A Blue Zest

The durability of tiles is determined by the hardness and the scratch resistance that it has. The strength of the tile is determined through the value system which tests and rates accordingly. This will then give you a clue as to what kind of traffic your chosen tiles are capable of.

The MOHS tests Ceramic and Porcelain tiles for their density and scratch resistance. This is alongside the rating system that decides the quality of the tiles by using a scale of 1-10. The finest and hardest quality tiles are suppose to lie in the 10 scale while tiles of soft quality are said to lie in the number 1 scale. To be certain that you are buying the most suitable tile for your application you should refer to the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) scale, as this gives the tiles ratings.

This scale is not actually a certification of the tiles quality standards; in fact it describes the areas where tiles in a particular scale can be used. The manufacturer gives the scales rating which states the areas the tiles are suitable for. The scale is marked from a class of 0 to 5 with tiles falling in Class 0 being for delicate use while those in Class 5 are suitable for heavy traffic areas. The six classes are described as:

Class 0 – No foot traffic. Such tiles are only suitable for interior walls and cannot be used as floor tiles.
Traffic that is light – Class 1. Tiles falling in this category are suitable for interior walls and residence bathroom floors with allowance of only barefoot traffic.
Class 2 – Light Traffic. These tiles can be used for second level bathroom and bedroom floors and can stand the pressure of slipper and soft-soled shoes only.
Traffic that is light to moderate – Class 3. Such tiles can be used for both residential walls as well as floors that can include bedrooms, bathroom tile designs, foyers, family rooms, dining rooms and kitchens. If you want a tile that can provide you with a good service then these are the tiles.
Class 4 – Moderate to Heavy Traffic. Tiles which are suitable for residential entrances, countertops, kitchens, balconies are included in this catergory simply because they can withstand abrasions and outside dirt. They can also be used for semi-commercial, light industrial wall and floor applications that can include offices, showrooms, shopping malls, hallways and restaurant dining areas.
Class 5 – Heavy Traffic. Airports, subways, supermarkets, industrial areas and commercial areas can use these tiles; in fact they can be used practically everywhere. They are suitable for any kind of floor or wall tiling.

Taking this rating system into consideration, you can easily locate the type of tile that is suitable for the area where you plan to use it.  Be very careful to look out for these markings or else you might have the wrong kind of tiles that may be ineffective for the area of use. It is important that you contemplate the abrasion resistance of the tile type before you regard the aesthetic beauty of the tiles. Otherwise, you might end up with tiles that look gorgeous in your kitchen, but not quite as suitable for decorating the bathroom.