Best Floor Installation
When it comes to tile flooring, there is no shortage of materials, colors, textures and designs to choose from. However, not every type of tile is appropriate for every space. Use these 8 tips to select the best tile option for your floors.
1. Consider Tile Hardness
When shopping around, one of the most important specifications to look for on the products you like is Hardness.
Hardness (the Moh’s scale) measures the material’s ability to withstand wear/foot traffic, as well as scratches. The ratings are issued by the Porcelain Enamel Institute and are based on rigorous laboratory testing. You can use this scale to select a tile that is most suitable for your room’s function.
- Class I: No foot traffic. Appropriate for wall-only application.
- Class II: Light traffic or interior wall applications. Appropriate for floor application in areas with soft soled to normal foot traffic, with no scratching dirt. Bathrooms and bedrooms with no exterior access.
- Class III: Light to moderate traffic, as well as countertops and walls. Appropriate for floor application in areas with normal foot traffic and small amounts of scratching dirt. All rooms of the home, except for kitchens, entryways, and other areas with high foot traffic.
- Class IV: Moderate to heavy traffic. Appropriate for floor application in all areas of the home, including kitchens, halls, entryways.
- Class V: Heavy to extra heavy traffic, as well as exposure to scratching dirt. Appropriate floor applications in any area of the home, as well as commercial spaces.
2. Pay Attention To Tile Porosity
Another critical feature not to be missed is porosity. It is determined by the ratio of air holes to solids in a tile, which impacts the amount of water it absorbs. If you are installing tile flooring in a moisture prone area, such as the bathroom, kitchen, mud room, laundry room, pay close attention to the Porosity Rating.
Here are Porosity Classifications:
- Impervious: water absorption of 0.5 percent or less. Recommended for use in the kitchen and especially bathroom.
- Vitreous: water absorption of 0.5 percent to 3 percent.
- Semi Vitreous: water absorption of 3 – 7 percent.
- Non Vitreous: water absorption of more than 7 percent. This category is not recommended for floor use.
3. Go For Porcelain Tile – An All Around Win
If you are looking for a material that has strength, moisture resistance and versatile design, porcelain is the best choice. It is more durable that ceramic tile and comes in a greater variety of styles, colors and textures. Not all porcelain products are made equal, and you need to check the specs of each one.
Today, thanks to highly advanced technologies, there are porcelain tiles that have a higher than average hardness and moisture resistance (these cost more), and would be ideal for a bathroom or kitchen floor.
Also, if you want the high end look of wood or stone without breaking the bank, porcelain replicas are available at a fraction of the cost. These designer tiles are manufactured using innovative digital ink-jet printers that create an almost identical copy of the texture and color of natural materials.
4. Ensure Slip Resistance
Most tile materials tend to be slippery, and all the more so if water is introduced into the equation. If you have children and elderly people in the house, it is very important to install slip resistant materials. The bathroom is the prime place where fall accidents may happen, particularly the shower area, so good slip resistance is highly recommended.
When shopping around, look for products with a high COF (coefficient of friction). It is best to install tile sizes that are 4×4 or smaller. Avoid using products that are bigger than 6×6.
There are a number of options to consider:
- Ceramic or Porcelain: choose a product that has a special textured surface. Inquire about slip resistant coatings.
- Slate: this beautiful stone has a naturally slip resistant texture.
- Small size tile (glass, mosaic, etc): these materials will have more grout lines, making the overall flooring surface more textured and therefore slip resistant. Penny tile rounds are another beautiful design option that provides ample traction. These products typically come in size 2×2 or smaller.
- Pebble stone: this material has a highly textured surface and boasts a unique visual aesthetic.
5. Choose Ceramic Wood Tile Instead Of Real Hardwood
If you love the look of hardwood but don’t want to deal with maintenance, consider installing ceramic wood tile. This high end porcelain product is highly durable, scratch and moisture resistant.
Best of all, different high-end tile brands make products that masterfully recreate almost any wood species from domestic to exotic. Even distressed and reclaimed wood replicas are possible!
These are an ideal flooring material for a bathroom or another moisture prone area of your house, where a real hardwood floor would not be recommended.
If you are worried about porcelain being cold to the touch, you can add radiant floor heating under, and it will feel even more pleasant than real wood!
6. Install Stone Tile For Ultimate Luxury and Quality
If luxury and incredible durability are your top priorities for a floor, stone tile is second to none. Marble, granite and travertine can elevate the look of any room of your house. Because no two stones are exactly alike, you get a naturally beautiful floor that will look like no other.
Larger size tile, at least 12×12, look particularly impressive and help create a uniform seamless look that is ideal for modern interior designs.
One thing that you need to be aware of is that most stone tile needs to be sealed to maintain durability and remain resistant to stains. Unsealed stone may remain porous and therefore susceptible to water infiltration. In worst case scenarios, it may even begin to crumble.
After being initially sealed during the installation process, this tile will need to be resealed every 5-10 years to maintain optimal looks and quality.
7. Make A Space Appear Larger With Light Color Tile Floors
If you have a room that is small and or does not have a lot of natural light, one way to make it appear bigger is to install light color floor tile. White, sand, beige, cream, etc are all good choices. Marble or ceramic/porcelain tile products would be an ideal match for this application.
To increase the effect, choose larger sizes and grout color that blends in with the tile, creating a seamless, flowing surface. You can even install the same material on the walls, which will further enhance the illusion of bigger space. This is a particularly effective technique to use in a small bathroom.
8. Create A Modern Aesthetic And Custom Designs With Concrete Tile
If you are looking to create a very modern, upscale aesthetic in your home, consider concrete tile. It is a highly versatile material that can be used in any room of your house: kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc. The biggest advantage of concrete tile is that it can be custom made for your particular application. You can choose the size, color and texture of concrete, request custom cutouts, embeds, special imprinted patterns, as well as three-dimensional sculptural designs. Thus, your design options are virtually endless.
The best part: this unique custom-made flooring option is rather affordable. Installation costs range from $6-8 per square foot, which is cheaper than natural stone tile.
Moreover, concrete tile flooring is one of the most durable, and long lasting options. It is highly resistant to foot traffic, staining, moisture. Once you install this tile, you will most likely never have to replace it again!
The only major downside to this floor is extreme hardness. Some people may find it uncomfortable to the touch when walking with bare feet. Also, small children or elderly individuals would get hurt if slipping and falling on a concrete floor.
Source: remodelingcalculator
About Fantastic Floors, Inc. We are a successful company with more than 25 years of experience in the market, we have the infrastructure, high quality equipment, materials and supplies to achieve and exceed the expectations of our customers, allowing us to gain the confidence and loyalty for our services.
We have more than 500 residential, 300 properties and 25 commercial customers totally satisfied with our services.
Best Floor Installation.
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