What Do They Do to Ceramic Tile to Give It Such a High Gloss?

Manufacture

Ceramic tiles start as white or red clay, mixed with water, sand, quartz or feldspar. The mix creates what tile manufacturers refer to as a "body slip." The body slip, approximately one-third water, is placed into a dryer. After heating, it consists of only six percent moisture. Once dry, the body slip becomes a powder, which is put into a powerful press. The press, with a force varying between several hundred pounds per square inch to 100,000 pounds, pushes the powder into a preset shape and size. The resulting shape, called the bisque, is then dried until no more moisture remains.

Ceramic tiles are either glazed or unglazed. A liquid glaze, applied to the tile surface, is then subject to high heat to harden and fuse it. Glaze hardness depends on the temperature in the kiln, with higher temperatures causing harder glazes. Glaze colors come from a mineral mix including silver, gold, copper, cobalt, mercury and zinc. Dark glazes are generally softer than lighter glazes. The shiniest glazes are generally softer than satin or matte finishes on the tile.

Since glazed tiles are stain-proof, there is no need to put a penetrating sealer on top of them, a recommended practice with unglazed tiles. Glazed tiles require little maintenance. Cleaning with mild soap and water is generally sufficient. However, glazed tiles are not full- or thorough-bodied tiles, meaning the color goes all the way through. If a glaze tile chips, it will be noticeable and require repair or replacement.

Most glazed tiles do not suit heavily-trafficked commercial uses. There are glazed tiles suitable for flooring for residential and light use indoors, although these tiles become slippery when wet. The best use of highly glossy glazed tiles is for walls and countertops. Tiles must meet certain industry standards for usage, so make sure the tile you are buying fits your needs. These standards include durability, slip resistance, abrasion and scratch resistance, breaking strength, water absorption and chemical resistance.