Sleek, clean, easy to maintain – there are plenty of reasons for using tiles in the home, particularly in this part of the world, and plenty of different ways to do it, not to mention a huge variety of types to choose from. But sometimes so much choice can be a bit overwhelming. How do you narrow down the selection and choose exactly the right tiles for you?
The main types
The first thing to think about when choosing tiles is what they’re made of, which will affect their strength and durability, and therefore what they’re suitable for, as well as how they look.
Ceramic: Made with natural clay and a durable glaze, ceramic tiles are relatively cheap to produce and are good for interior walls and floors, with a strength rating of about 3-4 out of 5 on the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) scale. The higher the PEI number, the more robust the tile, and the better it will cope with wear and tear in high-traffic areas. Ceramic tiles are easy to clean and can easily be painted or decorated with decals, making them useful for both practical and decorative purposes.
Porcelain: Like their ceramic counterparts, porcelain tiles are made from natural clay, but fine sand is added to the mix, and they're fired at much higher temperatures, making them denser, less porous and ultimately more hard-wearing, usually with a PEI rating of 3 to 5. Porcelain will survive perfectly well outdoors, and is a great choice for high-traffic areas in the home. For extra durability, choose a "through body" colour and design rather than a surface-glazed tile – you'll notice any scratches or chips far less.
Natural stone: Including everything from travertine to marble to slate, natural stone finishes might be a little more expensive, but they're also incredibly beautiful. They will need treating and sealing before use to prevent water penetration and staining, but if you go for a good-quality product, it will last well. Choose from three main surface textures – honed (ground to smooth surface), riven (split by hand to create an uneven surface) or polished (with a layer of gloss added). Alternatively, save a bit of money by looking for a porcelain tile designed to mimic stone.
Glass: Glass tiles are becoming increasingly popular thanks to the range of colours and effects available. They can be expensive, though, and don't always handle wear and tear easily. As a result, they're not necessarily the best choice for large surface areas, and are often used in a decorative capacity for splashbacks, borders, trims and other focal points.
Narrowing your choice
Once you’ve worked out what type of tile is going to work best for your project, it’s time to further reduce your selection. Here are a few things to think about.
Size: From the tiniest mosaic tile to the largest slab, the choice of tile size – not to mention shape – is endless. In general, if you're trying to make a space look bigger, use a larger tile to reduce "busy-ness" of lots of grout lines – although be careful not to go so big that you overwhelm the space. With flooring tiles, think about the spacing of permanent fixtures (for example, toilet, sink and bath), because large tiles might mean more-awkward cutting. Finally, check if the surface you're planning to tile is level – the more uneven it is, the less well a large tile will sit against it.
Finish: As well as style, finish is important for two very practical reasons – cleaning and safety. Riven stone with its natural crevices is far more likely to gather dirt than an easy-wipe glazed-ceramic tile, for example. On the other hand, highly polished marble is going to be super-slippery, making it a poor choice for a bathroom floor, even though it would be easy to clean. When it comes to non-slip surfaces, the measurement to look out for is COF (coefficient of friction) – the higher the better.
Durability: We've already mentioned PEI unit of strength, which ranges from 0 (suitable for wall tiles only) to 5 (suitable for commercial use). A PEI 2 tile would work in a light-traffic area like a bathroom or bedroom.
Colour: Though colour is, in many ways, a matter of personal taste, there are certain things to bear in mind when choosing your tiles. Pale shades are best for creating a sense of light and space, while darker ones add warmth and can create a cosy vibe. Anything with a reflective surface, such as glass or marble flecked with metallic elements, will bounce light around the room and give it a sense of luxe. Think about pattern, too – smooth, shiny block colours will show smudges and fingerprints, while anything with a grain or fleck hides dirt well.
Decoration: It's fairly logical that a plain tile will cost less than a patterned or painted one, so think about where you use each type. Keep your budget in check by using decorative tiles only for focal points, such as the splashback zone behind the hob in a kitchen, or for creating a horizontal divide around a bathroom.
Final tips
By now, you should have a fairly good idea of what you’re looking for, but there are just a few more decisions to make before you head out to the DIY store.
How many packs: Calculate the size of the surface you're planning on covering by multiplying height (or length) by width to get the area in square metres. Most tiles will be priced on this basis, and will come in packs of several square metres at a time. Always go for slightly more than you need, by about 5 to 10 per cent, to deal with breakages and wastage at any edges. This is particularly important with unusually shaped tiles and those with a pattern repeat.
Anti-bacterial grout: For hygiene reasons, especially in the kitchen, go for a grout with an antibacterial agent. This will also reduce any mould and mildew growth, especially in warm, damp areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, ensuring your tiles look better for longer.
Go pro: If you're concerned that you're not experienced enough to lay the tiles you've chosen so carefully, it's worth calling in a professional. Ask whether there are any preparation or finishing jobs you can do to save on labour costs, and rest assured that a contractor is likely to be much more efficient in terms of breakages and pattern repeats.
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