TYPES OF METAL TILES

Solid bronze tiles

Foundry Art tiles are cast in solid bronze. They are the finest quality metal tiles available. Sold metal tiles are superior in appearance and durability to other types of metal tiles. You can identify solid metal tiles in two ways. They are heavier than other types of metal tiles, and the back of the tile is the same material as the front of the tile.

Soft metal tiless

Many metal tiles are made of "pot metals" such as pewter. Pot metal tiles can be manufactured inexpensively because these metals melt at such low temperatures that the tiles can be cast in rubber molds. The limitation of pewter and other pot metal tiles is that they are soft and easily scratched. This makes them unsuitable for use in floors. Pot metal tiles are sometimes referred to as "bronze" because they have been plated with a thin layer of bronze. If a tile is light weight, easily scratched, and the back is a dull silver in color, it is probably made of pewter or another pot metal.

Metal-coated tiles

Other metal tiles are made by wrapping or spraying a thin layer of metal or metal composite onto an inexpensive material, such as plastic. It is easy to identify these tiles because they are light weight and their backs are not made of metal.

Non-metal tiles

Some tiles commonly identified as metal tiles contain almost no metal at all. They are made of lightweight plastic resin that has been pigmented with metal powder. These tiles are easy to identify because they are light weight and easily scratched. They are the least durable of all tiles identified as metal.

Solid bronze tiles are the finest and most durable of all metal tiles.