What are the different types of floor tile?

Flooring plays a critical function in the ambiance of a home, and tile flooring options are often durable and sustainable, helping to offset high costs for flooring renovations and maintenance. Some choices accept a smaller eco-footprint with more sustainable materials. Although certain types of tile flooring may share similarities, there are several singled-out differences as well. Let'due south dive into the diverse options that are available to spark your tile flooring ideas.

Types of tile flooring

Ceramic tile

Ceramic tile is fabricated from sand, natural products and crimson or white clay and and so fired in a kiln. Ceramic tile can be glazed or unglazed, although glazed ceramic tile is a more popular option . Glossy ceramic tiles accept a glass-like surface, whereas not-glazed ceramic tiles have a matte finish and more texture, mimicking stone tiles. Due to the durability of ceramic tile and its ability to withstand stains, odors and bacteria, it is an ideal option for bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, laundry rooms and mudrooms. Indoor glazed ceramic tiles typically price anywhere from $.50 to $seven per square foot , whereas unglazed ceramic tiles typically boilerplate about $ii per square foot , depending on size. Ceramic tile has a lengthy lifespan, often lasting for 20 years or more  but is quite labor-intensive and tricky to install. The procedure typically involves installing a layer of cement, gluing the tiles down to a capitalist lath and so filling the space betwixt the tiles with grout.

Pros of ceramic tile:

• Durable to heavy foot traffic
• Unaffected by stains, water and natural elements
• A broad diverseness of colors, shapes and patterns are bachelor
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Water-resistant to prevent mold and leaner from forming
• Keeps business firm cooler in a warm climate

Cons of ceramic tile:

• Difficult to install
• The hard surface can brand it uncomfortable to walk on
• Gets very cold in the winter and makes a room difficult to heat
• Not the safest surface for young children

Porcelain tile

Porcelain tile is like to ceramic tile in that it is equanimous of clay and natural materials and then fired in a kiln. Yet, porcelain is much stronger, harder and less porous than ordinary ceramic tiles considering it is made using clays with finer particles and is fired in the kiln at a college temperature. Porcelain tile is typically white, translucent and extremely dumbo. Due to porcelain tile's immovability and even college water resistance than ceramic tile, information technology is ideal for patios, laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. The high quality of porcelain tile combined with its durability and design flexibility also makes it a more expensive tile option, typically averaging betwixt $ii to $10 per foursquare foot  for indoor uses. Porcelain tile is durable, scratch-resistant and less prone to stains. Installing porcelain tile tin be a time consuming and challenging process because its density makes information technology difficult to cutting through and lay properly.

Pros of porcelain tile:

• Elevates a room with its beautiful design and wide diversity of options
• Ideal for high traffic areas due to its high immovability
• Wet-resistant
• Easy to maintain and clean
• Radiant oestrus panels can be added before installation

Cons of porcelain tile:

• More than expensive tile option than ceramic
• Can be slippery and dangerous for young children or the elderly
• Difficult to install
• Does not insulate a room and may make an area feel colder

Glass tile

Glass tiles are designed using thin pieces of drinking glass with a translucent coat fired onto the back of the tile and come in a wide range of colors. Some glass tiles are made with a mosaic pattern laid on a mesh backing. Glass tile is typically used in bathrooms, only it tin can also be used in kitchens, living rooms and even swimming pools. Glass tile is one of the more expensive options, typically averaging between $v to $xv per square foot . It'south also a more fragile tile pick and may exist prone to chips or scratches over time. However, the nonporous construction of glass makes it fully resistant to moisture. Like ceramic tile, glass tile installation can be quite involved, particularly because it is translucent. If the subsurface behind the glass tile is not smoothed perfectly, it will show through. For that reason, information technology is necessary to hire a professional to install glass tiles.

Pros of glass tile:

• Environmentally-friendly, every bit most glass tile is made from recycled materials and takes less energy to create when compared to other tiles
• Beautifully reflects light and color, creating a brighter appearance
• Easy to clean with lather and h2o or an all-purpose cleaner
• Zero water absorption for a completely waterproof finish

Cons of glass tile:

• More expensive than other flooring tile types
• Tin chip or scratch over fourth dimension
• Professional person installation is usually necessary, particularly when ensuring the adhesive is not visible through the tiles

Cement tile

Cement tiles are created by pouring natural pigments into a design mold, backfilling it with cement, and then setting information technology with hydraulic compression. They are air-cured and not fired in a kiln, making them more than environmentally-friendly. Cement tiles take a porous advent and come in a wide variety of shapes, patterns and designs. This cloth is ideal for bathrooms, laundry rooms and mudrooms due to its power to withstand clothing and tear. Cement tile is fairly inexpensive, typically ranging from $1 to $five per square pes or more than depending on the complication of the pattern. It's extremely durable  and is strong enough to withstand significant usage , even more so than ceramic tile. While information technology'due south possible for handy individuals to install it on their own, it is brash to consult a professional or practice thorough installation inquiry online before attempting to lay the tile. Because cement is extremely heavy, it's a good thought to have a professional bank check to ensure the abode can bear the weight.

Pros of cement tile:

• Extremely strong and durable —  ideal for areas with heavy foot traffic
• Countless customizable design options bachelor
• Like shooting fish in a barrel to clean and tin be refinished
• They're more eco-friendly than other types of tile floor
• Radiant heat panels can be added before installation

Cons of cement tile:

• It is a heavy material, so the area must exist able to maintain the weight
• Concrete is more porous and prone to stains
• It may fissure in extremely cold temperatures

Marble tile

Quarried in mountainous regions around the world, marble is a natural stone that is cut into slabs and tiles. Marble is characterized by its wavy, veined design, which gives information technology an elegant, luxurious appearance. Marble tile can be used in well-nigh whatever room simply is platonic for foyers, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms as information technology adds design versatility and a polish, loftier-end appearance. Marble is one of the most expensive flooring options available, with marble tiles costing between $v and $25 or more per foursquare foot . It tends to take air channels in its structure and, every bit a result, is non very durable — it breaks, fries and cracks more easily than other floor materials and tin can crave quite a flake of maintenance. While it is possible to install marble on your own, it tin can be difficult to match the marble's natural design. To achieve a counterbalanced look, it is best to lay the tile out on the floor first and mix and match until y'all reach the pattern y'all desire.

Pros of marble tile:

• Could increase resale value in a home
• Radiant heat tin can be installed underneath marble tile
• High-stop appearance
• Broad range of patterns, colors and designs

Cons of marble flooring:

• Needs to be maintained often for chips and scratches
• Easily damaged
• Porous and absorbs water

Mosaic tile

Mosaic tile is a combination of diverse materials such as ceramic, drinking glass, rock or porcelain . It is characterized past an inlay of design patterns in varying materials, shapes, colors and designs — typically 2 by 2 inches in size. This textile works well indoors and outdoors, peculiarly in the kitchen, living room, bath, hallway, laundry room and outdoor patio. Mosaic tile is expensive because information technology is difficult to manufacture. It typically costs around $8 to $20 per square human foot . The cloth is nonporous, meaning it is far less susceptible to mold and mildew, but it is somewhat delicate due to its smaller size. Mosaic tile isn't quite as difficult to install as other tiles such every bit ceramic, just it is still labor-intensive. To ensure the mosaic tile remains in a direct line, it is necessary to employ a fiberglass mesh sheet backside the tiles to agree them in identify. The fiberglass canvas can be hard to apply, as it tends to warp and shift.

Pros of mosaic tile:

• Usually nonporous and waterproof and therefore not susceptible to mildew or mold, depending on materials used within the mosaic
• Versatile design options in a broad range of colors, sizes and patterns
• Works well in pocket-size spaces

Cons of mosaic tile:

• Because mosaic tile incorporates glass, it tin can exist more fragile than other tile options
• Glass tile can exist slippery when moisture
• Installing the smaller tiles can be labor intensive

Granite tile

Granite is an igneous rock, meaning it is formed from lava or magma. Information technology naturally has a shiny and somewhat sparkly appearance because it is fabricated upwardly of quartz and feldspar, but matte options are also available. Granite works best in kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, hallways and other loftier-traffic areas in the dwelling house considering it is durable and can withstand extensive wear. It tin can likewise be coated with an anti-skid grit to protect from slips and falls, equally information technology is very smooth on its own. Granite prices tin can range from $5 to $25 or more per square foot . Installing granite tile flooring can be difficult because information technology is an extremely heavy material, and then it is necessary to first assess whether the abode tin can support the tile. Laying granite tile involves ensuring the sub-floor is clean, applying mortar, installing the tile and so grouting between each slice.

Pros of granite tile:

• Dumbo and strong
• Can be coated with anti-sideslip grit, making it less slippery
• Resistant to moisture
• Well-suited for radiant heating underneath

Cons of granite tile:

• A more expensive flooring pick
• Installation tin be cumbersome
• Extremely cold when radiant heat panels are not installed
• Needs to exist resealed periodically

These are just a few tile flooring ideas for the about popular materials. If yous're looking for a more than unique wait in your tile floors, check out limestone tile, travertine tile, quarry tile, slate tile, faux forest tile, onyx tile, quartzite tile, sandstone tile and terrazzo tile.

When determining which flooring tile ideas to use, information technology is e'er best to consider how oft y'all are comfortable repairing and maintaining the tile. Also consider how porous your desired tile is, specially when using it in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.

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Source: https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/flooring/types-of-floor-tile/

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