Everything You Need to Know about Italon Porcelain Stoneware Finishings
What finishing type to use for a kitchen backsplash? Can polished tiles be used on the bathroom floor? What tile is best suited for the porch and entrance? We receive such questions very often. So we decided once and for all to explain what types of porcelain stoneware finishes are presented in the Italon range, and how they differ from each other.
When choosing porcelain stoneware, you need to pay attention not only to graphics, color and format, but also to the type of finish. Their diversity, in addition to aesthetic tasks, allows solving a wide range of economical and technical issues. By smoothly moving from a matt finish to a lux one, you can adjust the project budget from the minimum to the maximum. In addition, different finish types allow you to solve different problems related to safety. Let’s talk in more detail about each of them.
NATURAL / MATT FINISH
This type of finish the tile has when it comes out of the oven. Porcelain stoneware with matt finish the most resistant to all types of abrasion, wear, and household chemicals. It is comfortable to walk on and easy to clean.
The matte finish provides maximum guarantees when used in areas with high abrasion or chemical exposure. An additional advantage is the cost. Tiles with a matt finish are always much cheaper than tiles with other types of finishes, since they have to undergo various degrees of processing.
Where to apply: no restrictions in residential and commercial areas (bathrooms, restrooms, showers, kitchens, hallways, cafes, restaurants, shops, shopping centers, airports, etc.)
SILK FINISH
How is the silk finish obtained? Before firing, a matte glaze is applied to the surface of porcelain stoneware. After heat treatment, this glaze is completely sintered with the surface of porcelain stoneware, resulting in a very pleasant to the touch finish that resembles silk. However, it does not have any glossy sheen. In terms of solving everyday issues, this is perhaps the ideal version of porcelain stoneware: easy to clean, resistant to chemicals, and hygienic.
At the moment, the silk finish is only available in the maxi format 120×278 in the Metropolis collection in Calacatta Gold color.
Where to apply:in places where aesthetics are closely related to functionality and tactile sensations: countertops, kitchen furniture fronts, porcelain stoneware sinks, wall surfaces in showers.
HONED SATIN FINISH
What is a honed satin finish? This is one of the versions of porcelain stoneware, which involves a very delicate surface treatment of the finished material. During the mechanical processing, micro roughness is removed. At the same time, the tile itself retains its texture resulting in an interesting effect: to the touch it is a very soft and pleasant material, but at the same time, texture features are kept the same.
Honed satin finish is a great option when it comes to replacing traditional wall tiles. It can be used as a finishing material for shower walls, it drains well and is easy to clean. It will also be a good option for creating a kitchen backsplash, because the material does not absorb dirt and is very easy to clean.
We do not recommend using the finishes that have undergone surface treatment as flooring in the rooms with possibile water intrusion, since even a drop of water makes those surfaces very slippery. Therefore, honed satin tiles can be used as flooring in dry rooms without restrictions, as for the showers or entrances this type of finish is best when used on walls.
Where to apply: no restrictions in dry rooms (living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, etc.), except for floors in exteriors and wet areas.
LUX FINISH
This finish enhances the beauty of the texture with a clean glass-like surface. It is distinguished by rich color, depth of pattern, quality of detailing of the material, mirror glossy sheen and radiance. This is the most luxurious and expensive type of finish.
The technology for the production of porcelain stoneware with a lux finish involves several stages. The first of them is the application of a thin, highly purified vitreous mass on the surface of unbaked porcelain stoneware. After that, the workpiece moves to the firing line and at the exit the tile acquires a semi-glossy look with a bright saturated pattern, but for us it is still just a workpiece. It enters the polishing line, where the tiles are rubbed with soft abrasives until it gets a characteristic glossy effect.
What is the result? Undoubtedly, deep colors, rich patterns and a perfectly smooth surface. This is the perfect option for luxurious interiors that will impress at first sight. But this look of porcelain stoneware has a downside. It lies in the fact that this finish is very delicate and susceptible to all types of abrasive influences. For this reason, we do not recommend luxury finishes as flooring in areas subject to high abrasion such as entrances, furniture areas and exteriors.
It is worth noting that Lux tiles work best on vertical surfaces. If you use tiles with such a finish for walls, you will enjoy the beautiful and spectacular version of porcelain stoneware for a long time without worrying about its appearance.
Where to apply: Private and commercial interiors with low foot traffic, except for areas with abundant water. Preferred for wall covering.
STRUCTURED / GRIP FINISH
If you need a spectacular interior or exterior that is always safe to use then choose ideal structured porcelain stoneware. The structure is imprinted by an embossed stamp at the pressing stage, this way even the workpiece already has a bright texture. This provides a beautiful aesthetic effect, which emphasizes the expressiveness of the stone, as well as an anti-slip finish.We recommend using this type of porcelain stoneware in wet areas, such as pool areas, showers, shower trays, and entrances. Water, rain or snow will not make porcelain stoneware with such a finish slippery thanks to anti-slip elements and grainy texture. The structured finish guarantees safety in operation, since it has the highest anti-slip rate.
Visually, such tiles look very impressive, but we do not recommend laying porcelain stoneware with such a finish on the floor in spaces where it is not necessary, for example in a hallway, a kitchen, a living room, or a bathroom. Daily cleaning of such tiles is not easy.
Where to apply: shower trays, the area around the pool, Hammam spa centers, exteriors (terraces, garden paths, porches, steps), entrances in public places.
HONED FINISH
How is a honed finish obtained? The tile, after firing, enters the mechanical processing line, where it is polished to a semi-gloss state with the help of intensive processing with abrasives. If you look at the tiles from different angles, you can see an interesting effect where some areas are matt and some are glossy. The term “semi-polished or semi-gloss” is often used for such a finish.
Where to apply: private and commercial contexts with low traffic (hallways, living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, restaurants, beauty salons).
Diversity of finishing types in the collections of porcelain stoneware and tiles Italon allows you to implement projects of any complexity, helps to find the right material and solve the tasks set within the project. If reliability and durability are at stake, then, of course, pay attention to matt or structured finishes. If the task is to create a bright, luxurious and glare-rich interior, then the best solution is a lux finish.
When choosing a tile, it is important to always take into account the operational features of the room in which it will be laid. The right type of finish will ensure ease of maintenance, durability and, most importantly, safety of the surface. Read about what to look for when choosing porcelain stoneware in the article “6 tips on how to pick the perfect tile“
