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Porcelain-Tile > Crossville Inc
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Located in Crossville, Tennessee, at the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau, Crossville, Inc. began manufacturing porcelain stone at its newly constructed plant in August 1986. Today, Crossville, Inc., is the largest domestic manufacturer of porcelain stone, and operates the first U.S. tile plant designed to manufacture large-unit porcelain tiles. Planned and equipped to be state-of-the-art facilities, Crossville's plants manufacture tiles ranging in size from 3" x 3" to 18" x 18".
Beautiful, versatile, durable Porcelain StoneŽ by Crossville started a design revolution in the American tile industry that continues today. Before Porcelain StoneŽ by Crossville, only a limited selection of porcelain stone tile was available. Today specifiers and homeowners alike can choose from a vast selection of high-quality products that are available across the United States.
Because there's always something new happening, Crossville developed www.crossvilleinc.com as the place where you can learn about new products, read company news or locate your nearest distributor or dealer. Please feel free to visit our website anytime.
About Porcelain tile
Porcelain tile, including Porcelain StoneŽ by Crossville, differs from ceramic tile in its manufacture, absorption and breaking strength. These inherent differences in the manufacturing processes and the quality of the raw materials make porcelain tile a superior product in terms of value, durability, color and design.
Porcelain tile is made up of approximately 50% feldspar; the remaining 50% is made up of various high-quality light firing ball clays. This makes the fired body white, allowing clear, brilliant colors and through body construction, meaning the color goes all the way through the tile rather than a surface glaze application.
Because porcelain is pressed under higher pressure than other tiles, in the range of 6,000 pounds per square inch, it is more dense than ceramic tile. It is also fired at a temperature of 2200° F, while ceramic tile would be fired at 1800° F, providing a much lower rate of absorption. The international standard for porcelain tile states that for tile to qualify as Porcelain, it must have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Crossville Porcelain StoneŽ typically has an absorption rate or less than 0.1%.
The water absorption rate for porcelain tile makes it suitable for interior and exterior applications in all climates. The water absorption rate of ceramic tile is usually greater than 3%, which means that it is not suitable for exterior applications.
Using applicable ASTM tests, Crossville Porcelain StoneŽ has a breaking strength of 390-400 pounds versus approximately 250 for regular ceramic tile. The Compressive Strength of Crossville tiles range from 36,000 to 38,000 psi. Crossville Porcelain StoneŽ products have an absorption rate that allows them to be rated as frost proof, not frost resistant.
How to Maintain porcelain tile
Crossville adheres to the highest manufacturing standards so that you can enjoy your porcelain stone for years to come. Simply follow the recommended care and maintenance guidelines, and you'll be rewarded with porcelain stone beauty that lasts a lifetime.
When it's first installed
Your installer should make sure all grout and construction dirt is removed after your porcelain stone is installed. In most cases, porcelain stone can be cleaned by scrubbing with hot water and a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly and remove the rinse water with a wet vacuum or dry towel. If grout residue is still present, your installer should consult the grout manufacturer and/or Crossville.
Whether or not to seal
If you are installing polished porcelain stone, water-based penetrating sealers should be applied prior to grouting. The sealer will not alter the stone's appearance or slip resistance. Your installer will know the proper procedure for applying penetrating sealers, such as never allowing the sealer to dry on the surface of the stone. Sealers should be wiped dry within 3 to 4 minutes after application.
Top finishes and waxes are not recommended. Porcelain stone is inherently dense and does not readily absorb stains and soil. Top-coating sealers affect the appearance of the porcelain surface, and make it more difficult to maintain.
Routine maintenance
Regular cleaning is the easiest way to keep your porcelain stone floor looking new and beautiful. Use clean, hot water (combined with a household cleaner for more aggressive cleaning), and follow these five important steps:
Sweep or vacuum the floor thoroughly.
Saturate the floor with hot water combined with a small amount of cleaning solution (such as Mr. Clean, Fantastic, etc. - see stain cleaning chart).
Let the solution sit on the floor for 5-10 minutes so the cleaner does most of the work. Clean small areas at a time as you don't want the cleaner to dry.
Mop up the water. Stubborn dirt and stains may be scrubbed with a nylon pad or bristle brush if necessary.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water until all dirty wash water is removed.
Rinsing is critical: dry detergent residue forms a coating that is difficult to remove and entraps dirt. An added tip - polished finish Porcelain TileŽ by Crossville should be dried thoroughly with a soft cloth or buffing pad to enhance the shine and prevent water spots.
Crossville, Inc.
P.O. Box 1168
Crossville, TN 38557
(931) 484-2110
http://www.crossvilleinc.com/
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