Tuesday 18 April 2017

History of Ceramics in Construction

The modern world is full of buildings, homes, offices, shops, factories, huge industrial complexes all located from smallest of villages to mega cities. These constructions have a number of elements that make the whole construction functional and beautiful. There was a time in history when ceramics was used largely as a embellishment on these constructions. From China in the east to the Greek cities on the west, ceramics was used in construction to adorn walls outer claddings. The production was very low and rare and only the rich and people with abundant means used ceramics in construction. Pottery and clay were of course used by all classes, but Ceramics in glazed forms were used only by an elite few all over the world.
It was also used in important public constructions like Mosques, temples, and other buildings of public use and important to the country and/or the kingdom. The domes, walls exteriors etc were decorated with handmade ceramic add-ons to make the buildings more attractive and look richer.
The Birth of Sanitation
IN the early 1900s, Ceramics started being used in constructions. The richer countries, largely British and French used Ceramic Tiles as well as sanitary ware in their washing spaces and bathrooms. Some tiles were also used in rooms and exteriors. This was largely due to increase in production of ceramic goods.
This was actually the start of usage of Ceramics in interiors and exteriors as an important (but not necessary) element of any constructions. Middle class homes had but, limited usage of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware.
However, this phase was important as it actually educated the engineers as well as health awareness people about the benefits of ceramics in construction. Ceramics did not only provide beauty, but also sanitation, easy maintenance, long lasting utility and ease of day to day use. These benefits started making their presence felt in every country across the world.
Post World War II
Ceramics actually started making their way in every home in well sustained countries, in this phase of the history. Interior designers, Architects as well as engineers started recommending use of ceramics. More colleges, better education, faster communication, flow of technology across countries, people meeting each other and excellent dispersion of knowledge led to growth of many new products all over the world. Ceramic and its usage to found great liking and acceptance in the phase.
Today, Ceramics, A necessity
In today’s world, it is difficult to imagine a household or a commercial construction without ceramic goods installed. Every household, small or big has some sort of ceramic items installed.
Almost all offices and commercial buildings have sanitary ware and ceramic tiles installed at one place or the other.
The Design Challenge for Designers
The homes and offices are now a depiction of style statement and interior as well as exterior design specialists are put to challenge every time they take up a project. They have to deliver extra ordinary, functional as well as unique designs that, when installed appear exclusive as well as attractive.
The spending in home decoration and commercial construction have increased to the point where every designer has to think out of the box, innovate, create and bring to life magnificent constructions every time.
To make their life easy and smoother, the ceramic industry presents a whole lot of products with plethora of choices. These choices are easily available and extremely functional to install as well as last long.
The Decoration Advantage
Ceramic goods present a very strong decoration advantage to the interior designers as well as architects for exterior cladding. The variety of shapes sizes and colors virtually present a limitless scope for designers to run their imagination wild. The ceramic Manufacturers across the world and largely from India have together developed and supplied the market with products that are sure to match any look and appearance wildly imagined by the design specialists.
Ceramic Goods in Designing of Buildings
Wall Tiles
Wall tiles are largely used as wall cladding. Initially used in washing spaces only, they now find place in any and all rooms. They are available in smart looks with varying colors, conceptualised to make the walls look designer walls. With inherent advantage of easy maintenance and long lasting promise, the wall tiles are but the most admired wall decoration element.
They tiles are available in a number of sizes. From Small 6 x 6 inches which are right for small enclosures like public wash rooms and small office spaces, to 24 x 36 inches that are installed in huge Hotel lobbies and the homes of the Rich and Famous, they can cater to any need.
Adding to this is the punching effects that give Three Dimensional feel to the tiles. You can have waves, or grids and checkers, or stripes and bars on the surface or rough stone like finish to just enhance the touch and feel of the tile surface.
With the advent of Digital Printing Technology, the wall tiles are have broken all barriers of colors and designs. From natural stones to man made fibres to leaves to lawns to …..Anything, the Digital Printing Technology provides perfect appearance of the tiles.
The best offer of the wall tiles is, that they are not just perfect, but much better replacement of the Natural stones. They look exactly like natural stone, but can promise higher shine in case of glossy finish, lower shine in satin and no shine in case of matt finish. While natural stones will have their own looks and feels, the wall tiles can be modified to look the way the customer likes it. They provide much needs protection to the natural stones as they have already been accepted as substitutes for natural stones.
Floor Tiles
The floor tiles have all the advantages of wall tile, but are tougher and have a very hard surface. They have great abrasion resistance. They too are available in all kinds of looks and feels like the wall tiles. In fact it is possible to find good matching sets that make the whole rooms appear as carved out of a single stone.
It is also possible to machine some tiles and clad them with other material to give a unique flooring pattern. Ideal for exteriors as well as interiors, the floor tiles promise to make the walk ways of any construction amazing and functional.
Sanitary ware
Sanitary-ware has come of age and is a home decorators’ delight. Every home has a wash room. It may be big and regal. It can be small, compact and stylish. From big homes on the country side to a single apartment condo in a bustling city to a seven star hotel to a commercial complex, Sanitary ware finds application every where.
It is not regarded as just utility attachment for sanitation, but a functional element of any construction that should also add style. Themed homes and constructions have unique needs. So do contemporary constructions. While the tiles garnish the walls and floors of any such building, sanitary ware add to the beauty of real objects in wash rooms and stylish wash basins in dinette and dining area.
They are now available in great colors and shapes. From very large sizes and regal appearances to small and cosy set ups, sanitary ware has more than 150 shapes bundles along with Vitrosa and hand painted finishes to further enlighten the look of the article.
Roof tiles

While Ceramic serves walls and floors, roofs was the initial product under the pottery sector that had tremendous prominence. Roof tiles though used very less nowadays, propose very unique as well as nostalgic touch to the constructions. They are largely used in village themed homes, hotels and restaurants. Very rarely used in commercial buildings, they have limited use, but do look extremely attractive and bear a great utility in terms of providing coolness with style.