Today glazed tiles, commonly called ceramic tiles, are used in an almost infinite number of ways throughout the world, and you don’t have to consider yourself wealthy to own them. In commercial buildings, where both beauty and durability are considerations, ceramic tiles will be found, particularly in lobby areas and restrooms.

There are few modern houses in the United States that don’t include a tiled bathroom or two, and fast food restaurants wouldn’t be quite the same without their quarry tile floors. Tiles are also the choice of industry, where walls and floors must resist chemicals. And the Space Shuttle never leaves Earth without its protective jacket of high-tech, heat-resistant tiles.