In this article we are going to talk a little bit about an older material that is also a newer material. It has been used for several decades to cover surfaces in many environments. It can be found in virtually store that sells floor covering. It is even being used for kitchen countertops. You guessed it, we are talking about porcelain. In this article though, we will be talking about porcelain tile. Specifically we will mention some thoughts with regard to Francini Forte Porcelain large format tiles. Conceptually, the points apply to porcelain tile of smaller sizes too. So let's get into our consideration of Francini Forte Porcelain large tile.
Porcelain Tile Differs From Ceramic Tile
It is easy to begin thinking that the two materials ceramic and porcelain are the same material. However, that is not the case and before we get into the specifics about Francini Forte Porcelain tile, we want to comment briefly on this fact. Just as squares are rectangles but rectangles are not necessarily squares, the same is true of ceramic and porcelain. Porcelain is ceramic, but not all ceramic tile is porcelain. For a ceramic tile to qualify as porcelain it must meet specific requirements. Regarding the thought that these are two distinct materials, note what the British Ceramic Tile website published about this:
The main difference between a porcelain and ceramic tile is the rate of water they absorb. Porcelain tiles absorb less than 0.5% of water whilst ceramic and other non-porcelain tiles will absorb more.
So, what we talk about in this article does not necessarily apply to all ceramic tile. So as we discuss Francini Forte Porcelain large format tiles it is good to keep this in mind.
Porcelain Tile That Looks Like Natural Stone
There are a number of large format tiles in the family of Francini Forte Porcelain that look like natural stone. The appearance is becoming more like quarried rock as technology progresses. Every year more and more porcelain is created to mimic the tried and true look of stone slabs.
Francini Forte Porcelain Color Selection
When it comes to porcelain tiles in large format the color selection is outstanding. Because materials like Francini Forte Porcelain can be created to specs, the color is simply a matter of experimenting until the desired look of the manufacturer is achieved. Once the exact look is created, it is capable of being reproduced repeatedly. Francini Forte Porcelain as well as other brands of large format tiles have taken advantage of this technique. In fact, many brands are available in an aray of colors.
In fact, here is a list of colors for the brand of tile we are currently discussing as they are shown on this website:
Monte Bianco
Travertino Blanco
Arabescato Violet
Pure White
Pure Black
Capri
Lasa White
Marquinia Noir
Onyx Ivory
Calacatta Gold Premium
Limestone Grigio
Statuario Premium
Calacatta Dorado
Borghetto
Fior Di Bosco
Statuario Michelangelo
Calacatta Supremo
Travertino Navona
Pietra Grigio
Onyx Wave
Calacatta Oro Premium
Basaltina Dark
Travertino Avorio
Lucca
Cristallo
Macchia Vecchia
Taj Mahal Premium
Extreme
Francini Forte Porcelain Porcelain Tile Tools
Porcelain is like stone in some ways and in other ways it is different. For example, like some natural stone, prcelain like Francini Forte is a hard material that requires specific blades for cutting it. On the other hand though, it is so hard that using a diamond tile cutting blade is better than opting for a diamond granite and quartz. Blades designed for cutting porcelain have features resulting in a chip-free cut.
Another thing about large format porcelain tile installs is that the surface area covered with this relatively lightweight material is usually spacious. Large spans of floors, walls, and interior or exterior surfaces are treated using Francini Forte Porcelain tiles and others like it. And the larger the size of the tiles being used, the greater the need there is for a tile leveling system. Tile leveling makes for the most accurate installation. A tool that is becoming more and more popular because of its efficiency is the vibrating tile leveler. The Tile Quake available form Weha is one such tool. This vibrating suction cup makes the work of leveling tile efficient since the installer can grab, lift, set, and level the tile using this one tool.
Porcelain Tile Care
One of the selling points for materials like Francini Forte Porcelain large format tile is that it's relatively easy to maintain. Being non-porous, porcelain does not require sealing to be applied. Additionally, when it is cleaned using an appropriate cleaner according to the guidelines from the material's manufacturer, it yields many years of use. Using a porcelain cleaner designed for materials such as Francini Forte will offer the greatest benefits in the long run.
So there you have it, Francini Forte Porcelain large format tile is a material choice that offers many applications. Material like this are fashioned to look like other materials (natural stone for example) in some cases. And the tooling, care products, and long life of porcelain can be similar to natural stone. Choosing it as a material for a project offers diversity and functionality. It also offers benefits, but it will take some specific attention to work with it and care for it.
