A Guide to the Exceptional Variety of Tile Flooring Materials
When it comes to flooring categories, the variety of materials and colours available in tile flooring is unmatched. In fact, your tile material doesn’t have to end where your floor meets the walls. You can use tiles on other surfaces such as kitchen counter backsplash to compliment your tile flooring. Most tile materials are durable and can last a lifetime, even in high traffic areas of your home or business. Read below to learn what styles of tile flooring are most popular and when to use them.
Ceramic Tile
Most commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens, ceramic tile is extremely versatile, highly durable and an ideal choice for homeowners. Ceramic tiles are water, heat and stain-resistant which makes them suitable for many applications, including your kitchen backsplash and countertops. When adding ceramic tile to the bathroom, think of adding it to the shower and bathtub as they provide a practical protective layer. Ceramic tiles are also a great way to spruce up entryways and a great choice outdoors. Add tile around your barbecue and fire pit, or upgrade an outdated patio area. Ceramic tiles are also good flooring materials to use with underfloor heating.
Types of Ceramic Tile Flooring and When to Use Them
Types of Ceramic Tile Flooring and When to Use Them
Glazed Tile
Glazed ceramic tiles can offer better stain and moisture resistance than unglazed tiles and are preferable for applications such as kitchen backsplashes. When applied to flooring, homeowners should consider using glazed ceramic tiles in low traffic areas as the clay material underneath the glaze will show if the tile chips.
Unglazed Tile
Unglazed ceramic tiles tend to be denser and thicker than glazed tiles. They tend to be a great choice for slip-resistant areas where the tile is likely to be in contact with high amounts of moisture and heavy foot traffic. However, unglazed tiles do not offer much protection against stains compared to glazed ceramic tile.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tiles are the hardest and densest tiles available. They are scratch-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures absorbing less than 0.5 percent of moisture, almost waterproof. Porcelain is useful in areas with heavy foot traffic such as kitchens, entryways and living areas as they are resistant against chipping and scratching. Porcelain comes in both glazed and unglazed varieties.
Carpet Product Catalogues
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Glass Tile and When to Use Them
Glass tiles are a great way to give your space a little extra personality and beauty. Commonly used as backsplashes in the kitchen and bathroom, glass tiles reflect the light to give your space the appearance of being brighter and larger. Glass tiles are easy to clean and can also be found on tabletops, desks and around the fireplace. A potential drawback is that glass will, of course, chip quite easily along the edges, so having them in low traffic areas is beneficial.
Cement Tile and When to Use Them
Cement tiles are extremely customizable from a design perspective and can provide beautiful patterns and colours to the interior of your home. They are great for businesses and areas with high foot traffic, they look great on a kitchen backsplash and a superior choice for a bathroom. Cement tiles can also be used on walls and floors to create one-of-a-kind features like tile rugs. The biggest drawback to cement tiles is they are not approved for outdoor use; they are prone to cracks when exposed to the harsh winter elements.
Mosaic Tile and When to Use Them
Possibilities are endless with mosaic tiles as they add colour, pattern and texture to any room in the home. They are inexpensive, durable, easy to take care of and come in many materials, from glass to natural stone to metal to ceramic. Mosaic tiles are the perfect choice to allow your creativity to flourish as you can mix and match to create eye-catching designs in any room. They work great as decorative pieces on floors and walls and commonly used in the kitchen, bathroom, entryway and pool.
Flooring Visualizers
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Natural Stone Tile and When to Use Them
When it comes to deciding which material makes the best choice for your space, natural stone tiles are one of the most elegant options out there. They work great on floors, walls, backsplashes, countertops and come in many exquisite options; marble, granite, limestone, travertine and slate. Stone comes in a wide variety of colour variations, ranging from whites to beige and brown tones.
Marble Tile and When to Use Them
Although costly, marble is timeless and adds a touch of elegance and beauty to any room. Marble tiles are waterproof and most commonly found in bathrooms as countertops, tub surrounds, shower walls and decorative features. Marble flooring is also very durable and great for bathroom flooring due to its ability to keep water from seeping into the floorboards. However, marble requires a lot of upkeep to keep it looking pristine.
Granite Tile and When to Use Them
Granite tile is quite dense and commonly used in countertops, floors, backsplashes and many other design elements. This natural stone is resistant to moisture and has many beautiful patterns adding a stylish design to any room in your home. It’s a great choice for busy, high-traffic areas such as a kitchen, hallway and entryway.
Slate Tile and When to Use Them
Slate is a very durable material, waterproof and most effective in places that receive a lot of foot traffic such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchen floors are common places you will find the stone. It’s a difficult material to damage which also makes slate tile ideal for outside as well. Slate flooring is also very easy to care for, as it requires little to no maintenance.