Types of Tiles

1. Types of Tiles (with Definitions)

Type	Definition	Common Uses
Ceramic Tile	Made from natural clay, fired at lower temperatures, with glaze or unglazed finish.	Walls, light-use floors
Vitrified Tile	Clay + silica mixture, fired at high temperature, forming glass-like surface; low porosity (<0.5%).	Heavy-use floors, outdoors
GVT (Glazed Vitrified Tile)	Vitrified base with glazed surface, allowing designs & textures.	Premium flooring, wall dado
PGVT (Polished Glazed Vitrified Tile)	GVT with high-gloss polishing.	Luxury interiors
Full-Body Vitrified Tile	Color & design go through the entire thickness.	Industrial & heavy wear
Double-Charge Vitrified Tile	Two layers of pigment pressed, thicker design layer.	Commercial flooring
Porcelain Tile	Dense, fine-grained ceramic, low absorption.	Indoors & outdoors
Mosaic Tile	Small pieces of glass/stone/ceramic on mesh sheet.	Decorative walls, pools
Natural Stone Tiles	Marble, granite, slate, etc.	Luxury flooring, cladding

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2. Standard Tile Sizes

Flooring Tiles (IS 15622:2017 & common market sizes):

• 300 × 300 mm
• 600 × 600 mm
• 800 × 800 mm
• 600 × 1200 mm
• 800 × 1600 mm (large format)
• Thickness: 8–12 mm (heavy duty: 15–20 mm)

Wall/Dado Tiles:

• 250 × 375 mm
• 300 × 450 mm
• 300 × 600 mm
• Thickness: 6–8 mm

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3. Technical Properties

Property	Ceramic	Vitrified/GVT
Water Absorption	3–10%	<0.5%
Flexural Strength	20–30 MPa	35–45 MPa
Abrasion Resistance (PEI)	PEI 2–3	PEI 3–5
MoHS Hardness	5–6	6–8
Density	~2000–2200 kg/m³	~2300–2450           kg/m³
Coefficient of Friction	≥0.4 dry	≥0.4 dry

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4. Tile Testing (as per IS 13630 series)

• Water Absorption Test
• Flexural Strength Test
• Modulus of Rupture
• Abrasion Resistance Test (PEI Rating)
• Impact Resistance Test
• Scratch Hardness Test
• Size & Dimensional Tolerance Check
• Crazing Resistance Test

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5. Tolerances (IS 15622)

Parameter	Tolerance
Length/Width	±0.5%
Thickness	±5%
Straightness of Sides	±0.5%
Rectangularity	±0.5%
Surface Flatness	±0.5%

7. Key Points for Site Engineers & Supervisors

• Always check water absorption test certificate for vitrified (<0.5%).
• Verify PEI rating for intended use.
• Ensure batch & shade numbers matc

• Got it ✅
  I’ll give you two separate SOPs — one for flooring tiles and one for dado tiles — each with a clear, step-by-step site procedure, technical checks, and tolerances.

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  SOP – Flooring Tile Laying

  (For Vitrified / Ceramic / GVT / Porcelain Tiles)

  1. Preparation

  • Ensure the base (RCC slab or screed) is cured, level, and free from dust/oil/loose particles.
  • Check levels using a spirit level or laser level; allowable deviation ±3 mm in 3 m length.
  • Mark the layout lines (chalk or laser) for alignment.

  2. Material Check

  • Tile size, shade, and batch number must be same for the entire area.
  • Verify manufacturer’s specifications for thickness, water absorption, and bending strength.
  • Adhesive / mortar type as per tile type:
    • Vitrified / GVT – polymer modified tile adhesive
    • Ceramic – cement mortar 1:4 or adhesive

  3. Mixing Adhesive / Mortar

  • Mix tile adhesive with clean water as per manufacturer’s ratio (generally 3:1 powder to water).
  • Rest for 5 minutes, remix before use.
  • Use within 30 minutes of mixing.

  4. Laying Procedure

  • Apply adhesive using a notched trowel (3–5 mm thickness).
  • Press tile firmly with a slight twist to remove air gaps.
  • Maintain joint width:
    • Interior: 2–3 mm
    • Exterior: 3–5 mm
  • Use spacers for uniform gaps.
  • Tap lightly with rubber mallet for leveling.
  • Check level after every 3–4 tiles.

  5. Grouting

  • Wait 24 hours before grouting.
  • Use polymer-modified grout, match shade.
  • Fill joints diagonally, wipe excess.

  6. Curing & Protection

  • Light water curing for 2–3 days (if cement mortar).
  • Protect with covering sheets until handover.

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  SOP – Dado Tile Laying

  (Wall Tiling in Bathrooms / Kitchens / Toilets)

  1. Preparation

  • Ensure plastered surface is cured for minimum 7 days.
  • Wall must be plumb (vertical) and even.
  • Mark reference lines at desired height (laser level).

  2. Material Check

  • Check tile size, shade, and batch uniformity.
  • Adhesive type: Wall tile adhesive (high bond strength).
  • Soak ceramic tiles (not vitrified) in water for 30 minutes before laying.

  3. Mixing Adhesive

  • Prepare as per manufacturer’s instructions (3:1 powder to water, or as specified).
  • Use within 30 minutes.

  4. Laying Procedure

  • Apply adhesive to wall with a notched trowel (3–4 mm).
  • Press tile in place, move slightly to seat.
  • Maintain joint width:
    • Bathroom walls: 2 mm
    • Kitchen walls: 2–3 mm
  • Use spacers for uniform gaps.
  • Start laying from bottom to top using a ledger strip to avoid slipping.

  5. Grouting

  • After 24 hours, grout with waterproof polymer grout.
  • Wipe with damp sponge.

  6. Finishing

  • Clean tile surface after grout sets.
  • Remove spacers and protect with plastic sheets until final handover.

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  ✅ Extra Technical Checks (Both Flooring & Dado)

  • Tile Tolerance as per IS 15622:
    • Length & width: ±0.75%
    • Thickness: ±5%
    • Warpage: ±0.5%
  • Water Absorption:
    • Vitrified: <0.5%
    • Ceramic: 3–10%