Things You Need To Know When Buying Floor Tiles

Buying tiles is not as simple as walking into a store, seeing a tile and getting it straight away. While we wish it were that easy, in order to achieve a polished and professional look, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to buying tiles.

You’ve got to be calculated when making your decision, both from a style point of view and a functional one. To help you choose the right tiles for your particular project, here’s everything you need to know about floor tiling.

Main types of floor tiles

When it comes to tiling, there are two main types of tiles that will be used: floor tiles and wall tiles. Floor tiles will be made to take more force, especially since they’ll have to handle a lot of foot traffic. Wall tiles, on the other hand, will be designed to be lighter so they can hold onto the wall better. Let’s look at distinguishing ceramic tiles from porcelain tiles:

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are among the most commonly used tiles in the world because they’re readily available and pretty affordable. You can purchase ceramic tiles in all different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. One thing to note is that ceramic tiles aren’t as strong as porcelain tiles because of the way they’re made. They are, however, easy to cut and work with.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles are also made from clay, but refined clay that is heated to a much higher temperature. This is why porcelain tiles are so much stronger than ceramic tiles. In addition to being stronger and more durable, porcelain tiles also aren’t as porous, meaning they don’t absorb as much moisture.

Pros and cons of using tiles for your floors

Out of the different types of flooring you could have, tiling is one of the most economical and maintainable options. Here are some of the biggest pros of having tiled floors:

Pros:

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are durable and rarely chip or crack. However, porcelain tiles are more durable and are waterproof
Tiles are typically very easy to maintain. Their smooth, water-resistant surface makes them easy to clean and require little to no care once they’re installed
Ceramic tiles are among the most affordable tiles you can purchase for your home, depending on the size and style that is

Cons:

To make an educated decision when renovating, you need to weigh up the good as well as the not-so-ideal aspects of tiled flooring. Here are some of the cons of having tiled floors:

Tiles are the best material to get off your bed onto first thing in the morning during winter. This is because they don’t conduct and retain heat very well. Because of this, many homeowners opt to install under-floor heating too. However, a simple carpet would suffice
Tiles come in standard sizes usually. You can get them cut to fit your house perfectly, but, 9/10 times, the contractor will need to cut tiles to size them for certain areas in your home, like corners. This creates wastage and requires precision
To securely fasten your tiles to the floor or walls, they need to be grouted together. Grouting also requires attention to detail, especially when it comes to sealing your grout as you finish off the job. The nature of these tasks leaves a lot of space for error

Tile Sizes

When you walk into a tile store, they’ll offer you standard tile sizes, unless you’re getting custom designed tiles, this is what you’ll have to work with. Large tiles are usually around 38 cm or more. You’ll find multiple square tiles ranging from 5 cm to over 40 cm. There are also rectangular tiles, which range from 2 cm by 8cm up to 30 cm by 120 cm.

Understanding tile ratings

Understanding tile ratings is also important. Floor tiles are rated for their durability and strength. There are five hardness rating classes, ranging from class one to class 5. They go in ascending order from softest to the hardest:

Class 1: Tiles that aren’t suitable for floors and are recommended for wall use only
Class 2: Tiles that are suitable for light foot traffic. This would include areas that people don’t walk in all the time, like the bathroom
Class 3: Slightly stronger and suitable for heavier foot traffic or routine foot traffic
Class 4: Perfect for use throughout the house, these tiles can handle heavy foot traffic
Class 5: Also ideal for home use, potentially good for areas like the garage. Class 5 tiles are normally used in commercial areas, like malls that deal with hundreds of people at a time.

While you’re shopping for tiles, ask an expert to help you find cheap tiles that are good quality and match the level you’re looking for. This will help you gauge what tiles you should choose.

Final Thoughts

When in doubt, call an expert and ask them what tiles would be best suited to the function you need them for. Once the tiles are installed, replacing them can be a hassle, so best to make the right decision the first time around, wouldn’t you agree?