tile Flooring
Great Western Flooring IS tile in Chicagoland: It’s the bedrock of our business. Beyond an extraordinary range of tile products, we provide you with the creative and technical expertise that ensure dramatic results for your floor.
Here’s a quick overview of the different tiles available to you:
CERAMIC TILE
Made of sand, clay and water, ceramic tiles come in glazed and painted varieties. They are great for residential use and less expensive than their porcelain counterparts.
PORCELAIN TILE
Porcelain tiles use more-refined versions of ceramic’s basic ingredients. They also require more-sophisticated installation materials and techniques than ceramic tile does.
Fired in the kiln at a hotter temperature, porcelain is more dense, more durable and less absorbent than ceramic. It is also frost proof, stain resistant and suitable for outdoor use.
Because most porcelain tile is glazed, you will still see the white or tan clay beneath the surface if it is chipped. “Through body” or “color body” porcelain occurs when the color goes all the way through the body of the tile.
CONGOLEUM® DURACERAMIC TILE
A brand of limestone composite tiles, 16”x16” DuraCeramic tiles offer more warmth than a ceramic tile. They are also easier to install (with or without grout) and can “float” over many existing floors.
GLASS TILE
Glass tiles are rapidly increasing in appeal. Popular in both bold and understated traditional and contemporary applications, they are most often seen in a mosaic format.
Glass-tile mosaics come mounted on either mesh (back side), paper (front side) or plastic film (front side). Paper-faced mosaics have a more “uneven” look when installed.
Most glass is intended for wall use only, but some glass tile is suitable for floor applications. Examples of glass tiles include recycled, polished, frosted, tumbled, blended, iridescent, multicolored, etched and crackled.
Because glass tile is non-porous and frost proof, it is suitable for outdoor applications such as swimming pools.
METAL TILE
Metal tiles are typically a decorative accent, but they can also be used exclusively. Many accent pieces have an embossed design or shape to them. Natural or hand-made metal tiles or accent pieces will often patina over time as well.
Some metals are solid; others are resin with a metallic glaze. Different metal tiles include stainless steel, copper, bronze, pewter, silver, gold, brushed metals and aged iron.
