Ceramic tile begins as clay and is formed into a material known as bisque. The bisque is shaped into tiles and then is fired in a kiln. As a rule, the higher the temperature, the stronger the tile will be. Ceramic tiles come in many different variations. The most common type of ceramic tile is glazed.
The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has developed a rating system for ceramic tile that gauges abrasion levels and rates different tiles for wear resistance. The PEI classifies each tile surface into one of five categories: class 1, class 2, class 3, class 4, and class 5+, with class 1 being rated for “no foot traffic,” and class 5+ being rated for “extra heavy traffic.” As a rule of thumb most residential floors need to be at least a class 3. A commercial application should be at least a class 4 and many times a class 5. The majority of the tiles we carry are a class 4 or higher.
