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| Our Tile Backing Types |
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| For information on the types of stainless steel, aluminum and finishes our tiles contain, please visit our Material Information page. For a quick summary of what you may want to consider in choosing a tile type, see the bottom of this page for an answer to "Which type of tile should I choose?". |
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| All of our brushed (satin) stainless steel tiles are manufactured from 304 stainless steel, which has excellent corrosion resistance (will not rust) and is the grade most often used in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries and in outside architectural applications. Many stainless steel tiles that are available on the market are either manufactured from a lesser grade of stainless steel (e.g., 400 series), which will rust over time and has inferior corrosion properties when compared to 300 series stainless steel or manufactured from a metal that has been glazed with a stainless steel look. |
| Side Views of Our Tile |
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| Surface Mount Tile |
Our surface mount tiles are manufactured out of 22 gage stainless steel and have an overall thickness of approximately 1/8". They are named surface mount because they have a 1/4" long bevel that extends from the 1/8" elevation down to the surface of the wall. They have a square corner and do not need to be grouted. Note that all of our wall tile have a 1/4" long bevel.
Installation Overview
They can be installed with a small patch of our double sided tape and PL Premium Construction adhesive around the patch. The double sided tape holds the tile in place while the glue dries. They are ideal for all applications. |
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| Hardboard Backing Tile |
This is not to be confused with a cork backing, which is a less expensive alternative offered elsewhere. Our Hardboard backed tiles are manufactured out of 22 gage 304 stainless steel and have an overall thickness of approximately 1/4". They are ideal for kitchens (backsplashes, walls, etc.) and moderate moisture level environments. This choice of backing is most frequently installed as kitchen backsplashes. They have a square corner and do not need to be grouted. If you have a concern with the level of moisture in your kitchen (which differs from the average kitchen), then you may want to choose the fiberock® backing.
Installation Overview
Hardboard backed tile can be cut with a right angle grinder that has a cut-off wheel installed followed by deburring the sharp edge left behind with a sanding disk. The slightly brown perimeter edge generated from the heat while cutting the tile can be removed with a scotch pad. Note to rub in the direction of the grain as to not scratch the tile. Applying water with a spray bottle on the cut while cutting minimizes the brown oxidation. Always wear safety glasses when cutting our tile. We recommend that our hardboard backed tile be installed with construction adhesive, such as PL Premium Construction Adhesive.
Material Description
The hardboard backing on our tiles is manufactured from high density eucalyptus. The high natural oil content of the eucalyptus fiber material aids in the product's water resistance. Eucalyptus material also has outstanding technical characteristics. These characteristics, including the high density of the eucalyptus material, make it highly valued for applications where strength and durability are critical. The eucalyptus material lasts an incredibly long time. This product has no formaldehyde binders added. |
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| Fiberock® Backing Tile |
Our fiberock® backed tiles have an overall thickness of approximately 3/8". They are ideal for bathrooms and other moisture rich environments. If you intend to use our tile in your shower area, you should use our turned edge fiberock® backed tile as they are often grouted. Our fiberock® backing tile are both mold and water resistant.
Installation Overview
They can be cut with a wet saw or a right angle grinder and installed with thinset or construction adhesive. Gray thinset is available in hardware stores and may be preferable.
Material Description
Fiberock® Tile Backerboard derives both strength and water-resistance from its uniform composition and is made by USG (United States Gypsum) company. It is made out of a uniquely engineered gypsum/cellulose-fiber combination and is strong and water resistant all the way through the core and intended for use in wet areas, including tub and shower surrounds. In independent lab tests per ASTM D3273-00 "Standard Test Method for Resistance to Growth of Mold on the Surface of Interior Coatings in an Environmental Chamber," Fiberock® Tile Backerboard scored a perfect "10". With no paper face to delaminate, Fiberock® Tile Backerboard maintains its integrity even when wet.
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| Turned Edge Tile with Fiberock® Backing |
Our turned edge tile with fiberock® backing have an overall thickness of approximately 3/8". They are ideal for bathrooms, pools, and other moisture rich environments where grouting is often used because of the small radius that exsists on the corners. All three tile types described above do not and most often are not grouted, although they can be. They have a perfect square corner. Our turned edge tile with fiberock® backing, stricktly speaking, do not need to be grouted, but often are due to their application. They are both mold and water resistant as discussed in the preceding tile material description and discussed below. Lastly, our turned edge tile with fiberock® backing have a continuous wrap on all for sides with no slits on the corners, as often supplied by other manufactures that carry this type of tile.
Installation Overview
Our turned edge fiberock backing tile can be cut with a wet saw or a right angle grinder and installed with thinset or construction adhesive.
Material Description
As described above, Fiberock® Tile Backerboard derives both strength and water-resistance from its uniform composition and is made by USG (United States Gypsum) company. It is made out of a uniquely engineered gypsum/cellulose-fiber combination and is strong and water resistant all the way through the core and intended for use in wet areas, including tub and shower surrounds. In independent lab tests per ASTM D3273-00 "Standard Test Method for Resistance to Growth of Mold on the Surface of Interior Coatings in an Environmental Chamber," Fiberock® Tile Backerboard scored a perfect "10". With no paper face to delaminate, Fiberock® Tile Backerboard maintains its integrity even when wet.
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| Which tile type should you choose? |
| If you plan on installing our tiles in a moisture rich environment, you should choose the fiberock® backed tiles. If you are installing them as a kitchen backsplash, you can choose any of the three types. Our hardboard mounted tile is most commenly purchased and used. If you are trying to decide which to choose, you should consider the installation process. All of our tiles can be installed with PL Polyurethane Premium Construction
Adhesive. This adhesive forms a solid bond with drywall and a variety
of other substrates. Our fiberock® backed tiles may also be installed with traditional thinset mortar. If you need to cut the tiles, you can use a bandsaw with a metal cutting blade, an angle grinder with a metal cut-off disk, or a dremel with a cut-off
disk (we also can cut them for you). The fiberock® backed tiles can also be cut with a wetsaw. The video segment from HGTV's Spice up My Kitchen (click here to view it) shows a hardboard backed tile installation. Please review our Installation Guide and Custom Cut page for further details. |
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