It might seem counterintuitive to talk about tile in the context of stone surfaces. However, there are a number of applications in which both stone tiles and RAK Ceramics porcelain tiles are the material of choice. So it stands to reason then that some of the same professionals would be installing both materials. In this brief article, we are going to talk a little bit about what kinds of applications large format porcelain tiles are generally used in. As we do, we will talk a little bit about some of the necessary tools for working with large format porcelain tile like RAK Ceramics Porcelain and products with which to care for it. So let's get into the article.
Introduction to Large Format Tile
What are large format porcelain tiles? As a general rule most people are familiar with porcelain tile. And many know that there are several sizes of porcelain tile. Large format porcelain tile is tile that is made in large sizes. There are a number of sizes of large format tile, so we won't go into a full, exhaustive list of each available size. But providers of this durable and versatile material such as RAK Ceramics Porcelain will have a selection of sizes from which to choose.
Applications for Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is used for a number of applications. For many years this material has been used for floor covering in several sizes. However, larger sizes are available for use indoor and outdoor. These "large format" tiles (also called panels) allow more ground to be covered with fewer tiles. Porcelain is a material that is easily cleaned with proper cleaners. The material also is scratch resistant and holds up well when used as a floor covering. Because of its durability, products like RAK Ceramics Porcelain large format porcelain tiles are used for wall covering, floor covering, building facades and even countertops.
Isn't Porcelain the Same as Ceramic?
It is not uncommon for people to conclude or even be told that porcelain tile is the same thing as ceramic tile. However, they are actually two different materials and they are distinct form one another. Note what the Real Simple website says about this topic:
...the primary difference between porcelain and ceramic tile—and this will really help steer your decision—is that porcelain offers a much denser composite compared to ceramic. This means that porcelain is less likely to absorb water and air, which tend to expedite the aging process.
Yes, porcelain tile is a different material than ceramic. In fact, additional requirements are necessary for a ceramic tile to qualify as porcelain.
The Look of Large Format Porcelain Tiles
It may be surprising for some to learn that there are many occasions where large format tile does not even appear to be a man-made material at all. That is because porcelain tile has advanced to the point where it can be made to look like any number of materials; including natural stone. Several brands of large format tile offer collections that are engineered to resemble natural stone surfaces.
Colors of RAK Ceramics Porcelain Tile
As is the case with any popular product, there are a variety of colors in which RAK Ceramics Porcelain is available. And although not all tile brands dealing in porcelain tile offer large format tiles, a number of brands do, including RAK Ceramics. Since there so many options available, it is good to look through the colors available for the brand of large format porcelain tile you are considering.
In fact, here is a list of colors for the brand of tile we are currently discussing as they are shown on this website:
Refine Dark Grey
Curton White
Basic Concrete Sanit Dark Grey
Meltino Brown
Erez Beige
Agora Concrete Sand
Basic Concrete Dark Beige
Shine Stone Black
Smoke White White
K2 Stone Beige
Draide Pro Marble Black
Marble Collection Blue
French Vanilla Beige
Curton Beige
Stromboli Light Beige
Tuscany Light Beige
Tech-Marble White Venato
Silk Marble Brown
Silver Stone Anthracite
Fashion Stone Beige
Lounge Black
Ripple Snow
Basic Concrete Sanit Beige
Revive Concrete Mix
Metropol Medium Grey
Mont Real Light Beige
Tibur From Baalbek Classic
Medicea Marble White
Revive Concrete Concrete Grey
Revive Concrete Graphite Grey
Crust White
Breccia Adige Grey
Paleo Clay
New Onyx Ivory
Colour Lines Ivory
Evoque Metal Brown
Pece Stone Brown
Saly Light Beige
Evoque Metal Ice
Spatula Tortora
Tech-Marble White Statuario
Loft Concrete Silver
Taut Tortora
Meleca Light Beige
Spatula Turquoise
City Stone Bone
Chalet Wood Beige
Mare Beige
Puzzle Mix
Stromboli Light Grey
Musa Mix
Calacatta Gold White
Basic Concrete Beige
Evoque Metal Grey
Maximus Surface XL Coolgrey
Musa Ivory
Marble Collection Capuccino Ivory
Metamorfosi Grape
Maremma Copper
Salt and Pepper Dark Brown
Chalet Wood Ivory
Detroit Metal Taupe
All Marbles Beige
K2 Stone Light Grey
Opificio Anthracite
Amani Marble Dark Grey
Domus Cloud Grey
Metamorfosi Cotton
Shine Stone Brown
Essential Wood Taupe
Taut Salvia
Marble Collection Light Beige
Levante Ivory
Preziosi Deep Blue
Coral Stone Beige
Maximus Surface XL Off-white
Dandy Light Grey
Ceramic Floor Collection Peach Puff
French Vanilla Anthracite
Racha White
City Stone Clay
Outdoor Collection Beige
Carmo Stone Ivory
Silver Stone Clay
Fox Wood Beige
Spatula Beige
B-Materia Anthracite
Outdoor Collection Grey
Ceramic Floor Collection Wheat
Ensemble Grey
Lounge Coffee Brown
Refine Light Grey
Marble Collection Wheat
Evoque Metal Green Grey
Levante Light Grey
Mare Light Blue
Maximus Classic Beige
Maremma Cotto
Bella Concrete Ivory
Detroit Metal Beige
Lapideus Slate Grey
Delta Concrecte White
Chalet Wood Sandy Brown
Marble Collection Brown
Agora Concrete Tortora
Maximus Blu Del Belgio BLue
Braid Antique White
Maximus Blu Del Belgio Clay
Rhode Island Dark Grey
Ceramic Floor Collection Off White
Elle Marble Black
Taut Mix
Tech-Marble Grey Silk
Puzzle White
Soft Stone Light Grey
Braid Grey
Soft Stone Grey
Salento Beige
Curton Taupe
Gypsy Soft Brown
Rhode Island Anthracite
Colour Lines Ice
Fox Wood Light Grey
Core Stone Grey
Silver Stone Beige
Lounge Ivory
Shine Stone Dark Grey
Siviglia Light Grey
Preziosi Ocean
Ceramic Floor Collection White
Milano Stone Grey
Lihos Brown
Rhode Island Light Grey
Trama Bone
Loft Concrete Warm Grey
Musa Light Brown
Lounge Dark Anthracite
Outdoor Collection Ivory
Coral Stone Light Grey
K2 Stone White
Bella Concrete White
Ceramic Floor Collection Dark Brown
Loft Concrete Greige
Milka Grey
Ceppo Di Gre Stone Light Grey
Outdoor Collection Deep Sand
Mimesis Anthracite
Preziosi Pearl
Riviera Black
Burano Grey
Visione Ash Grey
Carvins Ivory
Delta Concrecte Grey
Tandem White
Salento Brown
Meltino White
Maremma Dark Brown
Outfit Light Greige
Bahia Wave Blue
Outdoor Collection Sand
Salento Grey
Outdoor Collection Light Grey
Evolve Grey
All Marbles Grey
Spatula Terra Cotta
Domus Silver
Elite Wood Light Beige
Maximus New Travertino Ivory
Spatula Denim Blue
Delta Concrecte Brown
Loft Concrete Silver Grey
Curton Grey
Fox Wood Ivory
Metamorfosi Cord
Retro Soft Beige
Iron Grey
Black Iron Anthracite
Petra Stone Light Grey
Metropol Light Grey
Petra Stone Grey
Outdoor Collection Light Beige
Outdoor Collection Light Brown
Ripple Slate Grey
Lapideus Pece
Ceppo Di Gre Stone Mid Grey
Metamorfosi Roses Pink
Mimesis Ivory
Orion Collection White
Unicolor Black
Lava Concrete Light Grey
Colour Lines Brown
Revive Concrete Pitch Black
Bryce White
Milano Stone White
Ceramic Floor Collection Light Beige
Park Wood Mid Grey
K2 Stone Brown
Retro Soft Blue
Rapolano Marble Beige
Mont Real Beige
Almart Light Grey
Preziosi Green
Coral Stone Ivory
Mimesis Rust
Metamorfosi Cloud
Rapolano Marble White
Atlantis Marble White
Ceramic Floor Collection Beige
Trama Grey
Braid Sandy Brown
Cirrus Ivory
Puzzle Tortora
Design Concrete White
Cloudy Dark Grey
Surface 2.0 Copper
Amani Marble Brown
Nyra Light Beige
Maximus Classic Carrara Grey
Draide Pro Marble White
Preziosi Plum
All Marbles Brown
Classic Vein White
Artico Light Grey
Lounge Beige
Outfit Taupe
Marble Collection Light Grey
Metamorfosi Artichoke Cord
Milano Stone Beige
Panda Marble
Tender White
Agora Concrete Light Tortora
Pece Stone Cream
Musa Grey
Silk Marble Beige
Rhode Island Ivory
K2 Stone Light Beige
Design Concrete Sand
Fashion Stone Black
Ceramic Floor Collection Ivory
Intensity Ivory
Shine Stone Beige
Orion Collection Beige
Metropol Beige
Tech-Marble Palissandro
Agora Concrete Grey
Detroit Metal Brown
Creative Concrete P Grey
Surface 2.0 Off White
Revive Concrete XL Concrete Grey
Xrock Light Grey
Paleo White
Industry Beige
Soft Stone Beige
Surface 2.0 Coolgrey
Puzzle Light Grey
Tech-Marble Onyx Venato
Fox Wood Brown
Porpora Stone White
Tech-Marble Beige Travertino
Paleo Warm Grey
Silver Stone Grey
Opificio White
Siviglia Beige
Metamorfosi Tropical Green
Opificio Light Grey
Creative Concrete P White
Paleo Anthracite
Revive Concrete XL Summer Sand
Maremma Grey
Design Concrete Ivory
Maximus New Travertino Grey
Mont Real Light Grey
Tibur From Baalbek Navona
Basic Concrete Grey
Lenis White
Carmo Stone Anthracite
Rhode Island White
Lihos Light Grey
Paleo Grey
Shine Stone Ivory
Riviera Brown Grey
Ceppo Di Gre Stone Nero
Surface 2.0 Night
Metamorfosi Fog
Soft Stone Light Beige
Siviglia Mix
Lava Concrete Dark Grey
Shine Stone Dark Beige
Core Stone Beige
Mandro Light Grey
Tech-Marble Supreme White
Visione White
Lounge Grey
Clay Stone Dark Grey
Crust Ivory
Novella Light Blue
Refrain Beige
Metamorfosi Flower Blue
Cloudy Light Grey
Revive Concrete XL Active White
Erez White
Calacatta Rio White
Park Wood Beige
Maremma Sand
Core Stone Anthracite
Agora Concrete Light Grey
Metamorfosi Palms Cord
Coral Stone Grey
Ceramic Floor Collection Sea Shell
City Stone Anthracite
Salt and Pepper Dark Ivory
Tibur From Baalbek Silver
New Diano Beige
Artico Grey
Salt and Pepper Beige
Evolve Ivory
Gypsy Soft Light Grey
Revive Concrete Active White
Tour Grey
Essential Wood Brown
Fashion Stone Ivory
Elite Wood Grey
Bryce Gold
Surface 2.0 Mid Grey
Metamorfosi Leaves Green
Breviara Grey
B-Materia Beige
Lounge Anthracite
Milka White
Preziosi Rock
Basic Concrete Dark Grey
Calacatta Africa White
Icon Metal Light Grey
Breccia Daino Beige
Bryce Anthracite
Marvin Brown
Basic Concrete Black
Metamorfosi Bloom
Silver Stone Black
Taut Grey
Taut White
Draide Pro Marble Mix
Metamorfosi Midnight
Outdoor Collection Warm Grey
Almart Grey
Orion Collection Light Beige
Tech-Marble Calacatta Africa
Taut Beige
Essential Wood Natural
Salt and Pepper Dark Grey
Outdoor Collection Clay
Elle Marble White
Dark Ink White
Lapideus Black
Metropol Ivory
Levante Anthracite
Light Grey
Cosmic Metal Emerald
Grigo Light Beige
Chalet Wood Grey
Loft Concrete Dark Grey
Silver Stone Ivory
Fashion Stone Light Grey
All Marbles White
Meleca Grey
Retro Soft Ivory
Levante Brown
Lithos Silver
Bianco Vena White
Palissandro Ivory
Clay Stone Grey
Lava Concrete Beige
Montana White
City Stone Grey
Agora Concrete Light Sand
Carmo Stone Grey
Taut Brown Grey
Design Concrete Light Grey
Marble Collection White
Detroit Metal Grey
Fashion Stone Clay
Lihos Ivory
Retro Soft Mix
Outdoor Collection White
Clay Stone Beige
Siviglia Blue
Urban Marble Ornate
Chalet Wood Light Grey
Metamorfosi Olive
Revive Concrete Cloud Grey
Creative Concrete P Dark Grey
Riviera Grey
Alicante Dark Grey
Ceramic Floor Collection Light Grey
Bianco Marble White
Mare Sea Green
Revive Concrete Summer Sand
Opificio Sand
Surface 2.0 Sand
Marvin Ivory
Breccia Adige Stone Taupe
Detroit Metal Light Grey
Lapideus Original
Breccia Adige Stone White
Design Concrete Dark Grey
Divinci Light Grey
Breccia Adige Stone Beige
Outdoor Collection Gold
Unicolor White
Outdoor Collection Natural
Tender Beige
White Collection White
Surface 2.0 Ash
Ensemble White
K2 Stone Grey
Outfit Beige
Outdoor Collection Copper
Marble Collection Grey
Surface 2.0 Light Sand
Onyx Avion Ivory
Indus White
Lounge Light Grey
Yara White
Maximus Classic Carrara Hyper White
Ripple Ivory
Lapideus White
Metamorfosi Dusk
Orion Collection Ivory
Shine Stone White
Carmo Stone Black
Visione Tortora
Burano White
Mont Real Grey
Preziosi Rio
Surface 2.0 Clay
City Stone Beige
Visione Ivory
Fox Wood Light Beige
Mare Rose
Dark Ink Black
Fashion Stone Grey
Maremma Orange
Maximus Classic New Marfil
Spatula White
Loft Concrete Light Beige
Domus Mix
Retro Soft Grey
Marble Collection Beige
Marble Collection Ivory
Mare Off White
Alicante Light Grey
Mimesis Grey
Trama Mix
Fox Wood Grey
Divinci Grey
Crust Brown
Retro Soft Brown
Amani Marble Light Grey
Maremma Steel
Maximus Classic Ivory
Delta Concrecte Ivory
Texture Grey
Alicante Light Beige
Rhode Island Beige
Ceramic Floor Collection Grey
Salt and Pepper Brown
Elegant Marfil Ivory
K2 Stone Black
Paleo Beige
Colour Lines Blue
Opificio Grey
Taut Blue
Tender Aqua
Tech-Marble Silver Travertino
Lounge Light Ivory
Gypsy Soft Ivory
Trama Beige
Crema Royale Beige
Mandro Grey
Outfit Light Beige
Design Concrete Grey
Silk Marble Grey
Rapolano Marble Light Beige
Tour Light Grey
Atlantis Marble Brown
Burano Dark Grey
Salt and Pepper White
Ceramic Floor Collection Dark Grey
Lithos Grey
French Vanilla Grey
Materia White
Salt and Pepper Light Ivory
Metamorfosi Jungle Green
Salt and Pepper Light Beige
Braid Moccasin
Rhode Island Clay
Shine Stone Grey
Puzzle Dark Grey
Versilia Marble White
Park Wood Grey
Gypsy Soft Grey
Refrain Brown
Lapideus Dark Grey
Loft Concrete Ivory
Maximus Surface XL Sand
Silver Stone White
Crust Grey
Concrete Project Grey
Lihos Dark Grey
Texture Light Grey
Orion Collection Dark Beige
Breccia Adige Stone Brown
Porpora Stone Grey
Rain Marble White
Chalet Wood Light Beige
Elite Wood White
Basic Concrete Sanit Grey
Black Beauty Nero
Nuendo White
Lava Concrete White
Santford Grey Light Grey
Metamorfosi Ibisco
Xrock Grey
Outfit Greige
Nextra Grey
Lapideus Beige
Clay Stone White
RAK Ceramics Porcelain Large Format Porcelain Tile Tools
One of the questions that might be asked is, "How does working with large format porcelain tile differ from working with stone?" Porcelain is like stone in some ways and in other ways it differs. For example, like some natural stone, porcelain, including RAK Ceramics Porcelain is very hard and requires diamond blades for cutting it. On the other hand though, it is so hard that using diamond blades for cutting porcelain is better than opting for a diamond blade for cutting hard natural stone materials. Blades designed for cutting porcelain have features that give a chip-free cut.
Another variation in the way large format porcelain tile is installed has to do with the surface areas covered with this relatively lightweight material. Large spans of floors, walls, and interior or exterior surfaces are covered with materials like RAK Ceramics Porcelain. Additionally, the use of multiple tiles for a surface combined with the size of the tiles being used necessitates a tile leveling system for the most accurate installation. A tool that is being popularized because of its efficiency is the vibrating suction cup tile leveling tool like the Tile Quake from Weha. This tool makes the work of leveling tile very efficient which improves profitability because the speed of work is increased while maintaining accurate leveling.
Porcelain Tile Care
One of the selling points for large format porcelain tile such as RAK Ceramics Porcelain is that it's relatively easy to maintain. Being a non-porous material, porcelain does not require sealing. When cleaned with the proper cleaner, and cared for according to the guidelines from the material's manufacturer, porcelain offers many years of service. Using a cleaner designed for use on porcelain such as RAK Ceramics will offer the greatest benefits.
As we have briefly considered in this article, RAK Ceramics Porcelain large format porcelain tile is an interesting material choice that offers a range of applications and is fashioned to look like other materials in some cases. And we took a brief look at some of the tooling and care products used for porcelain. Choosing it as a material for a project offers diversity and many possibilities. It also offers benefits, but it will take a little specific attention to work with it and care for it.
