Floor Tiles

Floor tiles come in a range of different materials, sizes, shapes, styles and patterns. Often available in natural stone materials such as granite, slate, marble and the exquisite limestone, floor tiles are popular alternatives to carpets, vinyl and laminate flooring and may also comprise other materials, including ceramic, porcelain and travertine. Floors tiles are most commonly used in high traffic areas of the home, such as the hallway, in addition to moist or wet rooms such as the bathroom. The kitchen will also very often feature floor tiles, as hygiene is of utmost importance and floor tiles are, generally speaking, easy to keep clean. Floor tiles are also installed in conservatories and just about any room in the home that is deemed to require a hard wearing, durable and aesthetically pleasing type of flooring.

The sheer diversity of choice is one of the main difficulties faced by those who wish to buy floor tiles for their home. Indeed, customers must first select a material, which is by no means an easy feat as there are plenty of factors to consider and pros and cons to weigh up. Buyers ought to then settle on a particular design, pattern or colour, which again requires a great deal of thought. Furthermore, it is sometimes the case that the wrong type of tile is used for a particular job or, worse still, customers choose not to hire the services of a professional tiler and instead undertake the task themselves without being fully prepared. These common hazards that are associated with buying and installing floor tiles are enough to put many customers off the idea, although with a little care, effort and attention – not to mention a modicum of commonsense – the task is actually not as difficult as it may seem.

Choosing the right material of floor tile involves a number of reasoned and objective considerations. First, if the room in which the tiles are to be installed is typically moist or wet, certain materials ought to be avoided whilst others are recommended for their beneficial natural properties. For instance, glossy or glazed porcelain or ceramic floor tiles are very often quite slippery, which is hazardous in bathrooms and kitchens for obvious reasons. However, this is certainly not to say that all porcelain and ceramic floor tiles pose a slip hazard, as this is simply not the case. Nevertheless, it is important to inspect the tile in question before purchase and, wherever possible, to speak to an experienced sales assistant for specific advice on a particular tile that is to be used in certain conditions.

Furthermore, certain types of material boast properties that are beneficial to certain types of use. For example, natural rock floor tiles that are made from limestone, marble, slate and especially granite comprise a very low porosity, which means that they are naturally inclined not to soak up water. Although there are differences between particular natural rock materials – ie., marble is more porous than granite – it is fair to say that most natural rocks can be used in floor tiles for the kitchen and bathroom (among other rooms of the home). Natural rock is also very durable, strong and resistant to most scratches, so granite or limestone floor tiles, for instance, are tough and hard wearing products that work perfectly throughout the home. Moreover, these materials are considered to be somewhat exquisite and luxurious, which are properties that make their natural aesthetic charm all the more appealing. However, granite, marble, limestone and even slate floor tiles can prove expensive when compared to perfectly usable materials such as ceramic or travertine.

In respect to choosing a particular type of floor tile design, pattern or colour, it is first important to note that many customers will wrongly assume that expensive limestone, marble and granite floor tiles will feature a precise and unblemished design. Indeed, it is rare for any naturally forming rock material to comprise a uniform design, so it is unreasonable to expect the tiles, which are cut from the rock, to feature a symmetrical or even design. Although this is not usually a problem – in fact, the natural diversity of the patterns and colours contained within the material is of central importance to the tiles’ aesthetic value – the lack of uniformity may pose an issue if the floor tiles that are chosen have a distinctive pattern that could be spoilt if the flow is lost. Thus, customers should have realistic expectations about how certain types of floor tiles might look when installed and, if uniformity is crucial, then it is advisable to choose from other materials such as ceramic and porcelain rather than natural rock.

Buying floor tiles also requires a small amount of knowledge as to which tiles are best suited to certain conditions or rooms. As mentioned above, wet rooms, bathrooms and even kitchens require floor tiles that comprise hard wearing and non-porous materials that do not pose a slip hazard. It is also important to buy floor tiles that are finished in a certain way (matt, gloss, glazed or unglazed) and are not actually wall tiles, which is a surprisingly easy mistake to make – especially when buying mosaic tiles. To be on the safe side, always check with a sales assistant that the chosen floor tile is suitable for the room in which it is intended to be installed.

Finally, if choosing not to hire the services of a professional tile fitter, it is essential that floor tiles are laid correctly – even the smallest of mistakes in their installation can result in disaster. In order to prepare fully for the installation, it is first necessary to buy 10% extra tiles in case of the odd mishap here and there, which will happen. Also, excess floor tiles can very often be sold back to the store from which they were originally purchased, although it is usually a good idea to keep hold of a few after the floor is laid. In respect to actually installing the floor, it is crucial that the subfloor is cleared, levelled and cleaned thoroughly. Then, floor tiles must be dry laid before they are secured into place, which involves laying out one end row and column of tiles that join at a right angle and are both an equal distance from the wall. Using a pencil to mark round the tiles, the DIY tile fitter can then set about installing the tiles permanently.

Other Tiles Articles:

• No Related Post

No related posts.

• Related Posts
• Bookmark
• Tags

Comments are closed.