and maintenance, can last for a lifetime.