Types of Tile- Travertine

Travertine is one of the most classic and beautiful natural stones we love to use it in any application!!! Before we show you all the pretty pictures with travertine lets get a little background on what it is and how we care for it!

Travertine is a natural stone material from the limestone family that is deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Basically it comes from the ground and can be used for facades, wall classing and flooring. We love to use travertine in the shower, kitchen backsplashes, and throughout your home! Travertine is a classic look that is timeless!

With all the different colors that travertine comes in it is a great addition to any project. The colors that we have are silver, light, noce, and scabos.



Scabos Travertine Backsplash
 



Picasso Travertine Split Face

Noce Travertine in Patio



Silver Travertine in Versailles Pattern

 

With all the different types of travertine available it also comes with a lot of mosaics and finish pieces that can create a uniqueness to your design!

Travertine is a natural stone so we recommend that it is sealed when installed. This will keep your stone looking great and protect it from staining, this process has to be done about every 1-2 years! For cleaning we recommend to use a natural stone cleaner, using a harsh cleaners will break down the sealer and damage the tile.

With all of the options in Travertine there are endless design possibilities!

  

 
 
 
 

 



Types of Tile - Slate

Slate is such a beautiful natural stone that can create such a great rustic feel to any design! Lets break down what slate actually is so we can better understand how to use it in design and how to care for it!

Slate is a fine grade metamorphic rock that is created of shale or mudstone, simple explanation it comes from the ground and is composed of clay minerals. It comes in a variety of colors such as Silver, Indian autumn,  African Gold and many other options. Slate can be used for interior flooring, exterior paving dimension stone and decorative aggregate. Here at Clayton we have a great selection of slate flooring, mosaics and ledger stone that can be used to create a very interesting and elegant design!

After slate is installed we always recommend sealing it! If you do not seal the slate it will stain and break down over time. This keeps your slate looking great and protects your investment!!  Its an easy process that contractors should do after any tile installation before grouting. Keep in mind once the tile is sealed it will have to be done about every year or two, keeping the slate looking beautiful!

Sealed Slate           VS          Unsealed Slate

Cleaning slate is easy. We do not recommend using any harsh chemicals or cleaners on the slate but you can clean it with mild soap and water. We do have stone and tile cleaner that works great for these applications here at Clayton. Just ask anyone of our installation specialist what you might need and we can point you in the right direction!

Don't be afraid of natural stone in any application! It can create a elegant and natural look that is timeless!

Types of Tile- Ceramic VS. Procelain

Here at Clayton we want our customers to be informed of all the different types of tile that is available to them. So lets break it all down for you on this beautiful Monday!

Ceramic and Porcelain
These are essentially the same, with one slight difference. Both are part of a larger category of tiles that we call ceramic. Lets look at the differences!

Difference #1: Water Absorption Rate
Porcelain tile has a water absorption rate of 0.5% and fired at a higher temperature than ceramic. After it is fired the tile is weighed. If the tile weighs less than half of one-percent more as a result of water absorbing into its surface, it is considered porcelain. Porcelain tiles has less impurities than ceramic and is often rectified.

Interior or Exterior: No Ceramic Outside
Laying porcelain or ceramic tile outside is typically not recommended. Ceramic is usually not durable enough for exterior use because it absorbs too much water. If you live in areas which freeze, your tile would likely crack on the first freezing night. We always recommend a porcelain tile that is specified for exterior use and has a texture that will prevent slipping!

Density: Porcelain Tile is Denser Than Ceramic
This basically means that porcelain tile is harder and more impervious to moisture than ceramic.

Durability: Porcelain Wins!
Porcelain tile is more dense than ceramic but it can have a through-body composition which allows it to be considered for heavy usage than ceramic tile. Chip the ceramic tile and you will find a difference color underneath the top glaze. Chip the thorough-body porcelain and the color keeps going- the chip is nearly invisible. While both porcelain and ceramic are fired, porcelain is fired at higher temps for a longer time than ceramic, making it more durable than ceramic!


We stock both porcelain and ceramic tiles here at Clayton. The decision is yours! Most people like to go with a porcelain tile for its amazing durability! Both types can be used in bathroom and flooring applications and work well in a residential environment!!