Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Tile Flooring

Tile flooring comes in an endless assortment of tile types, patterns and colours. They are an excellent choice for a long list of applications. You can create a myriad of patterns by mixing and matching them or go with a more neutral look using one tile type. You can also find a tile to suit any budget. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about tile flooring to help you decide if it is the right choice for you.

Uses for Tile Flooring

Today you can put just about any type of flooring in just about any room in the house – even tile floors. Because tile comes in very convincing patterns in wood and stone, some people even choose tile for their living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms. Because they are easy to care for and also hypo-allergenic, they can be used across many applications and are limited only by your budget.

Why Choose Tile Flooring?

Tile flooring is an excellent choice for many reasons including:

• Versatile: Tile is very versatile and can be used to create many different looks.
• Waterproof: Most tile flooring is water and stain proof making it easy to clean and ideal for rooms such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms and kitchens.
• Durable: Properly installed, high-quality tiles can last for generations.
• Cleanliness: Tile flooring is an excellent choice to combat dust allergies and asthma.
• Design: Tile flooring comes in a plethora of styles, sizes, materials and colours making it easy to create a unique look for any room.

Tile flooring can also be quite affordable when compared to other types of flooring such as hardwood or natural stone.

What’s the Difference Between Porcelain and Ceramic?

Porcelain and ceramic tiles can look quite similar, but the difference lies in the materials used. While both are “fired” to harden them, ceramic tiles are made of red or white clay, while porcelain tiles use a finer, denser clay. They are coated with a durable glaze allowing them to be created using various colours and patterns. Ceramic is quite durable and easier to cut than porcelain.

They are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. However, porcelain is fired at higher temperatures, making them stronger and harder. Because of this, they tend to be more durable so can be used in higher traffic areas like hallways. As well, because porcelain is less absorbent than ceramic, they can even be used outside.

What About Natural Stone Tiles?

Natural stone is a very popular choice and comes in many options including travertine, limestone, granite, and marble. The main issue with most types of stone is that they tend to be porous. This means they require special care to avoid staining. While they are quite beautiful and provide a very high-end elegant look, the staining potential is important as natural stone is quite expensive. Many people prefer natural stone in the bathroom over ceramic and porcelain not only for the look but also because they are not as slippery. However, again, the price must be considered as natural stone is much more expensive than porcelain or ceramic tile flooring.

Tile flooring has many applications, can prove to be quite affordable and can add a unique look to any décor scheme.