The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Buying Tiles

Tiles are a great way to breathe new life into any room in your home. Whether you’re looking to spruce up the bathroom or kitchen, tile is one of the most versatile and stylish options on the market. Tiles can either be used as flooring or roofing option. This article mainly focuses on tiles used for flooring. Check out more flooring options by clicking here.

When it comes to home improvement projects, tile selection and installation can be a daunting task despite their significance. With so many different styles, textures, and sizes to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to begin! It’s important to choose the right materials and learn how to properly install them. Here, you’ll find all the information you need to make an informed decision on the perfect tile for your project: from understanding the different types of tile materials and finishes, the advantages of each type, and tips for finding the best quality at an affordable price.

When shopping for tile, there are four main types that you should consider: porcelain, ceramic, glass, and stone. Porcelain is extremely durable and resistant to water damage, making it an ideal choice for bathrooms and kitchens. Ceramic tiles are also highly durable but more affordable than porcelain; making it a good option for those working within a budget. Glass tiles are luxurious and mainly used to make a fashion statement. However, they are delicate and less resistant to stress and can easily crack when a force is applied due to their brittleness. Stone tiles are heavy-duty and can be used in factories due to their strength and resistance to impact.

When it comes to making a choice of what tiles to buy, you can consider the following factors.

Type of building; The purpose of the tiles helps you know what kind of tiles to get. Is it going to be used for finishing a residential, commercial, or industrial building? A residential building is less demanding in terms of tensile and compressive strength because it is usually occupied by a few occupants. A residential building is also safer and more private thus it’s a bit more flexible for someone who would want to explore their creative designs. A commercial building is a bit more demanding in terms of tensile and compressive strength. This is because commercial buildings are likely to witness more human traffic and thus need tiles that can withstand the demand. It also requires tiles less prone to wear and tear. for industrial buildings, stronger and more durable tiles are required. This is because industrial buildings witness a lot of traffic from both employees and machinery. Machinery like forklifts and trucks tend to be heavy and require harder and more durable tiles.

Special considerations; You also need to make some special considerations before picking a particular type of tile of your choice. You need to make special considerations for many of the inhabitants of the house. For example, if the house inhabits many old people, you need to pick tiles that have sufficient grip for their safety. You the house is mainly occupied by children, you’d best pick a dull color that is easy to clean because children tend to be messy. If the house is inhabited by someone visually impaired, you’d best pick a type of tile clearly distinct from the walls for better visibility.

Area of application; The area of application of the tiles also lets you know the required type of tiles for particular areas. The bathroom for instance has a lot of water splashing around and thus would need waterproof tiles. Bathroom tiles also need to have a good amount of grip and skid resistance because water makes them slippery and that would pose safety risks, especially for the young, the elderly, or the little ones. A kitchen also requires waterproof tiles because of the potential water spillage from doing dishes or cooking. A kitchen also requires tiles that can easily be cleaned because of the potential for spillage or the staining of walls due to soot.

Budget; This is by far one of the most critical considerations. Before picking a tiling option, you need to make sure you can afford it. It’s pointless to pick a tiling option that is not within your budget because it will either strain you financially or it will cause delays to the project. For matters to do with costs, check first with your contractor to make sure you can afford that one particular tile.

Tastes and preferences; These are also key considerations when choosing a tile. If it is a residential home, it’s a him you’ll likely live with for a lifetime. It’s key that you pick an option consistent with your tastes and preferences.

In conclusion, choosing and buying tiles can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right information and a bit of research, anyone can confidently select the perfect tile for their project. Keep in mind the durability, size, color, material, and cost when making your decisions. Do not forget to ask a professional if you need help with the installation process. The best person to consult in this case is an interior designer. Read about the Most Important Questions to Ask an Interior Designer