There is no shortage of designs, textures, colors, and materials to choose from when it comes to flooring tiles. Nevertheless, not every type of tile is suitable for every space. Here are the top tips for selecting the best tiling option for your floors.
Consider the resilience of the tile
When browsing through the various types of floor tiles, one of the most significant features to pay attention to is resilience. Consider your material’s ability to withstand foot traffic, as well as scratches. There are tiling options made to withstand light foot traffic while others can endure heavy traffic. All the rooms in your home aside from the bedroom are high foot traffic areas.
Pay attention to tile porosity
This is another critical feature that you should never overlook when looking to buy flooring tiles. Porosity is the ratio of air holes to solids in a tile, which affects the amount of liquid it absorbs. If you are doing the install in a moisture prone area such as a laundry room, kitchen, or bathroom, pay close attention to this rating. Here are the porosity classifications.
- Non vitreous- These are tiles with water absorption of more than seven percent. These are not suitable for flooring.
- Semi vitreous- Water absorption of three to seven percent.
- Vitreous- Water absorption of up to three percent.
- Impervious- These are tiles with very little or no water absorption levels. They are perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.
Porcelain tiles are always a win
If you are looking for a material that has strength, moisture resistance and versatile design, porcelain is the best choice. It is more resilient compared to ceramic and comes in a wider variety of textures, colors, and styles. Not all porcelain products are equal though, so you need to check the specs of each one. Thanks to the highly advanced technologies today, there are options that have a higher than average hardness and moisture resistance. These would be ideal tiles for a bathroom floor or kitchen. Moreover, if you want the high-end look of stone or wood without breaking the bank, there are marble or wood look porcelain tile products. These designer tiles are products of innovative digital ink-jet printers that create an almost duplicate copy of the texture and color of natural materials.
Ensure slip resistance
Most tile materials tend to be slick, and all the more so, if water is introduced into the equation. If you have children and elderly people in the house, it is very imperative to install slip resistant tile. The bathroom is a principal place where fall accidents may happen, particularly the shower area, so good slip resistance is highly recommended.
Select ceramic wood tile instead of real hardwood
If you are a fan of the hardwood look but do not want to deal with the rigorous maintenance that comes with it, consider installing wood ceramic tile. It is moisture and scratch resistant as well as durable. Best of all, different high-end brands make products that masterfully reconstruct almost any wood species from domestic to glamorous.
