In this article we are going to talk a little bit about an older material that is also a newer material. It has been used for several decades to cover surfaces in many environments. It can be found in virtually store that sells floor covering. It is even being used for kitchen countertops. You guessed it, we are talking about porcelain. In this article though, we will be talking about porcelain tile. Specifically we will mention some thoughts with regard to Crossville Porcelain large format tiles. Conceptually, the points apply to porcelain tile of smaller sizes too. So let's get into our consideration of Crossville Porcelain large tile.
Porcelain Tile Differs From Ceramic Tile
It is easy to begin thinking that the two materials ceramic and porcelain are the same material. However, that is not the case and before we get into the specifics about Crossville Porcelain tile, we want to comment briefly on this fact. Just as squares are rectangles but rectangles are not necessarily squares, the same is true of ceramic and porcelain. Porcelain is ceramic, but not all ceramic tile is porcelain. For a ceramic tile to qualify as porcelain it must meet specific requirements. Regarding the thought that these are two distinct materials, note what the Avalon Flooring website published about this:
Both porcelain and ceramic tiles are similarly manufactured from baking clays, however what really separates them is their density and durability.
So, what we talk about in this article does not necessarily apply to all ceramic tile. So as we discuss Crossville Porcelain large format tiles it is good to keep this in mind.
Porcelain Tile That Looks Like Natural Stone
There are a number of large format tiles in the family of Crossville Porcelain that look like natural stone. The appearance is becoming more like quarried rock as technology progresses. Every year more and more porcelain is created to mimic the tried and true look of stone slabs.
Crossville Porcelain Color Selection
When it comes to porcelain tiles in large format the color selection is outstanding. Because materials like Crossville Porcelain can be created to specs, the color is simply a matter of experimenting until the desired look of the manufacturer is achieved. Once the exact look is created, it is capable of being reproduced repeatedly. Crossville Porcelain as well as other brands of large format tiles have taken advantage of this technique. In fact, many brands are available in an aray of colors.
In fact, here is a list of colors for the brand of tile we are currently discussing as they are shown on this website:
Bianco Assoluto Matte
Sale
Pietra-Di-Cardoso Nero Flamed
Antracite
Statuarion Venato Matte
Argento
Pece
Corda
Statuario Altissimo Polishted
Grigio
Diamond Cream Polished
Lightning Polished Bookmatch
Brina
Statuarion Venato Bookmatch Matte
Bianco Lasa Matte
Noire Desir
Travertino Grigio Venato Bush Hammered
Fumo
Roccia
Grigia
Ossidiana Vena Grigia
Diamond Cream Bush Hammered
Pietra-Piasentina Taupe Natural
Pietra-Piasentina Grigio Natural
Pietra-Piasentina Taupe Flamed
Bianco Assoluto Polished
Black Tie Unpolished
Pietra-Piasentina Grigio Flamed
Verde Alpi Polished
Liquorice
Calacatta Oro Venato Polished
Statuarietto Bush Hammered
Noire Desir Matte
Pietra Gray Matte
Avorio
Baltic Unpolished
Moro
Statuario Altissimo Matte
Statuarietto Matte
Mercurio
Piombo
Calacatta Michelangelo Polished
Black Tie Polished
Femme Fatale Unpolished
Pietra-Di-Cardoso Grigio Natural
Statuarion Venato Bookmatch Polished
Film Noir Unpolished
Polished
Porfido Marrone Flamed
Sugar Coat Unpolished
Pietra Gray Bush Hammered
Pietra Gray Polished
Pietra-Di-Cardoso Grigio Flamed
Noire Desir Bush Hammered
Bruno
State of Grace Unpolished
Perla Matte
Glace
Calacatta Oro Venato Matte
Neve
Calacatta Oro Venato Bookmatch
Bianco
Wheat Field Polished
Nero
Nero Greco Bush Hammered
Baltic Polished
Bianco Lasa Bush Hammered
Tortora
Ossidiana Vena Scura
Travertino Avorio Matte
Statuarion Venato Polished
Nero Assoluto
State of Grace Polished
Night Watch Polished
Diamond Cream Matte
Wheat Field Unpolished
Arabescato Polished
Pietra-Di-Cardoso Nero Natural
Terra
Lightning Unpolished
Porfido Marrone Natural
Nero Greco Matte
Fumo Matte
Bianco Lasa Polished
Rena
Verderame
Ghisa
Verde Alpi Bush Hammered
Arabescato Bush Hammered
Travertino Navona Bush Hammered
Statuarietto Polished
Sabbia
Ossidiana Vena Chiara
Nero Greco Polished
Oro
Lightning Polished
Sugar Coat Polished
Calacatta Michelangelo Matte
Suspense Unpolished
Crossville Porcelain Porcelain Tile Tools
Porcelain is like stone in some ways and in other ways it is different. For example, like some natural stone, prcelain like Crossville is a hard material that requires specific blades for cutting it. On the other hand though, it is so hard that using a diamond tile cutting blade is better than opting for a diamond granite and quartz. Blades designed for cutting porcelain have features resulting in a chip-free cut.
Another thing about large format porcelain tile installs is that the surface area covered with this relatively lightweight material is usually spacious. Large spans of floors, walls, and interior or exterior surfaces are treated using Crossville Porcelain tiles and others like it. And the larger the size of the tiles being used, the greater the need there is for a tile leveling system. Tile leveling makes for the most accurate installation. A tool that is becoming more and more popular because of its efficiency is the vibrating tile leveler. The Tile Quake available form Weha is one such tool. This vibrating suction cup makes the work of leveling tile efficient since the installer can grab, lift, set, and level the tile using this one tool.
Porcelain Tile Care
One of the selling points for materials like Crossville Porcelain large format tile is that it's relatively easy to maintain. Being non-porous, porcelain does not require sealing to be applied. Additionally, when it is cleaned using an appropriate cleaner according to the guidelines from the material's manufacturer, it yields many years of use. Using a porcelain cleaner designed for materials such as Crossville will offer the greatest benefits in the long run.
So there you have it, Crossville Porcelain large format tile is a material choice that offers many applications. Material like this are fashioned to look like other materials (natural stone for example) in some cases. And the tooling, care products, and long life of porcelain can be similar to natural stone. Choosing it as a material for a project offers diversity and functionality. It also offers benefits, but it will take some specific attention to work with it and care for it.
