Morbi Ceramic Industry - Indian Ceramic Manufacturing Hub

Floor tiles are commonly made from ceramic or stone, though modern technology also offers glass tiles for floors as well. Ceramic tiles can be painted and glazed. Small mosaic tiles can be laid in different patterns. Floor tiles are normally set into mortar consisting of sand, cement and sometimes a latex additive for extra bonding. The spaces between the tiles are these days filled with sanded or unsanded floor grout, but conventionally mortar was used.

Natural stone tiles are mainly beautiful. However, as being a natural product they are a little less homogeneous in color and pattern and require more planning for use and fitting. Since stone tiles are mass-produced, they have very uniform width and length dimensions. Stone tiles such as those of granite or marble are sawn on both sides and then polished or finished on up side, so that they have a uniform thickness. Other natural stone tiles such as slate tiles are typically "riven" (split) on the facing up side so that the thickness of the tile varies slightly from one spot on the tile to another and from one tile to another. Variations in tile thickness can be handled by adjusting the amount of mortar under each part of the tile, by using wide grout lines that "ramp" between different thicknesses, or by using a cold chisel to knock off high spots.

Some stone tiles such as polished granite and marble are inherently very slippery when wet. Stone tiles with a split surface such as slate or with a sawn and then sandblasted or honed surface will be more slip resistant. Ceramic tile for use in wet areas can be made more slip resistant by using miniature tiles so the grout lines act as grooves or by imprinting a curve pattern onto the face of the tile.

The rigidity of natural stone tiles varies such that some of the softer stone (e.g. limestone) tiles are not suitable for very heavy traffic floor areas. On the other hand, ceramic tiles typically have a glazed upper surface and when that becomes scratched or pitted the floor looks worn, whereas the same amount of wear on natural stone tiles won't show, or will be less noticeable.

Natural stone tiles can be stained by spilled liquids; they must be sealed and periodically resealed with a sealant in contrast to ceramic tiles which only need their grout lines sealed. However, because of the composite, non repeating patterns in natural stone, small amounts of dirt on many natural stone floor tiles do not show.

Most manufacturer of stone tiles emphasize that there will be variation in color and pattern from one batch of tiles to another of the same description and variation within the same batch.

Stone floor tiles tend to be heavier than ceramic tiles and somewhat more prone to breakage during shipment.