Granite Tiles

Granite represents one of the strongest, most durable and aesthetically pleasing materials available for use in domestic and commercial tiles. Suitable in all areas of the home, including the bathroom, kitchen, hallway and conservatory, the granite tile is notable for its relatively low expensive (in comparison to solid granite blocks or slabs), extremely low wear rate, high durability and solid feel. In fact, installing granite tiles in the home can help towards increasing its value whilst also ensuring that guests are thoroughly impressed by what is generally considered to be a luxurious and sophisticated product. Indeed, alongside limestone tiles, granite floor and wall tiles are among the most sought after products for home improvement projects.

Granite floor tiles are available in many different shapes, sizes and styles, although they are most commonly purchased in a beautiful polished black finish with a bevel edge effect, which not only looks magnificent but also feels great and offers relatively good grip. Furthermore, granite floor tiles can withstand high traffic, continuous heavy use and are typically resistant to knocks and bumps. Granite as a natural stone is ideal for use in domestic tiles because it comprises a very low porosity – even lower than marble in fact – which means that it does not easily absorb water. This is especially important where kitchen and bathroom floor and wall tiles are concerned, as these rooms are notable for their high levels of moisture and the occasional spillage of water.

However, buyers should note that granite tiles are not impervious to everything. Indeed, although they are excellent at fending off moisture and taking knocks on the chin, granite tiles attract stains quite easily. In fact, granite floor and wall tiles in kitchens and bathrooms especially require frequent cleaning to keep that perfect natural look in good condition. Notwithstanding this, granite tiles are generally easy to clean, so their low stain resistance is not usually an issue unless they are exposed to excessive dirt on a regular basis. In this respect, granite wall tiles are not always the most sensible choice for use behind kitchen cookers and hob units, although they are hardly a poor option. Indeed, when all advantages and disadvantages are weighed up, the fact that granite tiles require regular cleaning is not usually a major issue.

In fact, many of the advantages and disadvantages of using granite floor and wall tiles hinge on personal preference. For instance, many people enjoy filling their homes with only the very best that money can buy, whereas others prefer to spend more sensibly and select substitute materials and goods that may not offer the same prestige but do just as good a job. The same is true of granite tiles in this respect, as cheaper alternatives can be found easily on the market but, with perhaps the exception of limestone tiles, there is no more prestigious a material available. Likewise, granite floor tiles are cold underfoot, which many people will find uninviting and austere, whilst others find it quite appealing. However, when all relevant points are considered, the advantages of choosing granite tiles far outweigh the disadvantages.

Indeed, granite floor tiles can last a lifetime with a little care and attention, although as mentioned above they do require regular cleaning. Furthermore, it is important not to use abrasive cleaning products and equipment on granite floor tiles as, although granite is effectively indestructible for most intents and purposes, it is not quite so resistant to scratching. Equally, the robust and versatile granite tiles are typically hypoallergenic and resistant to bacteria – or, at least, they can be easily cleaned and do not tend to harbour germs and nasties to the same extent as other surfaces, such as carpets and vinyl flooring.

One common mistake made by those who purchase granite tiles is that they fail to appreciate just how heavy the stone is until it is too late. Indeed, granite is a solid, non-porous natural stone that is extremely dense and heavy. Although granite tiles are nowhere near as heavy as solid granite blocks or slabs, they are nonetheless meaty enough to inflict the odd headache upon shoppers who buy a load of them only to find that they are simply too heavy to ship around. Thus, care should be taken in choosing granite tiles and it is usually best to order home delivery.

Another problem affecting granite tiles is that these solid and heavy products are usually more difficult to install than tiles made of lesser materials, such as ceramic. Therefore, it is a practical necessity to enlist the services of a professionally trained tile fitter when it comes to dealing with granite. Whilst other materials can allow the casual DIY enthusiast enough scope to get the job done himself, granite tiles require specialist and expensive cutting tools in addition to more advanced installation methods. Furthermore, the professional tile fitter will be able to offer a service guarantee in the event of repairs being required, which will also be covered under statute law. In the event of expensive granite tiles being cracked or broken in some way or another, the professional tradesman is usually the best bet for having them fixed effectively.

Granite tiles are not only used on floors, however. Indeed, granite wall tiles are popular additions to many kitchens and bathrooms. Featuring a range of different colours and styles, granite wall tiles are ideal for high moisture environments such as the bathroom as their natural non-porous composition allows moisture to be easily wiped off them without ever penetrating through to the vulnerable wall beneath. Of course, it is important to ensure that bathrooms and wet rooms are appropriately tiled and granite is arguably one of the finest natural materials that can be used for this purpose.

Indeed, if bathrooms are not sufficiently tiled, the exposed walls can succumb to moisture damage over relatively short periods of time. This can result in a number of potentially harmful consequences, including the build-up of mould, mildew and damp, which are all capable of affecting an individual’s health. Furthermore, granite is not a material that typically gives rise to any kind of slip hazard, so using it on both the floor and walls of a bathroom is entirely safe in this respect. In short, granite is a beautiful natural stone material that comprises high durability and is used to great effect in tiles that are suitable for use throughout the home.

Buy Granite Tiles

Related Tiles

• Glass Tiles
• Wall Tiles
• Floor Tiles
• Travertine Tiles
• Welcome to Super Tiles

Related posts:

1. Glass Tiles
2. Porcelain Tiles
3. Travertine Tiles

• Related Posts
• Bookmark
• Tags