| Ceramic tiles are just thin pieces of clay, usually with | | | | unless it is scaled (cork floor tiles, for example) it |
| a colour or pattern on the face, covered with a glaze | | | | marks easily and is not easily cleaned. Tiles can be |
| and fired to produce a surface that is extremely | | | | stuck to the wall with cork tile adhesive or contact |
| hard-wearing, waterproof and stain-resistant. The | | | | adhesive, which makes them relatively easy to fix |
| surface may be smooth or textured. | | | | but almost impossible to remove later. |
| Tiles come in squares, commonly 4-1/4in (108mm) or | | | | Metallic tiles are made from thin metal sheets and |
| 6in (152mm) square, oblongs and a small range of | | | | have hollow backs. They can be fixed to the wall |
| interlocking shapes. Some tiles are sold in metric sizes | | | | with double-sided self-adhesive pads or with an |
| - 100mm, 150mm and 200mm, for example. | | | | adhesive. Most metallic tiles can be cut to shape with |
| Originally, ceramic tiles had unglazed square edges, | | | | scissors though tin snips may be required for the |
| and special border tiles with one or two rounded | | | | tougher ones. Metallic tiles can also be bent to shape. |
| edges had to be used to finish off at the edges of | | | | The tiles are usually coloured gold, silver or copper |
| tiled areas. Now, square-edged tiles are often glazed | | | | and may have a matt or semi-gloss finish. In addition, |
| on all four sides, or some tiles in a box have one or | | | | the metallic effect may be overprinted with a pattern |
| two glazed edges. "Universal' tiles have angled edges | | | | or an individual design. Sizes are 108mm, 150mm or |
| so that there is no need for spacers - the correct | | | | 300mm square. The durability of metallic tiles varies |
| size of gap is left for grouting. | | | | from brand to brand - some are affected by steam. |
| Two sorts of plastic spacer are available for use with | | | | Most are damaged by abrasive cleaners. |
| square-edged tiles which have no spacer lugs. Both | | | | Mirror tiles are small squares of silvered glass, usually |
| are cruciform in shape and are tilted into the junction | | | | 152mm or 230mm square. Most are clear glass, but |
| between four tiles (or two on a border); one type is | | | | there is a choice of silver, bronze or smoke-grey |
| removed once the adhesive has set; the other is | | | | finish. They are usually used for decorating the backs |
| smaller and left in place. An alternative is to use | | | | of alcoves and similar small areas, and are fixed to |
| match slicks positioned between adjacent tiles. | | | | the wall with small double-sided self-adhesive pads. |
| For finishing off the edges of areas of ceramic tiling, | | | | Unless the surface to which they are fixed is |
| you can get a plastic trim, part of which fits under | | | | perfectly flat and true, a distorted reflection is |
| the edge of the last tile. For internal corners (next to | | | | produced from the surface of the tiles. |
| a bath, say), matching quadrant tiles can be used, | | | | Brick and stone tiles are man-made simulations of real |
| and there is a special trim for sealing the gap | | | | brick and stone. Some are actually wafer-thin pieces |
| between tiles and a kitchen worktop. Flexible silicon | | | | of pressed stone aggregate or slivers of brick. Most |
| sealants can also be used for both these jobs. | | | | types are stuck to the wall with special adhesive. A |
| Special-purpose ceramic tiles are also available | | | | wide range of colours, shapes and sizes is available. |
| heat-resistant tiles for around fireplaces and next to | | | | Mosaics are tiny pieces of ceramic tile, usually square, |
| boilers and frost-resistant tiles for unheated outside | | | | though round and interlocking shapes are also |
| WCs, for example. | | | | available. The pieces are mounted in sheets, held |
| Fixing tiles is relatively easy, although it can be | | | | together by a paper facing material that is peeled off |
| time-consuming. They should be stuck to the wall | | | | when the mosaics have been stuck to the wall or |
| with a special ceramic tile adhesive, and the gaps | | | | mounted on a mesh backing. The gaps between the |
| between the tiles should be filled in with hard-setting | | | | mosaic pieces can then be tilled with grout, as for |
| waterproof compound called grout. | | | | ceramic tiles. The surface of the mosaics is |
| A tiled surface is a cold one, and so in humid rooms it | | | | hard-wearing and easy to clean, although the grouting |
| can suffer from condensation. | | | | may gradually become marked. |
| Cork tiles are made by slicing up pressed layers of | | | | Mosaics are easy to fix in place, particularly around |
| the bark of a cork tree to produce thin panels. Most | | | | obstacles, since the sheets can be cut approximately |
| are 300mm square and about 3mm thick, but oblong | | | | to the desired profile and minor irregularities can be |
| panels are also available. | | | | taken up with the grouting, or with cut pieces of |
| The surface of cork tiles is warm to the touch, but | | | | mosaic. They are, however, comparatively expensive. |