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How to Read a Tile Label
StarCraft Custom Builders
P O Box 80265, Lincoln, NE 68501
editor@starcraftcustombuilders.com
Tile Rating Icons
Once you have found the color and pattern of a tile that you like, then all the other information you need to assess the usefulness of the tile is printed somewhere on the box, often in
the form of icons. These icons tell us all about the tile, and since their use is regulated, the
information in the icons is probably not going to be just marketing hype. Let's see just what
these icons can tell us.
Tile Grade. This grade is the result of a visual inspection. The range is 1
to 3, the lower the number the better the tile. A grade 1 or Standard
Grade tile exhibits no obvious imperfections when visually inspected at a
distance of 3 feet. A grade 2 tile shows no visible imperfections at a distance of 10 feet. Almost all tile in a tile store will be grade 1. Sometimes
you will find grade 2 tile on a "special purchase" sale — often at quite the
discount. Grade 2 is just fine for many applications. The durability of a
grade 2 tile is usually not suspect, it merely has visible imperfections.
Grade 3 tile is rarely seen in retail stores. It usually has major aesthetic
problems including wide variations in tone and sizing. Let the tile professionals buy this tile. They know where and how to use it.
PEI Wear Test: This is the result of the PEI wear test. Many manufactur-
ers use this test only on floor tiles. The higher the rating, the more wearresistant the tile. The ratings are:
Group I
The softest tile. Suitable for walls only, no floors.
Group II
Residential use in low foot traffic areas. In rooms where
there is usually no through traffic, this tile might work. But
in kitchens, where there is often a lot of through traffic,
this tile would be suspect.
Group III
All residential, medium commercial, normal foot traffic (interior only). Any bathroom or kitchen, mudroom, laundry
room or hallway, but nothing outside.
Group IV
Heavy commercial. Any interior use.
Group IV+
(or V)
The hardest tile. Extra heavy commercial (interior or exterior use).
It should also be between 3/16" and 1/4" thick. Thicker is generally better. If this rating is missing, the tile is probably not intended for floors.
Copyright © 2011 StarCraft Custom Builders. All rights reserved.
The ANSI Water Absorption Test. This is the score the tile received on
the ANSI test for resistance to water penetration. Here are the possible
ratings”
Non-Vitreous
Water absorption of more
than 7.0% by volume.
Tile for non-wet areas.
Around fireplaces, for example. Typically intended
for walls, hobby and crafts
use.
Semi-Vitreous
Water absorption of more
than 3.0 percent, but not
more than 7.0 percent.
Tile for areas that may get
wet on occasion, but are
unlikely to see constant or
standing water. Kitchen
backsplashes, for example.
Vitreous
Water absorption of more
than 0.5 percent, but not
more than 3.0 percent.
Virtually any indoor application including shower
walls and floors. Outdoors
in areas that do not freeze.
Impervious
Water absorption of 0.5
percent or less.
Any indoor or outdoor application.
Tile that is impervious is also “porcelain” according to the ANSI definition
of porcelain
Coefficient of Friction. For floor tile, this Coefficient of Friction (C.O.F)
ranking is important. The test establishes how much force is required to
move an object across the face of the tile, dry or wet. It tells you how
resistant a tile is to slipping. The higher the score, the more slip-resistant
the tile. Tile COF can be rated "wet" or "dry". For a general floor, look for
a dry rating of 0.5 and above. For a bath or kitchen, where the floor is
likely to get wet, a wet rating of 0.5 or greater is required and 0.7 or
higher is better. Some tiles specifically designed for wet floors are rated
above 0.85. COF is an important consideration, especially in wet areas.
Outside Use in Frost Areas. If present, the "Frost" icon merely tells you
that the tile can be used where it might freeze — in other words, it is an
impervious or at minimum a vitreous tile. Look at the W.A. test to find
out which. In Nebraska, don't rely on the Frost icon. Look for impervious
tile for use outdoors. If there is no frost icon, the tile cannot be used
outdoors in any place where it might freeze.
Copyright © 2011 StarCraft Custom Builders. All rights reserved.
Tone Chart. The tone chart is an indication of how much variation there
is in the color and pattern of the tile. If there is a lot of variation in the
tone grid, examine more than one tile, and more than one box of tiles to
see if you like all the various tones. Tone variation is very common. Only
pure color tiles such as pure whites and blacks have almost none. Perhaps more important than tone variation is size variation. Check to see
that there is very little variation in the size of the tiles in a box. Tile made
in the U.S. has very little variation, but tile made elsewhere may not be
as precise.
V1 indicates low visible
shade and texture
variation within each
carton.
V3 indicates a high
shade and texture
variation within each
carton.
V2 tile show distinguishable differences in
texture and pattern
within each color.
V4 file contains random
variations of shade and
texture within each carton.
Grades V3 and V4 need to be continually blended during installation to
insure optimum appearance. This generally results in higher installation
costs. Also, examine more than one tile, and more than one box of tiles
to see if you like all the various tones. There may be considerable variation between cartons.
Some Informal Quality Tests.
The Weight Test: Hard fired tile is generally denser and therefore heavier that softer tile. You
probably can't judge comparing single tiles, but heft the boxes. The heavier box is usually
the harder tile.
The Ring Test: Hold a tile between thumb a forefinger at one corner and let it dangle. Snap
near the opposite corner with your fingernail. A tile with a high crystallization content will
ring like a lead crystal glass. The sharper and higher the ring, the better the tile. If it goes
"thunk", think of it as wall tile.
The Color Test: Hard fired terra-cotta tile is generally browner. We don't know why. It may be
the composition of the clay or the fact that high firing turns the clay browner. And, it's not
always true. But generally hard fired tile is browner.
The Slip and Fall Test: The C.O.F. rating indirectly tells you whether a tile is slippery, but the
direct test is still probably the best test. Put the tile on the floor and walk on it. If you slip
and fall, don't buy the tile, and call a lawyer. If you need a wet slip test, toss some water on
it first. The tile store clerk will probably go batty when you do this, but if you want to be
completely satisfied that a tile is not slippery, do it anyway. We do.
The Informal Mohs Scratch Test: In 1882 a German mineralologist, Friedrich Moh, developed a table of relative hardness of minerals which has since become well-known as the
Mohs Scale. Each mineral was given a number, with talc, the softest mineral ranked as 1,
and diamond, the hardest, ranked 10. The minerals are:
Copyright © 2011 StarCraft Custom Builders. All rights reserved.
Rank
10
9
8
7
6
Mineral
Diamond
Corundum
Topaz
Quartz
Orthoclase
Substitute Test
Material
Steel File
Rank
5
4
3
2
1
Mineral
Apatite
Fluorite
Calcite
Gypsum
Talc
Substitute Test
Material
Window Glass
Pocket knife
Copper Penny
Fingernail
Each mineral in the table will scratch any mineral ranked lower in the table, but will not
scratch any mineral ranked higher. Since most of these minerals are a little hard to come by
in daily , substitutes are generally used for the informal Mohs scratch test. These are shown
in the table above. The substitute will scratch any mineral lower than its place in the table,
but will not scratch any material higher than its place in the table.
Material
Floor Tile
Wall Tile
Wood Floor
Vinyl Floor
Can Be Scratched By…
Steel File
Window Glass
Pocket Knife
Fingernail
But Not By…
Window Glass
Copper Penny
Fingernail
Don't, by the way, rely exclusively on any of these rule-of-thumb tests. Read the ratings on
the box. But you can use these to impress the salesman with your "in-depth" knowledge of
fired clay tile.
Copyright © 2011 StarCraft Custom Builders. All rights reserved.