Ceramic/Porcelain Tile

Unlimited colors and shapes. Unlimited potential for custom installations. Exceedingly durable. Graded for use. Styles to include natural stone. Porcelain can go indoors or out.

Porcelain tile's beauty and durability are equally amazing.

1.                  Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic made of a very fine mixture of clays and minerals similar to those found in fine dinnerware. These special clays allow porcelain tile to be fired at temperatures even higher than ceramic tile, typically exceeding 2,400 degrees (F). The higher temperature results in a very dense tile. And the denser a tile, the better it resists moisture.

Like ceramic tile, porcelain tile from Shaw Ceramics is resistant to stains, odors, bacteria, and scratches. It is also...

...denser and harder than most other tile highly stain and water resistant

...naturally hygienic with easy to clean surfaces that can be smooth, textured, or polished

...beautiful and durable, both in the home or in commercial applications

Maintenance

1.                  Proper maintenance is the key to a trouble-free ceramic tile floor.

Damp mop weekly

Wipe down your ceramic floor with a damp mop at least once a week (or more often for heavy traffic areas) with R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner from Shaw's line of Floor Covering Care Products. If R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner is not available, a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar to 2 gallons of clean tap water can be used. Never use a detergent or soap, because it can dull the surface or promote the growth of mildew.

Caution: Wait at least 72 hours after installation (to allow new ceramic tile and grout to dry) before damp mopping.

Use protective mats

Good quality entry and exit mats will help protect your ceramic tile from premature wear. They trap the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that would otherwise be tracked onto your floor. Mats are also suggested at heavy pivot locations, such as in front of your kitchen sink or stove.

Add protective pads to furniture

Protect your tile by affixing felt or similar pads to the legs of any metal, iron, wood, or plastic furniture that will be placed on it. Exterior metal furniture, which rests on tile floors or patios, may rust and cause staining.

Use recommended sealers and cleaners only

We do not recommend cleaners other than Shaw's own line of floor care products or the vinegar solution described above. They may cause unwarranted damage to your tile and/or grout.

Check cure time before adding grout sealer

Unless noted otherwise on its packaging, grout should cure for at least 28 days before applying a sealer.

Use a penetrating sealer on quarry tiles

Shaw's quarry tiles are the only Shaw tiles that need a penetrating sealer. These sealers are absorbed into the tile, forming a stain resistant shield just below the surface. Most sealers will darken or change the appearance of the tile, and resealing is usually required every 12 to 18 months. None of Shaw's other tiles will need a sealer, as they are not porous enough to absorb it.