Ceramic Tile Selection: What You Need to Know
When you are building or renovating a home, one of the most important finishing material are the tiles you will be using. Different tiles are best suited for certain areas of a home and will have an impact on budget, maintenance and durability. It is therefore necessary to know what types of tiles exist before making a choice.
Types of Tiles
One of the first requirements is to decide on the type of tiles that you will be using. The choice varies and will impact your budget. The most common tile for indoor uses is ceramic tiles. Within this category of tiles are porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles.
Non-porcelain tiles include terra cotta, cement, and glass. Porcelain tiles come in two groups, namely glazed porcelain and through-bodied. Porcelain are given a finished which makes them easy to clean and maintain. They are also resistant to stains and are popularly used as wall tiles. Through-bodied porcelain are popular for floors, countertops and walls.
When determining the durability of ceramic tiles, it is important to pay attention to the PEI rating assigned to it. This grading system rates ceramic tiles from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most durable and most resistant to abrasion. When choosing tiles for the various uses, it is also necessary to choose the right size and the design and textures that suit the building’s décor.
Floor Tiles
The choice of floor tiles for home use will depend on four main factors, other than cost, namely:
- Durability: Since floors tend to take a pounding, the stronger the floor tile used the better. Since porcelain tiles are stranger and less porous than ceramic, they are often used floors, especially in heavy-traffic areas.
- Aesthetics: the look of floors is an important consideration for using ceramic tiles for flooring.
- Maintenance: The easier the tiles are to clean, the better, especially in areas where there is a lot of traffic and spillage such as kitchens and bathrooms.
- Safety: This is also important and non-slip tiles, especially those with textured surfaces are best for areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Wall Tiles
Wall tiles are selected based on aesthetics as well as durability and maintenance. Areas such as the kitchen are perfect for easy to clean tiles such as glazed porcelain. Wall tiles can also be used to create a design that makes an area unique. Using glass tiles on shower walls can add decorative flair, as well as make the area seem larger and lighter.
Bathroom Tiles
Bathroom tiles have to offer an aesthetic appeal; being stain proof and water resistant are two other important factors considerations when selecting bathroom tiles for the floor, walls and other surfaces such as countertops.
Once a homeowner knows the basic differences between tiles they can have informed discussions with a contractor.