Tile Types

What are ceramic tiles?

Ceramic tiles are a light weight clay based tile. They are pressed at a lower pressure rate and fired at a lower temperature to that of porcelain tiles. This manufacturing process means that they are always finished with a durable glaze which carries the colour and pattern. This glaze can be either gloss or matt and in some instances there can be an additive to the glaze to give the tile an external rating. The edge of a ceramic tile is generally not rectified; this means that the tiles should not be laid any closer than 3-5mm depending on the quality of the substrate. (For what is a rectified tile?)

Key benefits:

Tiles are used in both wall tile and floor tile applications.
Ceramic tiles are great for walls in any area of the home as they are cost effective whilst still giving a superior look.
Ceramic tiles are softer and easier to cut than porcelain making the installation cost more affordable.
Usually carry a PEI rating of 0 to 3. (To understand PEI ratings please refer to what is a tile rating?).
Ceramic tiles are suitable for light to moderate traffic.

All our ceramic tiles comply with Australian standards so you can be assured you are not just getting a low price every time but also the best quality guaranteed.

What are porcelain tiles?

Porcelain tiles are made using very fine, high quality materials with high silica content. Pressed at a high pressure rate and fired at high temperatures, they are typically much less porous than other tiles and do not always require sealing.

Porcelain tiles can either be glazed with gloss, matt or textured finishes and unglazed porcelain tiles result in a natural, polished or textured finish. To provide our customers with great choice, National Tiles offers, in most cases, all finishes for each range. Typically large format porcelain tiles are rectified; this means that the tiles are cut after manufacture to ensure that that they are square, this allows for the tiles to be laid with a minimal grout line of 1.5mm as per Australian standards.

As a result of manufactures around the world continued improvement and development in technologies of unglazed porcelain we also offer full bodied porcelain, double loaded porcelain and soluble salts.

What is full bodied porcelain?

This type of porcelain has the same surface as the body. There are two main versions, the speckled (salt and pepper) and the micronized grain version.

What is doubled loaded (charged)?

Composed of fine speckle biscuit and micronized topping. The two layers are then pressed together prior to firing.

What are soluble salts?

Soluble salts composed of metal oxides and water are spread through a screen on white porcelain, which then penetrates the body of the tile and releases the colouring during firing.

Key Benefits Porcelain Tiles:

Porcelain tiles absorb 0.5% water or less which makes them suitable for humid spots like bathrooms, terraces or kitchens.
Both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles are extremely durable making them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic.
Full bodied and double loaded porcelain tiles carry the colour and pattern into the tile, making it far more a durable product. It is suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic commercial or industrial conditions.

What are mosaic tiles?

Mosaic tiles are very small tiles, typically less than 100mm square and are most commonly known as splashback tiles due to there popularity as a finish for kitchen and bathroom splashbacks.They are available in many different materials including porcelain, ceramic, glass or natural stone, to name but a few. The finishes available will also vary and depend upon the material used.

Commonly sold pre-mounted on mesh or paper sheets at 300x300mm. These sheets can be cut down to generate a pattern when mixed with other body product. For example a 300x300mm sheet of 50x50mm mosaics could but cut down into 100x300mm strips and joined together end to end to create a feature in a shower wall.

National Tiles have introduced a computer aided Design Kiosk into all of our showrooms. Customers can choose from over 3,000 beautiful ‘Murano Glass and Natural Stone mosaic combinations. The design kiosk lets you select the product range that you are interested in and then view them in a photo real image in the kitchen or bathroom of your choice. It’s quick and easy to create your exclusive new feature.

Key Benefits;

Mosaics are used generally as a feature tile to enhance a room.
They are bright and add character without being over powering or can be a bold statement reflecting the home owners personality.
National Tiles Mosaics are made from the highest quality products from around the globe.
The new Design kiosk gives you opportunity to view over 3,000 combinations in the setting of your choice.

To know more see ‘Why buy mosaic splashbacks over glass?’

What is natural stone?

As the name would suggest stone is a natural product. The intention behind the production of natural stone tiles is some what different to that of porcelain or ceramic tiles. The intention with porcelain and ceramic tiles is to take raw material (clay and silica) and process it into a new controlled material. The intention with natural stone is to find and mine the material whilst trying to preserve as much of its natural appearance (including naturally occurring faults) as possible.

Key Benefits:

Natural stone has been a primary construction material since man first lived in a cave and painted on its stone walls.
Whilst natural stone must be respected and maintained to ensure that it continues to look as beautiful in the future as the day it was installed, it is possible to have your stone floor resurfaced in years to come.
Natural stone, gives any interior an element of style and refinement, the polished finishes add formality to a space whilst a honed finish provides a more organic aesthetic.

What is engineered stone?

A man-made product composed of a blend of natural minerals and manmade agents such as polyester, glass, epoxy, and other such ingredients.

Key Benefits:

This product can give the appearance of a “stone-like” surface, but it does not possess the characteristics of a natural stone.
Cheaper alternative to Natural stone.

What are boarder tiles?

Like mosaicsboarder tiles can be manufactured from almost any material from glass to porcelain and ceramic. National Tiles have a range of boarder tiles (200mm x 60mm) which can go with all of our 200 x200 or 200 x250 wall tiles. The colour ways compliment our Banur, Kimberley and Portofino floor range.

Key Benefits:

Boarder tiles are a cost effective way of adding a feature to a tiled area such as a kitchen splash back or a shower recess.
Boarder tiles can be used as a capping tile when only tilling part way up a wall.