How to Choose the Right Tile

Tile flooring is elegant, durable, and water-resistant, and can significantly add to the value of your home. It’s also very easy to maintain. There are several materials used for tile and many factors to consider when trying to find the perfect tile for your situation. Once you have a basic understanding of the tile world, it will be far easier to ensure you end up with the ideal solution that will look and feel great.

Size and Shape
Tile specifications can vary tremendously from one to the next. Individual tiles can range from three or four square inch squares all the way up to two feet or more. They can also come in rectangles, octagons, or hexagons. This can be daunting, but the good news is it lets you be free to be an artist and develop the exact look you want.

Hardness and Porosity
The two scales to be aware of when finding the right tile are the hardness of the tile, which affects its durability, and its porosity, which affects how much water it will absorb. Hardness is measured on the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) scale, which ranges from Class I to Class V. Class I tile is too soft for floors, and is typically used only on walls, and Class V is generally reserved for commercial construction, so you’ll mostly be dealing with Classes II-IV. Class II is generally used for low traffic areas like bathrooms; Classes III and IV can both be used just about anywhere in the house, and are the most commonly installed.
The porosity of the tile determines how dense the tile is and how many air pockets it will have, thus affecting how much water it will absorb. Tile is classified from most absorbent to least absorbent as non-vitreous, semi-vitreous, vitreous, and impervious. The most important areas to consider are the places that see lots of moisture on a regular basis, namely bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways. For those places, make sure your tile has as little absorption as possible.

Surface Texture
Tile can be textured and rough, which is how many people want their stone tile to be, or it can be perfectly smooth, which would be more common for ceramic or porcelain. Any tile, however, can be glazed or textured depending on how you want it to feel. Once again, the most important areas of the home for these considerations are the places that will often have standing water. If there will be water on the floor, you’ll want it to be more textured so that it won’t get slippery. This is especially important if you install tile in your shower. Besides that, just go with what feels right!

Basic Explanations of the Most Common Tiles
There are ever-increasing numbers of materials used to make tile, but here are a few of the most popular with a basic explanation for each:

• Ceramic – probably the most common tile. This is made from baked clay, and can be used in just about any application if properly glazed.

• Porcelain – very hard and very dense because it is fired at extreme temperatures, this tile is great for moderate traffic areas and places that see lots of moisture.

• Granite – one of the most versatile of all tiles, it can be used just about anywhere. It is highly scratch resistant and durable, and provides a great tile for showers because it is a natural non-slip surface.

• Slate – very similar in its properties to granite, it is also a naturally rough surface which is good for wet areas. It is known for a vast array of colors.

• Marble – this is a very elegant looking stone tile that is a bit softer than its more durable counterparts. Make sure to use this in a lower traffic area of your home.

Now that you have a basic understanding of all the necessary considerations, it’s time to make your floor exactly the way you want it! If you have any questions, or are ready to have your tile installed, the experts at Perfect Flooring are always ready to help!