What Is Vitrified Ceramic Tile?

Vitrification Process

• Vitrified tile starts out as a wet blend of 40 percent mineral clay and 60 percent silica and feldspar. This mix is molded into tile shape, then baked in a furnace called a kiln at 2,190 degrees Fahrenheit. This high-temperature baking process turns the mineral mixture into a perfectly flat, rock hard, nonporous, durable, porcelain-like tile. The vitrification process produces tiles of uniform size and thickness, ready to lay.

Vitrified Advantage

• A big advantage of vitrified tile over natural stone for flooring in outdoor locations is that it simply does not absorb moisture. Marble or granite floor slabs are natural products with tiny imperfections that can trap rainwater and snow melt. As the entrapped water freezes and thaws, it causes cracking and spalling of the stone surface. Because vitrified tile is impervious to water, it doesn’t suffer from this problem. Its nonporous nature also resists staining. The uniform size and thickness of vitrified tile, coupled with the fact that it doesn’t expand and contract with temperature and moisture changes, makes it ideal for groutless installations. But it also can be laid with grouted joints.

Integral Color

• For solid-color vitrified tile, appropriate pigments are added to the mineral blend before it is molded and baked into tile. This means the color exists throughout the tile, not just on the surface. For vitrified tile that bears patterns and designs, the artwork is printed on the tile before baking, using soluble pigment salts that penetrate into the top 25 percent of the tile to form an indelible design. If the vitrified tile is to have a textured surface, the texture is stamped into the top surface before baking. Once installed, vitrified tile needs only sweeping and damp mopping to keep it looking fresh.

Installing Tile

• Before installing vitrified tile, make sure the floor area is clean, solid and flat. Lay out the tiles without adhesive as a dry run to check fit and appearance. Spread a thin layer of tile adhesive formulated for vitrified tile. Lay your first row, using a straightedge to guide you as you press each tile into place. If you will be grouting the joints, use spacers to obtain even gaps. Cut tiles using a power saw with a diamond blade. Once tile is laid, don’t walk on it for 24 hours. If grouting, use a rubber squeegee to force the grout into the joints, working one square yard at a time. As you finish a section, wipe the tile clean with a damp sponge. After the grout has dried, scrub the tiles to clean off any remaining surface grout residue.