Ceramic tiles are thin, flat tiles that are usually shaped with beveled edges. List Of Best Ceramic Tile Manufacturers In Kenya. They are used for lining or covering a surface, and may provide corrosion resistance, thermal protection, wear resistance, and/or surface decoration. Ceramic tiles come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. They are secured to a surface such as a subfloor with mortar. The spaces between the tiles are filled with grout. In flooring applications, cross-shaped plastic spacers are used to separate the tiles prior to grouting.
Types of Ceramic Tiles
There are many different types of ceramic tiles, both in terms of categories and features. Examples include:
- waterproof
- mosaic
- ribbed
- vitrified
- quarry
- saltillo
- terra-cotta
- earthenware
- stoneware
Applications
Ceramic tiles are durable and hard wearing, making them suitable for covering surfaces such as roofs, floors, walls, table tops, bathroom showers, and other objects. Most ceramic tiles are categorized by the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) according to their wear resistance. For example, PEI Class 1 tiles are only for wall applications; they are not suitable for foot traffic. PEI Class 2 tiles can handle light traffic, such as in residential bathrooms. PEI Class 3 tiles can handle light-to-moderate traffic, and are suitable for residential floors. PEI Class 4 tiles are for moderate-to-heavy traffic, and can be used in medium commercial or light industrial settings. PEI Class 5 tiles can handle heavy to extra-heavy traffic, making them suitable for all types of commercial and industrial floors.
Ceramic tiles are rated for scratch hardness according to the Mohs scale, which was named after German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs. The Mohs scale measures the ability of ceramic tiles to withstand scratches from a variety of minerals, ranging from the softest (talc) to the hardest (diamond). Ceramic tiles that are designed for residential use typically have a rating of 5. Ceramic tiles that are designed for industrial or heavy traffic areas have a rating of 7 or higher.
Specifications
Manufacturers of ceramic tiles may use proprietary mixtures of elements to make products. Typically, however, all of these mixtures include clay mixed with sand, feldspar, quartz, and water. All of these ingredients are mixed in a mill to create a substance called body slip. The body slip contains approximately 30% water at this point, until it is heated and dried to reduce the moisture content to about 6%. The body slip has the appearance of dust or powder and is compressed into the ceramic tile shapes using a high pressure electric or hydraulic press.
After pressing, the formed tile shape is called bisque. The bisque tiles are dried to remove the remaining moisture. Some ceramic tiles remain unglazed, but most are glazed using a glassy substance that contains a mix of pigments that give the ceramic tiles their color and surface characteristics. Glazed ceramic tiles are fired in tunnel kilns or roller-hearth kilns at temperatures of approximately 2000º F, permanently fusing the glaze to the surface of the tile.
There are two special types of ceramic tiles for use outdoors. Vitrified tiles have been treated to have very low porosity, making them strong and stain resistant. Impervious or porcelain tiles are fired at very high temperatures, making them very dense. Porcelain ceramic tiles have a high impact resistance to minimize breakage. Both vitrified and porcelain ceramic tiles are able to withstand the freezing and thawing conditions of outdoor applications. Other specialty types include pre-grouted ceramic tiles, which come from the manufacturers in large, pre-assembled sheets for quick installation.
Here is a List Of Best Ceramic Tile Manufacturers In Kenya
CTM Kisumu
Located in: Mega City Mall
Address: Ondiek Highway
Phone: 0710 177703
ZEBRA CERAMIC LTD
It is a leading manufacturer of ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, sanitary ware and accessories.
Location: Enterprise Road, Nairobi
Callers: +254 7006 17353/ +254 0737 711 999
EUROCON TILES LTD
Location: Off North Airport Road, Embakasi, Nairobi
Contact information: 0780 622 678
TWYFORD
It is one of the largest ceramic tile manufacturers in Kenya with the latest machinery and equipment capable of producing high quality ceramic tiles.
Location: Umma University in Kajiado
Contact information: 0791 327 864
Saj Ceramics
It offers a range of locally made ceramic tiles in Kenya, committed to quality, value and reliability.
Location: Mombasa Road, Nairobi
Contact information: 0722 597 166
Email: ceramics@saj.co.ke
Address: A109, Nairobi
Phone: 0722 597166
Pergas Group
FLAMINGO TILES
It started operations in 2010 and has been manufacturing and distributing quality and reliable tiles in Kenya. Location: Off Mombasa Road, Nairobi
Contact: 0721 398 455/ 0732 743 332
IDEAL CERAMICS LTD
It offers complete solutions for bathrooms, kitchens, tiles, tile accessories and bathroom furniture.
Location: Shimanzi, Mombasa
Contact information: +254 718 000 006
RAK CERAMICS
It produces a variety of quality wall and floor ceramics and tiles for indoor and outdoor use.
Location: Industrial Area, Nairobi
Contact information: 0724 218 197
TILE AND CARPET AREAS
Location: Parkside Towers, Mombasa Road
Contact information: +254 733 657 000/ +254 20 3939 000
Email: mail@tilecentre.com
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