When it comes to tile flooring, there is no shortage of materials, colours, textures and designs to choose from here at Cheap Tiles Online. However, we understand that not every type of tile is appropriate for every space.
Here are 3 features to look for when selecting the right option for any floor in your house.
1: Durability & Resistance
If you have children and elderly people in the house, it is important to install a slip-resistant tile. Tile finishes, such as high gloss or gloss, tend to be slippery when water is introduced. In areas such as the bathroom or kitchen, is often where water spills appear the most, so good slip resistance for the floor is highly recommended.
Tile options to consider:
- Ceramic or porcelain: choose a product that has a specially textured surface.
- Natural stone: for a more luxury look, some natural stone products are naturally slip-resistant in texture.
- Small size tiles or mosaics: these have more grout lines, making the overall surface more textured and therefore slip-resistant. Penny round tiles are another beautiful design that provides ample traction. As a result, they would be perfect as shower tiles.
2: Pay Attention To Porosity
Another critical feature not to be missed is porosity aka water absorption. Porosity helps in determining whether the tile is suitable for installation in a certain room and 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 in a moisture-prone area, such as a bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, this rating is important for the longevity of the tile. Sealing floor tiles, such as natural stone, is recommended to increase porosity.
Here are Porosity Classifications:
- Impervious: water absorption of 0.5% or less. This rating is recommended for use in the kitchen and the bathroom.
- Vitreous: water absorption of 0.5% to 3%.
- Semi Vitreous: water absorption of 3% – 7%.
- Non-Vitreous: water absorption of more than 7%. This category is not recommended for floor use.
3: Consider Tile Hardness
When shopping for the perfect floor tiles, one of the most important features to pay attention to is hardness. Hardness ratings measure the material’s ability to withstand wear/foot traffic, as well as scratches.
You can use the scale below to select a product that is most suitable for your room’s function.
- Class I: No foot traffic. Appropriate for wall-only applications.
- Class II: Light traffic or interior wall applications. Best in areas with soft to normal foot traffic. For example, bathrooms and bedrooms with no exterior access.
- Class III: Light to moderate traffic, as well as countertops and walls. Appropriate for spaces 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. It can be installed in all areas of the home, including kitchens, halls, entryways. These are the best floor tiles to use, as they perfectly combine beauty and function
- Class V: Heavy to extra heavy traffic, as well as exposure to scratching dirt. Works well in any room of the house, as well as commercial spaces.
- Underwood Showroom – 20 Kingston Road Underwood QLD 4119
- Herston Showroom and Trade Centre – 39 Butterfield Street Herston QLD 4006
