Isn’t tile amazing? It’s so versatile! Tile comes in so many materials, styles and colors so your project can reflect your unique style and taste. This versatile material isn’t only for flooring—you can use it on back splashes, fireplaces, shower walls and even outdoor areas!

Tiles come in a variety of styles, sizes, patterns and colors to meet your taste and budget. Graham’s offers the following types of tile:

  • Ceramic Tile
  • Porcelain Tile
  • Natural Stone
  • Marble
  • Pressed Glass

Let’s discuss each of these types in greater detail. 

Ceramic versus Porcelain Tile

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are similar. Ceramic tiles use a clay mixture that’s fired in a kiln, but porcelain tile is made from more refined clay and then fired at higher temperatures. This makes porcelain denser and more durable than ceramic tile. That’s why porcelain tile is more expensive than ceramic tile, and generally considered to be higher quality as well.

Porcelain tile has the same color throughout the material. A broken or chipped piece of unglazed porcelain will have a uniform color throughout its thickness. Ceramic tile often has a glazed surface coloring, so chips may reveal a different color underneath.

The finish of porcelain is smoother than that of ceramic. If you turn over a piece of loose ceramic tile, the unglazed surface feels coarse. However, if you do the same to a porcelain tile, the finer grain of the underside of the tile feels smooth to the touch.

Natural Stone

Uniqueness is everywhere in nature, and that’s what draws some to natural stone! Natural stones obviously look natural and each stone shines with unique characteristics. Plus, natural stone is durable, timeless and luxurious.

Marble

Every marble tile is unique, and that’s often why people want this classic, elegant look. You can choose from polished, honed (matte) or sand marble. As you select tile, keep in mind that marble is the most porous of all the natural stone tile offerings. This means liquids can seep into the marble and possibly stain. In addition, you’ll need to provide more care and maintenance than other tile options.

Pressed Glass

Pressed glass tile comes in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. You can really get creative with glass tile! Pressed glass tile gets its name because glass in a molten state gets poured over an iron table and pressed with a form (think of a cookie cutter) to create the tiles. However, glass tile is usually less resistant to abrasion and impact, so it’s generally not used for flooring. You’ll often see glass tile as backsplashes in kitchens and bathrooms as well as on shower walls. 

We carry high quality tile flooring from:

Contact us today to see what types of tiles—we’re happy to bring tiles to you! Plus, you’ll get access to a design expert (also for free!) who can make your vision come to life.