Picture this: you’re a new homeowner, and you’ve just moved into your new abode. With all your newfound space and independence, it feels like a dream come true. But there’s one problem: you want to pick out tile flooring that’ll last, but you’re not sure what to look for or how to choose.
Many homeowners like yourself have struggled or currently struggle with choosing the right flooring. Factors such as price, lifestyle compatibility, and aesthetics can make picking the right flooring a significant challenge. However, we’ve put together a guide on choosing high-longevity tile flooring that’ll make finding the right kind for you that much easier.
Picking Where It’ll Go
Tile flooring is excellent for rooms prone to mess and water. It can be swept easily and is hard to stain, making it ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. However, tile can work well in other rooms, too. When picking tile for a room, it’s crucial to choose a style you’re confident you’ll like visually and physically in the long run.
If you have a multi-story house, you may want to forgo installing tile on any floor higher than the first one. Homes are built to sway with the wind, which helps dissipate the wind’s force and prevent damage. However, tiles aren’t made to withstand this swaying and may start cracking and chipping if placed on higher floors.
Settling on the Material
While tiles can come in a wide variety of styles, most are made of one of three materials: ceramic, porcelain, and stone. Each style comes with its own pros and cons:
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are DIY installation-friendly and come in a wider variety of colors compared to other tile types. However, while all tiles are water-resistant, ceramic tiles are slightly less so due to their porousness. In addition, they’re more susceptible to the elements, making them unsuitable for outdoor use.
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles can handle foot traffic even better than ceramic ones and are more water resistant, too. They’re also suitable for outdoor use, provided you live in a mild climate. Additionally, they come in styles that visually imitate other materials, such as wood. However, they require professional installation and cost more.
Stone
Stone tiles complement both rustic and modern house styles the best and can be resurfaced to hide any damage they may receive. Stone tiles are the most durable out of the three and handle well outdoors, even during harsher weather. Furthermore, they don’t become slippery when wet, making them a wonderful choice if you’re prone to big spills. However, they require a special cleaning solution, whereas the other types don’t.
Consider Their Other Qualities
Though tiles are appealing for their durability and mess resistance, it’s important to consider all of their qualities to determine if they’re the right flooring for you.
While cleaning the tiles themselves is typically simple, the grout between them requires more attention. If left without regular upkeep, it can affect the integrity and appearance of the tiles.
In addition, because of their hardness and toughness, anything that falls onto them (plates, cups, devices, etc.) is practically guaranteed to break. If you’re accident-prone or live somewhere prone to earthquakes and own a lot of breakables, you may grow tired of tile flooring quickly.
Lastly, tiles can get chilly in cold climates, which can be a problem if you prefer to be barefoot in the house. While you can get underfloor heating to address this issue, it’s pricy. If that’s out of your budget, you may want to opt for a different flooring type if you don’t think you can adapt to wearing slippers all the time.
Knowing all the ins and outs of different tile styles and their ideal applications is key to choosing tiles that’ll survive both physical forces and your own post-installation opinion on them.
