What Does “Unglazed” Mean?
Tiles are made of clay which have been fired in a kiln. If glaze is to be applied, it's done before the tile enters the kiln. The glaze then fuses to the top surface of the clay body of the tile during the firing process. In the event that no glaze had been applied, the resultant tile is deemed to be “unglazed”. This is the simple difference between glazed and unglazed tiles. Unglazed Ceramic and porcelain tiles gain their color from mineral deposits that were present in the clay from which the tiles were composed, or by the addition of natural pigments. These pressed pigments can be designed to form a pattern, and the patterns run right down through the tile (a “full body porcelain tile”), as opposed to just being a design on the surface of the tile. This gives unglazed tiles an earthy, natural appearance. As unglazed tiles have no liquid glass protective coating, they will absorb liquid, which will lead to staining. Thus it’s necessary to apply a protective sealant to unglazed tiles, which will require re-c
