Our Tiles

Porcelain

Porcelain tiles are composed of fine porcelain clay and fired at a much higher temperature than traditional ceramic tiles making them much harder and denser. Due to its highly durable make-up, porcelain is more resistant to scratches and can withstand extremes of temperature. It is very stain resistant, has a very low water absorption rate and so can be used for interior and exterior applications. Porcelain tiles can be either glazed or unglazed. Unglazed porcelain tiles are usually polished to a high gloss shine but because they are not coated with a glaze, such tiles benefit from the application of a penetrating sealer to give it added stain resistance and to aid cleaning.

Marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock, a form of limestone composed mainly of calcium carbonate and found in many countries. It was formed under intense heat and pressure and features veins and swirls of colour. It can be supplied honed or polished to a very high finish and can be found in black, white, grey, green, pink and several other shades. Like all-natural stone, marble tiles should be sealed to give them added stain resistance and to aid in cleaning. Being acid-sensitive, marble should be cleaned with a neutral ph or slightly alkaline cleaner.

Mosaic

Mosaic tiles are small pieces of tile usually supplied on a mesh backing or sometimes paper faced. Originally they were used to create intricate designs or pictures. In addition to the example shown here, mosaics can be obtained in many shapes and sizes and also as feature borders in various designs. They can be made from all types of material including ceramic, glass and natural stone.

Terracotta

Terracotta is a ceramic material that has been used for construction and decorative arts since ancient times in cultures around the world. Terracotta, which literally means “baked earth,” is made from natural clay which gives it a characteristic reddish-brown colour. The colour varies slightly depending on the clay used. Terracotta may be glazed for extra durability or to provide colour. Traditionally, terracotta tiles were sealed with boiled linseed oil and polished with beeswax although more advanced sealers and polishes are frequently used these days.

Encaustic

 Encaustic tiles are ceramic tiles where the pattern is inlaid into the body of the tile. The patterns are made up of different colours of clay, heated into a liquid called the slip, and poured into a mould and then fired. Encaustic tiles were first developed and used in the medieval period. It was in the gothic revival of the Victorian age that brought them back into popular demand and so they are often referred to as Victorian tiles. These tiles are usually laid to a pattern with similar tiles of different colours.