Tile Wall and Floor Covering

When it comes to tile wall and flooring types, there are so many options and varieties to choose from. In many cases, you are only limited by your imagination. You can select small, large, or rectangular and hexagonal-shaped tiles, or even mix and match different shapes to form an eye-catching tile mosaic. Mosaic tiles can be purchased individually or pre-mounted on installation sheets.

Some tile flooring types include:

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tile is made from clay which is baked at very high temperatures, resulting in an attractive and very hard surface. A Ceramic tile is a varied material, some types glazed with a layer of liquid glass, others left untreated for a more natural, rustic appeal. It is worthwhile learning about the right kind of ceramic tile to ensure that the type you choose is the one that is most appropriate for your installation. Overall, a ceramic tile is very low maintenance, particularly in terms of keeping the surface clean.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tile is a subset of ceramic tile, which is becoming better and better known. It shares the elegant nature of china earthenware with ceramic’s noted durability and hardness Characterized by its dense body which renders it very moisture resistant, porcelain tile is often used in bathrooms where high moisture levels are a matter of course, and is the most recommended variety of ceramic tile for these types of areas.

Travertine Tiles

Travertine is a form of limestone with unique porous veins that give the milled tile their beauty. The stone is found in a wide variety of natural colors, and four different finishes may be applied to individual tiles. Travertine has long been used in many of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Today, in addition to being an excellent flooring material, travertine tiles may also be used as pavers, countertops, stair treads, columns, sinks, and even bathtubs. Italian travertine and marble is generally perceived to be of the highest quality because the quarries and manufacturing centers are well established.

Marble Tiles

Marble tile as a building material has a long and illustrious "career," having been used in the courtyards of Caesar, in the palaces of Renaissance Europe, and up to more recent times. Marble tile has become more and more popular for use not only in residential applications, such as foyers, hallways, and in bathrooms, but also in commercial projects for similar uses. One of the great qualities marble can extend to a project is the aura of artistry and old-world elegance that only marble tile can bring.

Care and Maintenance for Tile Wall and Flooring

Follow these 11. tile flooring care tips to help keep your tile floors looking as good as the day you install them:

1. Place area rugs and mats in high traffic areas and entranceways and in water-susceptible areas (e.g. in front of bathtubs).

2. Treat non-epoxy grout with silicone sealer twice every year to enhance the stain resistance of your tile floors.

3. Damp mop tile floors with a manufacturer-recommended cleaner. All tiles are different and require very specific types of cleaning products.

4. Avoid cleaning products that contain ammonia or alkaline.

5. Never wax tile floors.

6. Use a grout stain to return tile grout to its original color.

7. Avoid using abrasive or steel wool on tile as it can damage the surface.

8. Wipe up spills immediately with a clean cloth to avoid grout stains.

9. Glazed tile floors need to be swept and/or vacuumed on a regular basis.

10. Put protective feet on the bottom of metal furniture legs as these can permanently stain tile floors.

11. Ask your Stone supplier for cleaning recommendations when purchasing natural stone.