Hey there! If you're thinking about re-flooring your home or renovating your interiors, I've got some great tips that might help you out. We recently went through the process of finalising tiles for our new home and learned a lot along the way. Here are my top five tips for selecting floor tiles --
1.Everything About Types of Tiles
We started with researching different types of tiles. Here's a quick rundown :
Ceramic Tiles : These are durable and affordable but can chip or crack. I found that group-4 or group-5 ceramic tiles work best for areas with light to medium traffic. For example : Bathroom Walls, Kitchen Dado, Etc
Porcelain Tiles : There are denser and stronger than ceramic, They're also scratch and stain resistant. For a seamless finish, I suggest go with rectified or joint-free porcelain tiles and used epoxy grouting for a neat look.
Vitrified Tiles : These are strong, durable and resistant to stains and moisture. I was amazed by the variety, like double charged vitrified tiles with two-tonw colours, full body ones with a uniform palette, soluble salt ones with different patterns, and glazed tiles with extra shine.
Natural Materials : If you love natural materials, sandstone, limestone, marble or travertine tiles are beautiful options.
Cement Tiles : For a bold look, I would consider cement tiles. They have traditional patterns but need periodic sealing since they are porous.
2. How to choose the Right Size
Choosing the right size was crucial for minimising wastage during installation :
Large sized tiles are perfect for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms because they create less joint lines and make the space feel larger.
Smaller tiles are ideal for the kitchen and bathroom. This was a great tip for making efficient use of the space.
3. Pick the ideal Tile Finish
The finish of the tile can completely change the look and feel of a room :
Glossy Finish Tiles : These have a mirror-like sheen, reflect a lot of light and can make a space look brighter and more spacious. However, I avoided them since they can get slippery when wet and we wanted to opt for a more grounded and natural finish look.
Matte Finish Tiles : These are slip-resistant, non-reflective and don't show stains or dirt easily. For safety, especially in moisture prone areas like the kitchen and bathroom, I chose tiles with a COF (coefficient of friction) value above 0.6.
Semi-Matte or Lapatto Finish : These have more shine than matter tiles but are still non-slip. They're a great middle ground.
4. Tips on Design
When it comes to design, you will be amazed by the variety :
Tiles come in all sorts of colour and patterns. With technology advancement, they can mimic natural materials like wood, linen and stone.
Mixing and matching tiles to create interesting patterns was a fun way to personalize my space.
5. Calculate the Cost
To avoid any surprises, I calculated the exact quantity of tiles needed and added 10% extra for wastage and skirting. Keeping a budget in mind made the selection process much easier.
These tips really helped us narrow down our choices and pick the perfect tiles foro ur home. I hope they'll do the same for you!
Stay tuned for more updates!
Warm regards,
Esha
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