Tile

Style

Tile flooring affords a wide array of style options in size, color, and texture. In addition, with new HD imaging technologies, ceramic tile has become a more durable option in replicating natural stone and even hardwood floors. Regardless of whether you’re going for elegance or just plain durability, you can’t go wrong with tile flooring.

Finish

Tile comes is a variety of finishes, with the most common being matte or polished. To debunk the top myth, polished tile CAN go on floors and has to meeting a slip rating to be rated for the floors. Tiles also come in a number of textures depending on the style of the stile. For example, there are some wood look tiles that have realistic wood graining that give them an authentic wood feel.

Edge and grout lines

The biggest concern with tile is the grout! With advancements in tile technology, grout has become a minute feature of tile that is virtually invisible. With high quality tile comes tighter grout lines, as small as 1/16th of an inch! Tile trends are moving towards to larger format tiles to reduce the number of grout lines. Tile technology has also improved in the construction of tiles with the introduction of the rectified edge. Traditionally, tiles have also had a pressed or chiseled edge, which has a slight bevel and prevents the tiles from sitting too close together. A rectified tile has a square edge that is perfectly flat, allowing for much closer grout lines.

Porcelain vs ceramic

Porcelain and ceramic tile are both clay-based and kiln-fired; however, the clays used to make porcelain have a higher density and are fired at a higher temperature for a longer period of time than ceramic. This means porcelain tile is slightly more durable and water-resistant than ceramic, making it the preferable choice for high-traffic areas. Ceramic tile, on the other hand, can be the better option if you want a more artful, intricate and eye-catching design. Glazed ceramic tiles can be customized in more colors and patterns while some varieties of ceramic tiles have a textured surface that adds visual depth and dimension.

Natural stone

Natural Stone, such as Travertine, Marble, Granite, or Limestone, has a distinct beauty that is virtually unparalleled by any porcelain or ceramic substitute. Although expensive, Natural Stone is a great way to bring natural beauty to your home! Natural stone does require a specialized installer who is familiar working with natural stone.

Avoid cracks

Tiles most commonly crack because of poor installation or expansion in the concrete. When tile is installed, an antifracture membrane should be used across the entire floor.

Day-to-day maintenance

Tile flooring is one of the easiest surfaces to keep clean. For day-to-day maintenance, you should:

Regularly vacuum tile floors. This is especially important if they are glazed to help remove dirt and other particles that might dull or scratch the surface.

Routinely clean with hot water and a flooring detergent.Tile is particularly good at handling large amounts of water. After washing the tile with a mop, rinse the floor thoroughly to remove any detergent residue.

Scrub stains from the surface. For stubborn stains, you may need to scrub tiles with a cleansing powder — we recommend white cleaning powders to avoid tinting or staining grout.

Grout maintenance

Grout can be tricky as it’s prone to tinting and stains, so it’s important to routinely scrub the grout. Scrub with toothbrush and tile cleaner. Apply tile cleaner to the grout and scrub with a toothbrush. For white or light-colored grout, bleach can also be used; however, for tinted grout you’ll want to avoid bleach, which could change the pigment in the grout. First, test cleaners on a discreet area.

Preventative maintenance

Just like other flooring options, there are some preventative measures you should take to ensure longevity of your tile floors.

Avoid walking on newly installed tile for 24 hours. This is necessary to allow the tile to properly cure and the adhesive to bond to the subsurface.

Avoid acid-based cleaners. These types of cleaners can eat away at the grout. Instead use alkaline-based cleaners when doing a heavy-duty cleaning.

Promptly clean up spills. Some tile flooring materials are more susceptible to stains than others, so it’s important to promptly clean up spills.

Use furniture pads. Always use furniture pads to move appliances and furniture across tile to prevent scratches or cracks on the surface.