We debunk the most prevalent myths and falsehoods to dispel all of your misconceptions regarding porcelain tiles. Check it out at this moment. One of the most popular surfaces in the world is porcelain tile. After all, it is attractive, durable, adaptable, and sustainable. A few things could be improved and realities concerning this product, though.
You may read about some of them in the sections below to help clear up the major questions!
Myths and truths: floor and wall joints need to be aligned
Myth: No floor and wall joints are required to be aligned. The decision will be based on what each person like and what is deemed more lovely on an aesthetic level.
Putting myths and reality aside, here are some pointers that apply to both situations:
Choose porcelain tile models of the same size and quality if you want the joints to be aligned.
Instead, begin the pagination in the centre of one of them if you wish them to be out of alignment or if the tiles are different sizes.
In the first scenario, paying attention to how the covers are laid up is crucial. It’s much simpler at Portobello, for instance, when a product is available in various calibres.
Therefore, if you want to align, you should pick choices of equal quality. However, there is only a way to align the joints if the finish is bold. Start pagination in the middle of the article to mask the fact that the products have several calibres. But doing so will move the joints out of place.
Myth or Truth: to Glue Porcelain Tiles, I need to buy AC3 Mortar
Myth: Most floor installers make their mortar selections based on the mortar’s typology, which might be AC1, AC2, or AC3.
Each one differs from the others in terms of quality, how long they may be opened for, and other details. However, the bonding of porcelain tiles often casts doubt on the decision to choose the AC3 kind.
AC2 products, for instance, are perfect for this coating. As a result, it’s crucial to consider the place of usage and pay attention to the typology. Therefore, consult the manufacturer’s requirements to determine whether AC2 mortar may be used in your project.
It is important to remember that AC3 often costs more, raising the project’s overall cost. Therefore, the objective is to favour less expensive goods that precisely satisfy demands, offering a higher cost-benefit ratio. If you need more clarification, choose a store specialising in your project and contact a specialist for advice. You may also get ideas from the capital, the smart city.
Myths and Truths: you have to Buy More Porcelain Tiles than you are Going to Use
True. You must consider an excess, the so-called technical reserve, for each coating you purchase for the project.
This is due to the possibility of ceramics being broken or damaged throughout transit, storage, cutting, or laying. Not to mention that the item you selected can be withdrawn from production. This will likely become an issue if you ever need to replace any parts. There is a distinction between porcelain tiles and other ceramic varieties now. It was customary to add roughly 10% more to the environment footage calculations.
However, this account is acceptable for artwork up to 60 x 60 cm in size, especially when discussing conventional pagination. That figure is now a myth because to the huge porcelain tile and Lastra forms. As a result, the computation has to be revised. The first step is to simulate the pagination in space to determine how much extra you will need to purchase. Verify the necessary number of entire and sliced parts.
Determine if the sliced component will be reused. It should count as an integer if there is no utility. The number of boards you need for the environment can only be determined at that point. Speak with the shop salesman or the project’s architect to learn how many extra components you must purchase.
Myth or Truth: Porcelain Tiles Stain
Polishing porcelain tiles causes tiny holes that can only be seen under a microscope to open. They do, however, increase your susceptibility. All Portobello goods are waterproofed after manufacture to prevent stains. One of the greatest products on the market, it is water-based.
Our porcelain tiles are, therefore, stain-resistant. This assertion, however, cannot be made for all brands because they all have unique manufacturing processes. Today, all coatings are subject to standards-based cleanability testing. Additionally, the publication offers advice on chemical resistance and water absorption.
There are a total of five stain ratings. In this instance, five is the easiest to remove, but one cannot be done so. Porcelain tiles must meet the criteria and have a maximum grade of 3. How to learn this knowledge could be a concern for some. For instance, this caution regarding staining agents may be found in the product report for Portobello coatings.
To give you an idea of the benefit of selecting those rated 5, in certain situations, cleaning is achievable with only warm water. At 4, a neutral detergent must be used, but at 3, a creamy soap or other product containing active chlorine must be used.
However, the use of a solvent is necessary for class 2 coatings. Now, if the porcelain tile fits 1, cleaning would be impossible. These testing are particularly stringent at Portobello to ensure a high-quality product. Therefore, five additional staining agents are employed in addition to the common ones (chromium oxide, iron oxide, iodine, and light oil).
So, using items that are part of everyday life, it is feasible to keep porcelain tile from staining. Coffee, shoe polish, grout, an overhead projector pen, and a rubber hammer are among them.
Myths And Truths: Striped Porcelain Tile
True: This is a common query among the myths and realities concerning porcelain tiles. Everyone dislikes having a scratched floor, after all. However, scratches—which may be superficial or deep—are caused by the friction of an abrasive substance on the covering.
An effective cleaning solution like Creamy Soap simplifies removing superficial stains. Already, the deep ones harm the environment irreparably. A scale of material hardness known as the Mohs may be used to determine whether something has scratches.
It has a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 denoting the softest substance found in nature and 10 denoting the hardest—gypsum and diamond, respectively. Tests are conducted to determine. They entail rubbing one product up against another to see which will get damaged. Anything that is crossed out gets a lower score.
Natural porcelain tiles are rated between 6 and 7, whereas polished porcelain tiles are rated between 3 and 4 on the Mohs scale. The latter falls under the same category as sand, which is highly prevalent in coastal areas. The natural finish is, therefore, perfect for these places.
Maintaining a clean environment, taking care while moving furniture, and covering the legs of chairs and tables with felt to protect porcelain tile from scratches is crucial.
Myth or Truth: the Higher the PEI, the Better
Myth: Porcelain Enamel Institute, which categorises ceramics’ enamel resistance, is known by the initials PEI.
Enamelled porcelain tiles might fall under this category. However, since the technical product’s surface lacks enamel, it does not exist. Because clients needed to grasp what PEI was for, one of the myths and realities generated much uncertainty at the time of purchase.
In essence, it’s utilised to categorise the transit resistance of both humans and machinery. As a result, a porcelain tile with a PEI of 5 may be put in a high-traffic area. However, PEI 0 can be used without issue for usage on walls. Ceramic producers began to merely tell the site of usage rather than the PEI due to the numerous questions that this idea caused.
As a result, choosing the best product for your task is simpler.
Myths and Truths: it’s only Porcelain if it’s Shiny
Myth. Different surface treatments are available for porcelain tiles. The first coatings of this kind inspired this concept.
They were imported when they first entered the nation. Therefore, this was the only choice. Technical and enamelled porcelain tiles were the two typologies that the product was first created in line with throughout time. The coating on the first is uniform in colour and has a single mass. The second gets an enamel coating on its surface, as the name indicates.
In any case, minimal water absorption rather than a polished surface will determine if a product is a porcelain.
You should also be aware that these typologies include three different surface finishes: polished, natural, and exterior. Glossy is the polished finish. The organic one has a satiny feel.
On the other hand, the exterior has a larger coefficient of friction to offer security in outside spaces. This is achievable because the surface contains relief and grit to prevent slippage.
