Gres floors
Gres is a ceramic product with a compact structure suitable for the creation of tiles and coverings for the decoration of furnishings in interiors such as kitchens and bathrooms and living and commercial spaces.
Its main characteristics are its durability, impermeability, imporosity and somewhat glazed quality.
Common gres is fired at 1200-1300 °C and is composed of plastic, heat resistant clays, mixed with silica, feldspar, etc.
Fine-grained gres is fired at 1400 °C and is composed of kaolin,
quartz and feldspar.
The various types of gres are substantially different, based on the
surface and colour.
The surface can be "natural", that is, not smoothed and most suitable for exteriors; "smoothed", noted for its great shine, essentially suitable for interiors in environments not exposed to frequent rain which would make it slippery; "satin finish" suitable either for interiors or exteriors, for its partly shiny and partly opaque nature (wet effect or stone effect).
A vast range of colours of gres exists. There are the so called "veined" gres which look similar to marble with a beige or light background: these are obtained using soluble salts which penetrate the surface and are then absorbed.
Through the technique of a single application of color, it is possible to obtain stronger tones and color variations which range from soft green to azure, red and brown.
Through the technique of a second application, in which color is applied to the mixture twice, stronger tones of green, azure, red and brown are achieved, compared to the other two techniques of coloration of gres.
Gres can be natural, but it can also be porcelained and glazed.
