Tile strips - metal or plastic?

The right material

Tile profiles are available in various materials. They are usually made of metal or plastic. Metal refers to stainless steel, aluminum, and brass, while plastic refers to PVC.

Since the selection is therefore not exactly small, we want to give you a brief introduction to materials science so that it is easier for you to find the right profile.

Care instructions

Stainless steel tile profiles require no special care. Dirt can be easily removed with common cleaning agents. Stainless steel profiles are used where particularly high demands are placed on cleanliness, hygiene and durability. Brass tile profiles are largely resistant to chemicals that occur during tile installation. Important: Brass oxidizes in the air, especially in high humidity. The visible surface becomes coated with "patina" (oxide layer) over time, thereby changing its appearance. Aluminum tile profiles are sensitive to alkaline solutions. For this reason, any remaining mortar, tile adhesive or grout must be removed immediately from all visible surfaces. With anodized aluminum, the tile profiles can be damaged by scratching or abrasive objects. PVC tile profiles They require no special care. Soiling can be removed with common cleaning agents. However, care should be taken to ensure that the cleaning agents do not contain hydrochloric acid or hydrofluoric acid.

PVC

PVC tile profiles are significantly softer than metal tile strips. They are used whenever a specific color is desired. The advantage of PVC tile profiles is the wide range of colors available. From beige to pastel pink to ivory, you'll find all colors in our online shop. Due to their low weight, they are easy to work with, but for this reason can only be installed in places where they are not heavily stressed. All PVC tile strips are made of color-injected plastic. You'll find a large selection of plastic profiles in our shop.

We offer square, angle, and quarter-circle profiles in PVC. Not only can you choose from various colors, but you can also order matching corners (inner & outer corners).

PVC tile strips are very easy to clean and, thanks to the wide range of colors, allow you to create an exceptional living design.

Stainless steel

We offer our tile profiles in two materials: V2A stainless steel and V4A stainless steel. The difference between the two materials lies in the alloying components. V4A has a higher molybdenum content and is therefore used for strong chemical or saltwater exposure. For this reason, V4A stainless steel is often used in swimming pools or in entrance areas where salt is often spread in winter.

For private consumers, V2A stainless steel is often sufficient. Stainless steel tile profiles are largely rust-free. The main advantage of stainless steel profiles is their natural material hardness, making them the right choice for regular use.

In addition, various surfaces are available for stainless steel:

• Stainless steel tile profiles with a natural surface, meaning their surface has not been further processed.
• Stainless steel tile profiles with a brushed surface are among the most popular choices. The matte surface means that any remaining water is not immediately visible. A small amount of the surface is removed using a mechanical process with metallic brushes, resulting in the finely ground structure.
• Stainless steel tile profiles with a polished surface look shiny and stand out even more visually. This smooth surface has a positive effect on hygiene and ease of cleaning.

Aluminum

The third major material used for tile profiles is aluminum. Aluminum tile profiles represent a compromise between PVC and stainless steel. Aluminum is significantly lighter than stainless steel and is therefore easier to install. It is suitable for moderate mechanical loads, as it is also softer than stainless steel.

In addition, various surfaces are available to you in our aluminum department:

• Natural aluminum tile profiles are the most inexpensive option. Here, the user still has the option of painting the profile themselves. An oxide layer forms due to exposure to air, but this can be easily removed with polishing agent.
• Anodized aluminum tile profiles have a refined surface that does not change even in the presence of moisture. Tile adhesive and grout can attack the surface, so the visible surface should be cleaned after installation.
• We offer powder-coated aluminum tile profiles in various colors. This allows them to be perfectly matched to the tile color. The coating adheres very well and is foot-traffic resistant.

Regardless of the type of coating used, both methods lead to improved protection against weathering.

Brass

Brass tile profiles impress with their high-quality materials. Holding a brass profile in your hand, you feel its substantial weight. Accordingly, brass tile rails are only used when they are to be subjected to high mechanical stress, e.g., in public buildings or shopping centers. The highest hardness of the material and, last but not least, the optical elegance of brass offer the optimal solution for discerning customers.

Brass is a copper alloy whose main components are copper and zinc. Further advantages include the strength and corrosion resistance of almost all brass alloys.

In our online shop, we offer a variety of transition profiles, stair profiles and angle profiles made of brass.

Which material is right for me?

We've given you some information about each material (stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and PVC). Now the question is, which material is best suited for me?

That can't be judged generally. Both options (metal & plastic) have advantages and disadvantages and are well-suited for different applications. Therefore, it's worthwhile to compare the different materials.

Metal tile profiles:

• They look very elegant and high-quality.
• Stainless steel and aluminum profiles are durable and resistant.
• Brass profiles are very solid and suitable for high loads, which is why they are also more expensive than stainless steel and aluminum.
• A highly polished stainless steel rail requires more maintenance.
• Aluminum is significantly lighter than stainless steel, which simplifies installation.
• Wide selection of aluminum profiles with different surfaces.

Plastic tile profiles:

• Cheaper than metal tile profiles
• Selection from many different colors
• Not as durable as metal profiles.
• Easy to assemble

Notes:

In general, the generally accepted rules of technology must be observed!

For all products/materials: The suitability for mechanical and chemical stress must be carefully checked in each individual case before installation. Protect material from prolonged exposure to sunlight.

If you should have any further questions, we will gladly help you!

Best of luck!

the team from Everything for Tiles