For various reasons, tile has found its way throughout the world. Over the years, judicious builders have chosen tiles for their flooring due to their many benefits. When you begin to factor in how environmentally friendly porcelain and ceramic tile products are, you will realize that tile is the obvious choice when building green. Here is what you need to know about tiles before using them as a tiling option.
Indoor air quality
This is a sizzling topic and for good reason too. Volatile organic compounds donate to a wide variety of health problems and are a noteworthy cause of sick building syndrome. Since tile goes through extremely high temperatures, there are no volatile organics in the finished product that can float around in the air we breathe. Moreover, there are adhesives and grouts available that contain zero, or very low VOCS. Some carpet, wood, and vinyl contain low VOCs, but none can compare to zero.
Low maintenance and hypoallergenic
Ceramic tiles are easy to clean and require only warm water. This excludes the need for chemicals and cleaners needed to maintain other types of floors. Tiles are also unwelcoming to bacteria, germs, mold, and dust mites. They are a better option compared to carpets especially for people who suffer from asthma and other respiratory related allergies.
Life cycle and recycling
You need to know how long a tiling option will last you. Porcelain and ceramic tile are some of the longest lasting flooring products on the market today. Unlike laminate, vinyl, carpet flooring which have to be replaced every so often, properly installed tile will last a lifetime. Tile factories today reuse materials and water. They only send tiny amounts of scrap to landfills and wastewater to treatment facilities.
Area availability
With tile manufacturers situated in every region in Hamilton, tile and installation products made from local raw materials are generally available, unlike some other flooring choices whose manufacturers must transport their product thousands of miles to reach you. This regional availability reduces the amount of energy consumption and air emissions associated with transporting these products from the factory to your location.
Natural stone maintenance
For most homeowners, natural stone is a popular flooring option. While you should always go for a natural stone with low porosity so as to prevent staining, any stone type is going to be prone to clouding and scratching caused by dust and dirt. Dirt is often coarse and a simple act just like walking on natural stone floor that has dirt on its surface can be enough to cause scratches over time. As such, it is important to sweep natural stone tiles on a regular basis and take steps to prevent people from tracking dirt into your space to begin with. Installing long dirt catcher carpet runners is generally a good idea. Ensure that you install floor protectors as well on the legs of any pieces of furniture that may scrape your floor. Use floor cleaner with a neutral PH balance to protect the surface of natural stone.
