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Return to Flooring Terms Glossary
| Ceramic |
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| Glass Tiles |
| These popular tiles are made from pieces of glass formed into consistent shapes. Glass was used in mosaics as early as 2500 BC, but it took until the 3rd Century BC before innovative artisans in Greece, Persia and India created glass tiles. |
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| Glazed tiles |
| These tiles are available in high-gloss, matte, and abrasive slip-resistant finishes. High-gloss tiles will become slippery when wet, so they are probably not a good choice for flooring. Hand-painted glazed tiles come in beautiful and intricate patterns, but the glaze doesn’t go all the way through, so if it gets chipped, you’re going to see the color inside, which will give your tile a discordant look. |
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| Gloss Level |
| Different sheens or levels of gloss -Satin, Semi-gloss or Gloss |
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| Mosaic tile |
| Mosaics are made from different types of clay with color pigments added so the color goes all the way through the tile. These tiles are available in glazed or unglazed finishes. They also resist moisture and will not chip easily, according to Hometime.com’s home renovation guide. |
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| Porcelain tile |
| These tiles are fired at extreme temperatures, making them stronger and harder than other ceramic tiles. They are extremely wear-resistant and absorb less water than other ceramic tiles, making them an excellent choice for high-traffic areas of the home, especially those regularly exposed to moisture. |
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| Quarry tile |
| Made from a mixture of unglazed clays, these tiles come in earth tones: gray, red and brown. The color comes from the clay as well as the temperature and duration of firing. These tiles are usually porous and may stain if left unsealed. Quarry tiles come in squares, rectangles and hexagons. |
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