![]() With these rolling, or continuous kilns, the process has gone from hours of stationary baking to less than an hour. The cooling down period isn’t as passive as it might sound, though - pool tiles are still changing color. As the pool tile makes its way to the opposite side of the tube, it’s gradually cooling down. The higher the temperature, the stronger the brick. ![]() At the center point, maximum temperature, which can be as high as 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,371.1 degrees Celsius), is reached. In the first half of the tile’s journey, things are starting to get warm. The heat inside the kiln is precisely monitored and controlled by computer. Rather than sitting in the heat for hours, the pool tile is rolled through by conveyor belt-type contraptions (the specific apparatus varies from kiln to kiln). If you’ve ever been to a sandwich shop where the worker heats the sandwich by giving it a ride through the toaster, then you’ll understand these new types of kilns. Continuous kilns include tunnel kilns and roller-hearth kilns. It was the continuous kiln, however, that made the production process of ceramic tile more efficient in the last century. Traditionally, ceramic pool tile was left to bake for several hours in what’s known as a periodic kiln, such as a beehive kiln. Before it goes in the kiln, the product has acquired another name: green tileĪfter the glaze has been applied, it’s time to put the swimming pool tiles in the kiln to be fired. Not every tile has to be glazed to be considered ceramic.īut there is one qualification that ceramic pool tiles do have to meet - they all have to be baked. Though glazing is a typical step for ceramic pool tile, it’s not essential. That process won’t happen until the next step. However, even if very vibrant pigments are used, the piece will still look fairly pale, and not like the vibrant tiles we see in the store. To give the pool tile some color, pigments are mixed in with the other ingredients. Just as there’s a wide variety of delicious frostings, there are many choices for the glaze, including matte and high-gloss, and many ways of applying glaze, from spray to silkscreen. It’s that glassy looking substance on one side of the tile. The word comes from the Old English word for glass, which is a good description of glaze. Now it’s time for that frosting we mentioned - the glaze. ![]() After the body is formed, it’s dried out to remove all last traces of moisture. While we commonly see square or rectangular ceramic tile, presses may have shaped imprints to create ovals, diamonds and other unique shapes as well. ![]() That pressure is what gives the finished project its tensile strength. The press pushes the dust into a set size and shape with a force ranging from a few hundred pounds a square inch to 100,000 pounds per square inch (689,475.7 Newtons per square meter). The dust is placed into a large press, powered either with electricity or hydraulics. This entire process is sometimes called dust pressing - and you’re about to learn why. Â After that time in the dryer, the body slip is now essentially powder, or dust. To accomplish this, the body slip is put into a dryer and heated the moisture content is reduced to about 6 percent. That moisture helps adhere the ingredients to each other, but as soon as its job is done, it’s out of there. At this point, the body slip contains about 30 percent water. Body slip is used to differentiate the body of the tile from its glazed topping it’s the chocolate cake to vanilla frosting. These ingredients are mixed and grounded up in a ball mill to create what’s known as the body slip. Each manufacturer likely has its own time-tested recipe for ceramic pool tile, but clay is usually the main ingredient, along with other items such as sand, feldspar, quartz and water. Your entire pool should be kept clean and should be inspected often so you can catch problems before they become major issues.Ceramic swimming pool tile starts life as a lump of earth - everything in that final product is a natural material. Expansion joints should be caulked generously and checked regularly. They let your tile move a bit without posing a risk of warping and breakage. Seal the tile and grout and allow for curing before filling the pool and plan to repeat sealing regularly. Filling the pool too quickly can also cause problems. If the grout and caulk is neglected, it allows for water leakage and breakage that will ultimately shorten the life of your tile.ĭon’t forget that pool tile should properly cure before water is added to the pool. Improperly installed tile will let water behind the tile and cause problems that you can’t see until it’s too late. Treat Your Tile Right - Installation and Maintenance MatterĮxcellent installation and care will make your pool tile look great and last a long time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |