Sierra Blue Split-Face Quartzite Tile, 6 x 12 x 6

Sierra Blue Split-Face Quartzite is a blue quartzite tile in a 6 by 12 size, split face finish. As a natural quartzite, every piece is cut from quarried stone, so tone and veining vary from piece to piece and no two installations look the same. Sold by the piece.

A blue field cools and refreshes, which is why it thrives in bathrooms, pools, and kitchen backsplashes against white and timber.

Porcelain tile is a dense, low-porosity ceramic fired from refined clay at temperatures above 1,200°C (2,200°F), which vitrifies the body into a hard, water-resistant surface. Certified porcelain absorbs less than 0.5 percent of its weight in water under the ASTM C373 test, and that low absorption is what lets it handle wet rooms, freeze-thaw climates, and heavy foot traffic without cracking or staining. Stone-look and wood-look porcelain takes its pattern from high-resolution digital printing applied before firing, so the design runs crisp and consistent across every piece while the body underneath stays far tougher than the natural surface it imitates. Unlike natural stone, porcelain needs no sealing and does not etch under acidic cleaners, which makes it a low-maintenance choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and busy floors.

Porcelain tile should be set with a polymer-modified thin-set mortar rated for porcelain over a flat, clean, dry substrate. Rectified porcelain, with machine-squared edges, allows tight grout joints down to about one-eighth inch, while pressed-edge tile needs a slightly wider joint to absorb minor size variation. Porcelain requires no sealing, because its body is already vitrified and non-absorbent; only cement grout benefits from a sealer. Clean it with water or a pH-neutral cleaner, and unlike natural stone it tolerates most household cleaners without etching. For large-format pieces, use a tile-leveling system and back-butter each tile for full mortar coverage, which prevents lippage across the wider surface.