Metropolitan Ceramics Brand Spotlight
July 28th, 2026
Products Designed for Demanding Projects
One of the reasons Tile America partners with Metropolitan Ceramics is the breadth of their American-made clay products. Whether the project calls for the unmatched durability of quarry tile or the timeless character of authentic thin brick, Metropolitan offers solutions engineered for performance.
Unglazed Quarry Tile
Metropolitan Ceramics is America's largest manufacturer of unglazed ceramic quarry tile, producing some of the industry's most trusted commercial flooring products. Manufactured through an extrusion process and kiln-fired at high temperatures, these dense, through-body tiles are naturally slip resistant, highly durable and built to withstand decades of heavy use.
Their quarry tile portfolio includes several specialized product lines designed for specific applications:
QuarryBasics® – The industry's workhorse quarry tile for restaurants, schools, healthcare facilities, supermarkets, breweries and commercial kitchens.
XA-Abrasive® – Enhanced slip-resistant quarry tile with embedded silicon carbide for high-risk environments where grease, moisture and safety are critical.
METRO TREAD® – Raised-tread quarry tile providing additional traction for commercial kitchens, ramps and other demanding service areas.
Down to Earth®– A textured quarry tile that transitions beautifully between commercial and residential applications including patios, courtyards, walkways, entryways and pool surrounds.
METRO® PAVERS – Heavy-duty ¾-inch thick quarry pavers designed for industrial spaces, automotive service areas and applications subjected to oversized loads.
Authentic Thin Brick
Metropolitan also manufactures two distinctive thin brick collections, giving architects and designers the warmth and authenticity of real kiln-fired brick with the easier installation of tile. Unlike many thin brick products that are cut from full brick or cast from concrete, Metropolitan's thin brick is manufactured as thin brick from the start, resulting in exceptional durability, low moisture absorption and authentic color throughout.
METROBRICK® Architectural Thin Brick offers clean, contemporary lines ideal for commercial facades, mixed-use developments, hospitality projects, feature walls, precast panels and tilt-up construction. It delivers the appearance of full masonry with reduced weight, faster installation and greater design flexibility.
Royal Thin Brick® features a larger queen-size format with softly tumbled edges that create a reclaimed, weathered appearance. It's a favorite for restaurants, breweries, retail environments, fireplace surrounds, residential accent walls, outdoor living spaces and renovation projects where warmth and character are essential. Because it's real kiln-fired brick, Royal Thin Brick performs beautifully indoors and out, even in freeze-thaw climates.
Whether the project requires a commercial kitchen floor that will perform for decades or an authentic brick façade that tells a story, Metropolitan Ceramics offers American-made products designed to meet the demands of today's architecture while standing the test of time.
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