Identification - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

CUSH68 · 13-03-2008

Hi all,

Looking for best way to identify tile material. Went to quote for bathroom tonight and customer had collected loads of tile samples without bothering too much about what they were made of!
Some more easily identified than others. Is there any quick test to categorise say porcelain from ceramic of similar sizes etc?

Cheers,
Mark

**wetdec** · 13-03-2008

Porcelain, wet the back doesnt absorb very much, it will be heavier than a ceramic tile, generally has grid mark on the back, predominantly rectified.

Ceramic, wet back sucks it up, quite light, edges rounded over, generally brown or white biscuit

sizes just use a tape there is no shame in that you cant be expected to know all the sizes

Hope this helps you a bit

tiler

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Woody123 · 13-03-2008

Also if its a natural stone the characteristics of the tile (i.e marble is veiny). will run right throught the tile if it looks like a natural stone but doesn't run all the way through then it will be porcelain. Hope that makes sense!

**CLAYS TILES** · 13-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetdec

Porcelain, wet the back doesnt absorb very much, it will be heavier than a ceramic tile, generally has grid mark on the back, predominantly rectified.

Ceramic, wet back sucks it up, quite light, edges rounded over, generally brown or white biscuit

sizes just use a tape there is no shame in that you cant be expected to know all the sizes

Hope this helps you a bit

tiler

..

even simple way, it says porcelain on back of tile!

**Dave** · 13-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLAYS TILES

even simple way, it says porcelain on back of tile!

HA!..not always....

...but mostly yes!!!!!!!

or even says porclenato.

tiler tom · 13-03-2008

Hold tile at a corner between thumb and fore finger and flick the tile with the other hand. If it produces a ringing sound as opposed to a dull thud it is porcelain. The back of a ceramic is a biscuit colour with a patterned front, a porcelain is the same colour throughout.

**grumpygrouter** · 13-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiler tom

Hold tile at a corner between thumb and fore finger and flick the tile with the other hand. If it produces a ringing sound as opposed to a dull thud it is porcelain. The back of a ceramic is a biscuit colour with a patterned front, a porcelain is the same colour throughout.

They can be glazed and have a different colour glaze!

Grumpy

CUSH68 · 14-03-2008

RIGHT SO PORCELAIN MAY OR MAY NOT SAY PORCELAIN ON THE BACK BUT IF IT DOESNT THEN IT MIGHT BE CERAMIC IF ITS NOT PORCELENATO, UNLESS IT SAYS THAT ON THE BACK. AND PORCELAIN IS THE SAME COLOUR RIGHT THROUGH UNLESS ITS GLAZED THEN IT MAY LOOK LIKE A CERAMIC.
THAT CLEARS THAT UP THEN!

CUSTOMER DECIDED WHICH TILE SHE WANTED AND TURNS OUT IT WAS GLAZED PORCELAIN (UNMARKED ON BACK).DID THE WATER TEST, PING TEST AND PHONED SUPPLIER WHEN I GOT HOME.

CHEERS,

MARK

**CLAYS TILES** · 14-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiler tom

Hold tile at a corner between thumb and fore finger and flick the tile with the other hand. If it produces a ringing sound as opposed to a dull thud it is porcelain. The back of a ceramic is a biscuit colour with a patterned front, a porcelain is the same colour throughout.

if it breaks ya finger its porcelain

**wetdec** · 14-03-2008

m8 it says persil on busses buy they yet to do you washing for you.

It may or may not have it written on the back I would stick to the various advice you have been given on ways to recognise it.

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