As a homeowner, you will be pleased to know that the incessant improvement and development of procedures, treatments, and special sealants has now made it possible to use virtually any type of material to line your washroom. There are different design options when it comes to tiles for your bathroom and making the right choice can prove to be a daunting task. Let us look at some of the top tiling options for washrooms and see how their properties stack up on the job both practically and aesthetically.
Terracotta
This is a type of ceramic and all ceramics are highly permeable in their ordinary untreated state. Terracotta goes through lower temperatures therefore it is non-vitreous, has low density, and can only be suitable for dry areas. Nevertheless, with the use of good quality sealant, it is possible to resolve the porous nature of terracotta. That way, it can be suitable for bathrooms. With its simple tones and typical rustic look, it is a tiling option that is attractive and simply exudes warmth.
Ceramic
These tiles are a combination of clays molded into shape and fired at very high temperatures. The surface can either be glazed or unglazed. Glazing makes the tiles resilient and non-porous making them suitable for bathrooms. The glaze can be highly glossy, matte or have abrasive slip-resistant finishes added. It is the properties of the glaze that determine whether the tiles are suitable for wall or floor applications.
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles are actually a kind of ceramic tile but made from much finer clay. They go through extremely high temperatures than ceramic tiles thus resulting in a very hard, dense and extremely vitreous tile perfect for bathroom walls and floors. These tiles can either be unglazed or glazed. As a result of their ‘through color’ property, unglazed porcelain tiles come in various finishes from glossy to matte, as well as textured. It is also possible to rectify porcelain tiles. This involves mechanically grinding or cutting the tiles to a precise size rather than firing and molding them. This allows for placing of the tiles more closely together and this gives you the added benefit of thin, inconspicuous grout lines.
Metal
Metallic tiles give a sleek and contemporary look to your bathroom. With innovative sizes and shapes, metal tiles can be either solid or made using a resin base with metallic coating. These tiles come in an array of finishes including stainless steel, copper, and bronze. Since they are a natural product, they are susceptible to oxidization over time and will most likely develop tarnish. Nevertheless, that is not exactly a bad thing if that is the look you are going for. Alternatively, titanium-plated tiles are more resilient to the weathering effect of natural metals. Metal tiles are popular for accentuating bathrooms combined with other types of tiles such as mosaics which are the commonest. Metallic tiles are costly and require a lot of care so they are not really practical for a busy family bathroom.
