If you have considered upgrading to tile flooring, you are probably overwhelmed with the options when it comes to porcelain floors. With so many different brands to consider, not to mention the huge variation in the price of different tiles, it can be difficult to determine which tiles are truly of top quality. Price may not necessarily mean top quality so looking deeper into a few aspects of the tile can really help determine which tile is the best. Keep in mind that while top quality is important, it should be used as a way to help pick the right tiling after finding choices that work with the décor you have chosen, as well as fit in your budget.
Determining tile quality by looking at the wear rating
The first thing to consider when looking at the quality of porcelain tile floors is to look at the wear rating. The ratings come from the Porcelain Enamel Institute which tests tiles and assigns a wear rating based on how the tile fairs in their tests. The rankings are one through five, with one being considered not usable for flooring and five being tested to withstand constant abuse of even the heaviest foot traffic in a commercial or industrial application. Most porcelain tiles are rated as a five, but there are a few varieties that do not, so it should be checked and verified that the tile has been tested and does score a four or five on the PEI scale.
Determining tile quality through observation
There are a number of other factors to look at when comparing different tiles from a quality perspective.
While most porcelain tile floors are going to wear well, finding tiles of the utmost quality requires a careful look at the product out of the box. Looking at the tile, the tiles should look like they all match. If there is a pattern, it should be consistent across a number of tiles, as should the colour. If possible, sample tiles from different boxes to insure that they are consistent.
The next thing to look carefully at is the flatness of the tile. The best way to do this is to look down the edge of a tile and see how straight the line is. If the tile bows out, the tile will have more lip to it, which may or may not be something you desire. The lip is what you feel when you run your hand across the tile. Proper grouting can mask some of the lip, but the tile shouldn’t bow too much, as it will look like it wasn’t installed properly, more than being lower quality tile.
Finally, the tiles should be of a consistent size. By laying out three rows of three tiles from a representative sample, you will be able to see if they are the same size more easily than comparing single tiles. The sample should be square. At this time, inspecting the tiles for cracks in the finish or glaze is easy to do as well. The cracks will appear to look like lizard tales and even the best tile will have an occasional tile that is missed. However, if a number of things are wrong with the tile, it is probably best to find a different one for your project.
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