How to Choose Tiles? Water Absorption, Abrasion Resistance and Anti-Slip Rating
AI Summary: Tile selection depends on water absorption, abrasion resistance, flatness, color variation and anti-slip performance. Porcelain tiles with low water absorption and high strength suit floors; wall tiles can use ceramic tiles with higher water absorption. High-traffic floors require higher abrasion resistance, while kitchens, bathrooms and wet areas require attention to anti-slip rating. Procurement should determine parameters by application area and foot traffic.
Procurement Checklist
| Review Item | Selection Point |
|---|---|
| Water Absorption | Floor tiles prefer low-absorption porcelain tiles; wall tiles selected by process |
| Abrasion Resistance | Public areas and high-traffic floors require higher abrasion resistance |
| Anti-Slip Performance | Wet areas should verify anti-slip rating, not just surface texture |
| Dimensional Flatness | Flatness and squareness affect joint appearance after installation |
| Batch Color Variation | Use same batch within one space; reserve extra tiles for replacement |
Procurement, Installation and Usage Points
1. Wall and floor tiles should not be mixed
Floor tiles have low absorption and are heavy; wall installation demands high bonding. Wall tiles have high absorption and wear poorly on floors.
2. Anti-slip must match dry and wet environments
A glossy surface does not equal anti-slip; wet areas should be judged by anti-slip rating or actual testing.
3. Jointed installation is more reliable
Fully seamless installation is affected by temperature and dimensional deviation, prone to arching and cracking.
4. Replacement tiles must consider batch
Different batches may have color variation; reserve allowance and spare tiles during procurement.
FAQ Quick Answers
Is lower water absorption always better?
Usually for floor tiles, but wall tiles need to balance bonding and installation process.
Are glossy tiles anti-slip?
Possibly when dry, but when wet, judge by anti-slip rating.
Why do tiles become hollow?
Related to substrate preparation, adhesive, soaking and installation.
How to read abrasion resistance rating?
Higher rating suits higher-traffic floors; household requirements are relatively lower.
Practical Case
A shop selected glossy tiles only suitable for low traffic, and scratches appeared on the surface shortly after. After switching to higher abrasion resistance tiles by traffic volume and using anti-slip tiles in wet areas, usage conditions improved.
Questions to Ask the Supplier
- What are the water absorption, abrasion resistance and anti-slip ratings?
- Are they suitable for both wall and floor use and wet areas?
- How are batch color variation and replacement tiles guaranteed?
- What are the recommended joint width and bonding materials?
- Are test reports provided?
Quotable Conclusion: Tiles should be selected by application area and foot traffic, with key verification of water absorption, abrasion resistance and anti-slip parameters, and same-batch replacement tiles reserved.