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There are many types,sizes and designs of tile and tiles to choose from.Tiles can be found in local tile shops such as Halifax,Huddersfield,Leeds,Bradford,Harrogate,West Yorkshire,Yorkshire and the UK. Tiles are supplied and made worldwide by countless tile suppliers,tile shops,tile manufacturers and importers,in Halifax,West Yorkshire,Yorkshire and the UK.
There are relatively few tile manufacturers in the UK.Market forces and profitability make importing tiles by the container load a much more viable option for tile retailers.
The main types of tile available are ceramic,porcelain,stone,marble,slate,sandstone,travertine,limestone,teracotta,mosaic,glass,metal,quarry tiles and synthetic resin. There are tiles to suit all applications and tastes.tiles for kitchens,bathrooms,walls and floors both interior and exterior.Some are more durable and hard wearing than others.
The use of tiles originally dates back to ancient Greece and Rome.Tiles were used on the roof's of temples in ancient Greece and also used as decoration on floors and walls in many ancient Roman buildings,usually in the form of hand made mosaics. Although now decayed and crumbling,many of these can still be seen in part today.Some have been painstakingly restored.Countless designs of mosaics can be found,depicting everything from animals,people and historic events.Examples of these can be seen in the UK,such as the mosaics in the Roman Baths at Bath.All of these mosaics will have been cut by hand by very skilled tilers.It is actually quite astounding what they were able to achieve given the primitive tools that they used.
 
Below,photograph of a seahorse mosaic tile design,from the Roman Baths in Bath


In later years,tiles were used in Victorian and Georgian homes,used to decorate walls and floors.Many were laid in intricate designs and patterns.These tiles were mostly hand made.They were fixed directly into a sand and cement mortar,without the use of the modern tools and adhesives available today.They have stood the test of time.Many look as pristine as the day they were fixed.Tile fixing methods have changed over the years.Victorian tiles were fixed with sand and cement using only the most basic of tools.

Below a photograph of some original,Victorian Minton tiles,not my own work.


Below,part of a kitchen splash back in Halifax with a mixture of original Victorian and modern tiles,I completed this job in early 2009.The customer had been collecting original Victorian tiles from Ebay,some tiles had cost her in excess of £25.00 each. Tiles of this type and rarity are now considered by many, to be collectors items.I found some similar sized cream,Original Style fireplace tiles to blend in with them.As all the Victorian tiles were different sizes and thicknesses,it was quite a difficult job to achieve a pleasing result.In the end the customer was overjoyed with the result of the finished tiles.




Tiles in the present day

 

Ceramic tiles : These are the most popular type of tile and can be found in a multitude of sizes,shapes,designs and colours.They are usually glazed and can be used for both walls and floors.Ceramic tiles are by far the cheapest type of tile.Some tile shops sell them from prices as little as 99 pence a square metre.They are produced worldwide.

Porcelain tiles : Now more popular.Porcelain tiles are manufactured to make them more robust and hard wearing than ceramic tiles.Porcelain tiles are again available in many sizes, from mosaic size to over a metre long.Types of porcelain include glazed,unglazed,full or through bodied and polished porcelain.Many colours and finishes are available to suit most tastes.Porcelain tiles are typically more expensive than ceramic tiles.

Travertine tiles : Travertine tiles are usually a brown or beige colour.Travertine is a natural stone which is harder than limestone or sandstone.The surface will usually be covered in holes which are filled with resin before the polishing and honing process.Prices vary greatly with the cheaper grades having more holes and filling to the more expensive grade one travertine with very minimal filling.The cheaper grades of travertine are not suitable for floors as the holes beneath the surface are weak spots which are likely to damage.travertine tiles need to be sealed with an appropriate sealer to prevent staining.Travertine is available in many different sizes and finishes.

Limestone tiles : Limestone tiles vary in porosity and finishes.Colours range from beige,white,brown,black and grey.Sizes and thicknesses vary from limestone flags which are irregular in both size and thickness,to the more polished and rectified limestone tiles which have a more uniform appearance.Limestone can come from Europe, India the Far East and England.Due to the varying porosity of different types of limestone,the amount of sealer required to protect their appearance can vary greatly.The cost of limestone can vary greatly depending upon the type,finish & country of origin.

Sandstone tiles : Sandstone usually has an uneven,rough or riven surface appearance.But certain types such as Indian sandstone can also be sawn and honed to give it a smooth appearance. Sizes and thicknesses vary greatly. Sandstone tiles come in a multitude of colours from grey,beige,green,brown and grey.Blond fossil sandstone has visible fossilized plants visible on the surface.Sandstone tiles need to be sealed to protect their appearance.Porosity can vary between types.

Marble tiles : Types of marble tile are varied.Types include tumbled marble and polished. Marble is a denser,harder stone than sandstone or limestone.Colours vary from green,brown,black,grey,yellow and white. Sizes of tile vary from mosaic to larger sizes.As marble is not as porous as many other natural stone tiles, they will only need and absorb a minimal amount of sealer to protect and maintain their appearance.Marble tiles are typically one of the more expensive types of natural stone tile.

Terracotta and quarry tiles :  Quarry tiles are a very dense tile with minimal absorbency.They are resilient and hard wearing.Teracotta tiles can be both dense and hard wearing and softer and more porous.The more porous types of terracotta will need to be sealed.

Slate tiles : Slate tiles can be either riven ( uneven ) in appearance or honed ( smooth ) in appearance.Countries that produce slate include China,Brazil,Portugal,India,Wales and Cornwall.Usually slate tiles will vary greatly in size,thickness and colour.Slate tiles for use in the home although not excessivley porous should be sealed to protect and enhance their appearance.Colours vary from blacks,browns and multi-colours.Slate is a very hard wearing material.Sizes and costs vary depending upon type and country of origin.

Mosaic tiles : Mosaics can be made from various types of tile.The more common are porcelain mosaics,glass mosaics and marble mosaics.Other types of mosaic tiles vary from circular mosaics,pebble mosaics to hand made mosaic designs and features often used on feature walls and floors and swimming pools The process of creating mosaic sheets involves fixing them to a backing sheet.Mosaic sheets can be created by machine or by hand.Mosaics can be very expensive due to the processes involved in their manufacture.Mosaic tiling.Some mosaic artists specialise in creating mosaic designs and works of art.