FT NEWS
Vitrified tiles have emerged as one of the most popular tiling options in Indian homes. These tiles come with enhanced qualities – they are hard, dense, strong and highly stain-resistant. Different types of manufacturing processes are used to produce different types and qualities of vitrified tiles. Take a look at the three different options of vitrified tiles available for floors.
1. Glazed vitrified tiles
Glazed vitrified tiles or GVT are manufactured on a glazed surface and are printed with digital technology, where one can achieve numerous patterns and looks on the tile, such as designs that mimic wood, bamboo, marble and so on. They are also known as digital glazed vitrified tiles.
The layer of glaze that is printed on the tile is usually less than 1 millimetre, which makes them suitable only for areas of low or medium traffic.
These tiles can be classified into two types:
- Soluble salt vitrified tiles are the most inexpensive vitrified tiles available in the market. Soluble salts are used to penetrate the surface of the tile and give it its colour, design and pattern, during the process of manufacturing. However, one drawback of soluble salt vitrified tiles is that the tile may fade away after a few years due to constant wear and tear.
- Nano polished soluble salt tiles are made by adding a layer of liquid silica to the soluble salt vitrified tiles. This process fills the nano or micro pores of the tile to make the tiles look shinier and feel smoother than plain soluble salt vitrified tiles. These tiles have good resistance to abrasion and are low on maintenance.
2. Full body vitrified tiles
Full body vitrified tiles have a uniform colour running throughout their thickness. Hence, the tile never fades in its lifetime. This characteristic makes full body vitrified tiles the most suitable for high traffic areas because the scratches are hardly visible. It also makes them the most expensive.
During the process of manufacturing, the pigment mixture is added right in the initial stages, so as to create a homogeneous colour that is consistent throughout the tile.
3. Double charged vitrified tile
In double charged vitrified tiles, two colours of pigments are used during manufacturing. The press prints a 3–4-millimetre-thick layer of a dual-coloured pattern on the tile.
The best part about these tiles is that they are highly durable, maintenance-free and suitable for high-traffic areas.
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