Are you considering installing quarry tiles in your home? If so, you’re in for a treat. Quarry tiles are beautiful, versatile, and durable. Read more about them below.
What is a quarry tile?
Quarry tile is a type of unglazed tile which is known for being inexpensive, very durable, and natural. This type of tile is often used in industrial settings, but it is also appropriate for homes as well. This tile comes in a range of shades which can pair well with a wide variety of design schemes; many flooring suppliers carry quarry tile and they are happy to provide interested customers with samples of the products they stock. Source: Wise-Geek
How is it made?
Quarry tiles are made of red clay that is either hand- or machine-shaped. The quarry tiles are dried before being fired in large beehive-style kilns. The clay is fired to extremely high temperatures — much higher than ceramic tiles — which renders the quarry tiles naturally dense, nonporous and water resistant with a low water absorption rate.
While quarry tiles can be glazed, most are left in their natural finish, or unglazed. The tiles can be arranged in various areas of the kilns to produce a variety of colors, ranging from tan to dark brown, as well as markings known as “iron-spots” and “flashed” tiles. The quarry tiles may be sorted after firing for color, or they may be left mixed for variation. Source: Hunker
Where to use?
Quarry tile doesn’t belong everywhere. Due to its unique surface and color characteristics, you may want to limit your installation to these types of areas:
- Main interior floor areas: Some examples of main interiors where quarry tiles work well are living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens. Homes that have quarry tiles in main living areas typically use area rugs to soften the tiles and soften sounds within the room.
- Interior or exterior walkways and entryways: Because of quarry tile’s high degree of slip resistance, it works well for any area where people need to walk without slipping. It’s also very durable and stands up to traffic well.
- Backsplashes: Despite the name, backsplashes typically do not receive much in the way of splashes from sinks. Thus, unglazed quarry tile can work well for backsplashes. One notable exception would be backsplashes near stoves, where stains from cooking grease and food may be a problem. Even so, quarry tiles can be installed near high-grease areas if it is sealed.
- Some countertops: Heavily-used kitchen and bathroom countertops should not be tiled with quarry tile. However, side counters that are not areas for food preparation can be tiled in quarry tile. Source: TheSpruce
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