Tiles that are made by shaping a nonmetallic mineral, such as clay, and then fired at a high temperature, which gives the tile its hardness. The most common type is glazed ceramic tiles made by applying liquid glass to the body of the tile and firing at high temperatures. The glazing becomes hard and non-porous leaving a surface that is scratch resistant, fire resistant, and easy to clean.  

A hard, crystalline, metamorphic rock formed by alteration of limestone or dolomite, often irregularly colored by impurities. Marble is both durable and beautiful and can stand heavy use but can be stained or scratched. More commonly used for fireplace mantels, counter tops or as flooring, it can also be used on the exterior of a building.

A thin mortar poured and used to fill cracks and spaces in a stone or tile installation. A cement based grout can be either sanded or non-sanded and is highly absorbent. An epoxy based grout, used primarily with ceramic or porcelain tile installations, has a low-absorption rate and may not need sealing.