Tile (Floor / Wall / Roof)

Tiles are flat, modular finishing materials applied to floors and walls. Indian Standards: IS 1237 (cement concrete flooring tiles), IS 13753 (vitrified tiles), IS 13754 (porcelain tiles), IS 13755 (anti-skid floor tiles). Major Indian tile manufacturers: Kajaria, Somany, Asian Granito, Cera, RAK Ceramics India, Hindware Glazed Tiles. The Indian tile industry produces ~3 billion m² annually (2024 figures), with 25-30% growth in vitrified tile market over the past 5 years.

Main tile categories: (1) Ceramic tiles — porous body with glazed surface; cheap (₹40-150/m²); suitable for residential walls and indoor flooring with low traffic. (2) Vitrified tiles — fully sintered body with low porosity (<0.5%); harder, stain-resistant, suitable for high-traffic flooring (₹80-300/m² for 600 × 600 standard; ₹500-2000/m² for premium 800 × 800 or 1200 × 1200). (3) Porcelain tiles — superior vitrified with fine grain; premium finish, used in high-end commercial and residential (₹300-3000/m²). (4) Glazed and unglazed varieties for both ceramic and vitrified. (5) Specialty tiles — anti-skid (for bathrooms and outdoor), heat-resistant (kitchen splash backs), large-format (>1200 mm).

Tile sizes: (a) 200 × 200, 250 × 250, 300 × 300 mm — small ceramic, mostly for walls. (b) 600 × 600, 600 × 1200 mm — standard vitrified, dominant Indian floor tile. (c) 800 × 1600, 1200 × 1200 mm — premium vitrified for offices and high-end residential. Installation requires substrate preparation (level, dust-free, primed), cement mortar adhesive (1:3 or 1:4), and proper curing of grout. The most-overlooked aspect of Indian tile installation: substrate flatness — uneven sub-floor causes hollow spots beneath tiles, leading to cracks and tile lift within 2-3 years. IS 13755 mandates substrate level tolerance of ±3 mm in 1.0 m for proper tile bonding. Always verify substrate before tiling; ad-hoc levelling causes durable failures.