Points To Consider:
Will the tile be used on the floor or wall, indoors or outdoors, wet or dry area?

Floors or walls:
The glazes and strength of the tile body are normally much stronger on floor tiles than they are for walls. Part of the reason for this is to keep the cost of wall tiles down and concentrate on the design aspect. The term duty of floor tiles should be taken into consideration. A bathroom floor for example, would not have the same requirement as tiles on front steps.

Indoors or outdoors:
You must take into consideration, whether the tile is able withstand freeze/thaw conditions for exterior use. The term vitrified or frost resistant means the tile has a low water absorption level which causes it to be minimally affected by freeze/thaw conditions and therefore suitable for exterior applications.

We do not recommend the use of frost resistant products for exterior usage in Canada due to harsh weather conditions.

Glazed vs.unglazed:
Glazed tiles come in many types: high gloss, semi gloss, matte or low gloss, opaque or non transparent glaze, speckled glaze for contrasting colours or even fitted glaze with covers only some parts of the tile. Glazed tiles are easier to clean and should be considered where continual maintenance is a factor. Unglazed tiles can give an entirely different look and are fully functional from the wear standpoint.

Unglazed tiles generally need to have a sealer applied to the surface to prevent staining and moisture intake.

The Size Of The Tile:
Keep in mind that a mixture of sizes can give a different effect and many ranges now offer different sizing in particular colour ranges. Thickness of the tile is not always an indication of its strength. Different manufacturing processes result in different types of tile bodies. New technology has developed extensively strong tiles that are relatively thin compared to older conventional methods.

Choosing The Colour:
One of the main advantages of ceramic tile is the tremendous colour selection. Use the opportunity when choosing tile to add your own creativity to a very functional material. Mixing different colours, using borders, listellos, and inserts can make your installation look unique. Colour coordinating with other material such as drapes, carpet, wood, and fixtures should also be taken into consideration.