With the help of new machinery, these days there are several types of tiles produced at Morbi. For an end-user, the different words used to describe tiles are puzzling. So, we have tried to explain them with a bottom-up approach.
Before we start, please understand that “TILES” is a broad category. It also includes tiles made from marble, glass mosaic, and even from vinyl! Here we are only going to discuss tiles which are available from Morbi.
Now look at the chart below…
(W.A. 13 to 16%)
(W.A. 3 to 6%)
(Water absorption ≤ 0.5%)
(Preferably made with CONTINUA*)
Table of Contents
Vitrified tiles
This term is often misunderstood. As mentioned in the chart the term vitrified tile is having a broad meaning as it only tells about the type of body.
Remember: Outside India vitrified tiles are only known as porcelain tiles.
Vitrified tiles are better in many ways compared to traditional ceramic tiles. Thanks to mass production and competition, you are getting a reasonable price too.
Simple explanation of the process:
A process of converting something into a glass-like substance is known as vitrification. With this process, we can convert a mixture of clay + raw materials into a uniform body. Due to vitrification, internal bonding becomes permanent. No further chemical changes to a vitrified tile body after production!
Firing at a high temperature makes them impermeable to water. When we sink a piece of vitrified tiles in water it only gains weight by 0.5%. This is known as water absorption.
Due to wider kilns, the size of the vitrified tiles produced is 600mm x 600mm onwards.
Benefits you get with vitrified tiles:
Types of vitrified tiles
Glazed vitrified tiles (GVT / PGVT)
Surface options you get are polished, matt (again different matt such as satin, hardmatt, DigiMatt, R10, R11 etc), high-gloss, rustic, carving, sugar and wood texture
After 2016 factories producing GVT / PGVT tiles have mushroomed. Due to more supplies, the prices reduced a lot, making it affordable for the economic market too.
Check the thickness a factory offers you. Due to price-war, some factories make thickness below acceptable levels.
Double charge (DC)
The top design layer is not as strong as the body beneath it. Take due diligence when choosing a double charge factory.
Full body tiles
Generally, the use of these tiles is already specified by the architects. The contractors then search for similar options in the market.
As the name suggests these tile’s body is the same from the surface to bottom. We recommend full-body tiles for steps, window sill, and room border. Such places demand a lot of cutting and edge smoothing.
There are very few factories in Morbi making satisfactory ranges of full-body tiles. Marfil, Armano, Mozart… have come up with more designs options in 300×1200 mm steps, 600×1200 mm & 600×600 mm full body tiles. Full body tiles are costly but they last forever!
It is a challenge to keep the same shade across the batches of full-body tiles. So always match the sample you approved with the material being shipped.
Colorbody tiles
Example 1) 20 mm thick tiles are a new entrant in Morbi’s tile industry. In such tiles, they mix pigments in the body which matches that of the surface. So they are color-body GVT with extra thickness. On the surface, instead of normal glaze, they use an anti-skid glaze of R11 or R10 grade. Here R stands for ramp test which is a slip resistance rating standard. These all make 20mm thickness tiles an ideal choice for outdoor setup.
Example 2) Nero Marquina design with a dark body will make it a color-body tile. Due to normal usage, when the glaze layer chips, color-body tile will not look ugly.
Soluble salt
There is a huge demand for soluble-salt tiles in Latin American markets like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. But, in the domestic market, they are being replaced by other types of tiles mentioned earlier.
Soluble-salt type is selling as economic tiles. So, always buy nano-coated one & if possible send your person to do simple QC checks as below:
Ceramic body
Based on water absorption ratio it can either be wall tiles or floor tiles.
Ceramic wall tiles
Remember, if you are using adhesives then ask for tiles with waterproof engobe. Else you will notice watermarks issue on the surface after you fix the tile.
Designers in Morbi are good at making artistic wall tiles. They offer each design in light version + dark version + matching decorative punch (highlighter). Some designs itself include coordinated border pieces too! All wall factories also have a range of elevation tiles for wall cladding.
Ceramic wall tiles are not made to withstand high wear & tear. But their lightness is a plus for vertical installation (wall application) and is easy to cut.
Usually wall tiles are set together, with thin grout lines. You can mix and match to create endless contrasts and custom-look patterns.
These tiles are non-vitreous. But a glaze layer makes it’s surface (only) water and stain-resistant. For areas like showers, floors, and exteriors in freezing climates, choose vitrified tiles.
Tip: In general, the shinier the glaze, the more it gets scratched.
Thickness ranges from 6 mm to 9 mm.
2013 onwards all Morbi based wall tile factories upgraded to digital printing technology.
Why digital printing?
Digital printing technology offers 3 key advantages:
Ceramic floor tiles
300x300mm (12″x12″) generally non-rectified
400x400mm (16″x16″) rectified
600x600mm (24″x24″) rectified
200x600mm (8″x24″) wood strips rectified
Some factories tried unsuccessful attempts to make ceramic floor tiles in bigger formats
300x300mm & 400x400mm ceramic floor tiles they make with red body. Whereas 600x600mm tiles are the white body. Note that Morbi factories call these white body 600x600mm tiles a porcelino. But don’t consider it with vitrified tile, it is a ceramic body tile only.
200x600mm wood strips they cut from 600x600mm. A tiler can install them in a zigzag pattern. So be careful with cut size tiles as if they are not flat it can create issues while installation.
These sizes are available in various surface finishes like Glossy, Matt, Rustic, Anti-skid.
Ceramic floor tiles are suitable for very light to moderate traffic. Mason prepares mortar with sand, cement, and sometimes a latex additive. They fill spaces between the tiles with grout (e.g. LATICRETE®).
These floor tiles have a glazed upper surface. When it gets scratched the floor looks worn. Whereas the same amount of wear on Vitrified tiles won’t show or will be less noticeable. This is the reason for the boom of vitrified tiles manufacturing in Morbi.
If you need matt look, ceramic floor tiles are a cheaper option compared to matt version of GVT.
To date, few floor factories use the traditional screen-printing method to get the desired effect. Whereas most others have upgraded to digital printing (multi-screen) option.
300x300mm & 400x400mm Floor tiles have great demands in the export market (e.g. in Africa). Due to lightweight, they can also load more sq. meters per container over vitrified tile option.
Porcelain Slab
The demand for bigger sizes leads to another category of tiles called Porcelain slabs. Bigger the size, lesser the joint, and less visual interruptions by grout lines. Morbi based slab factories make sizes as shown in the above picture. Thickness is generally 9 mm but some also offer a 6 mm option.
Bigger dimensions are in demand across Asia. Even Morbi slab factories export porcelain slabs to China! This product was already made by a few European factories.
The Indian story of porcelain slabs begun during 2015 when Qutone ceramic announced a technical collaboration with System Ceramics SPA, Italy to produce large porcelain slabs. After that Emilceramica with Simpolo group, set up their slab factory (Nexion).
During 2017 more than 7 other groups ventured into porcelain slab manufacturing. On 13th June 2018 Lioli Ceramica, Morbi started production of slab size 1600x3200mm. It is the biggest size produced in India at the moment.
Please see the illustration ->
Apparently the light colors don’t need extra gloss. So BE CAREFUL if someone trying to sell you a light color at a higher price saying it is Hi-Gloss. The normal glaze is good enough for all light colors.
Dark color has higher price because more amount (gram per piece) of glaze & ink is used.
(Creativity is the limit!)
I m in morbi ,I want to buy your tiles for business .contact no. 7078149998
Can 20mm thick porcelain tiles be manufactured with size 900×225?
Can i get tiles directly from company,
If yes then what r the prices of 600×1200
Excellent,I am in morbi,want to buy tiles for business. Contact me or forward your contact number to 7907881281.
The site is very useful. I run the Mario Gallery in Goa (5 stores). I have bought a UV flat bed printer and i would like to print on white glazed tiles. I am interested in the following sizes 4” x 4”, 6” x6”, 8” x8”, 8” x 10” and 8” x12”. Can you recommend me a manufacturer who makes them and from whom i can place bulk orders.
Great stuff- very useful info
we want 6 to 9 % wa floor tiles 12×12 , suggest factory names
Hello, Can we use Porcelain Slab without making groove, and fix it jointless
Response from Morbi Tiles
Sure you can do that. Even some porcelain slabs have “continuity designs” made for joint-less fixing purpose. Make sure the floor is perfectly flat as joint-less fixing will only work in that case. There are no issues of thermal expansion with porcelain tiles.
Thanks for your review!
i am kumaradas civil engineer Indian national residing 30 yrs in Dubai at present i would like to start only Indian tiles retail and projects in Dubai if any manufacture interested to cooperate with me to start a show room set up in my show room please call me or e mail me
my mob number …..00971559972591
My e mail…………….kumar.koyical@yahoo.co.in
What is the current percentage of red body ceramic, white body ceramic, porcelain body and porcelain slabs in India
Excellent piece of explanation! Very informative.
I’m looking for 3mm thick Pei class 5 porcelain tiles from Manufacturers only.
Very important information.
Good
great…
Well explained
Good
8310348401
would you please send me a broucher
brilliant info at one place
very well explained.
Do you have dealers in Chennai
Very informative.
It has clear es all doubt regarding tiles , very informative
most informative
Very informative
Need ceramic wall tiles as per my design
Really educative.!
Very educative..
Wanted to know more about salt soluble tile…if a replacement for GVT was given as salt soluble tile with lesser thickness what should be the take on this..
Response from Morbi Tiles
Hi Vishagan, Thanks a lot for your review.
These days most factories have reduced thickness of soluble salt tiles to cut costs. We recommend you…
1) To use 2mm grouts when using soluble salt tiles. This will help if there is bent tile issue or diagonal issue.
2) No matter what, please choose single shade (not only single batch) when you buy soluble salt tiles. These tiles are polished directly on body. So there are great chances of shade variation.
Hope this helps
Hello sir
i am shivam rao
deal in Tiles and Marbel in all up
We are looking for stockists & franchiser in your city.
If your are interested to our business please contact me
9454247975
Very knowledgeable content. Thank you.
I wanted lard tile my show room
Hello sir
I am Deepak from MBS group
Our company deal in Tiles and Marbel in PAN India level.
We are looking for stockists & franchiser in your city.
If your are interested to our business please contact me
No.- 7389867254
Can you give me the landing cost (FOR) in Guwahati for vetrified nano floor tiles of size 600mm×600mm of colour white and grey if quantity 12000sq.ft.
Any catalogue of double charged vetrified flooring tiles.
600*1200mm ,also price.
I require nearly 9200 sft.
Parking 3200 sft.
Wall tiles 3200