Completely Transform your Flooring with these 5 Tile Flooring Tips
Tiles are a stylish and practical option when it comes to flooring. Particularly in high-traffic areas, you can expect quality tiles to maintain their beauty for years. Apart from choosing quality tiles, it's also important to make sure that you select tiles that will complement the room. Here are some tips to help you choose the best tiles.
The right colour
Colour is one of the main factors that you will need to consider. It is also one of the first decisions you will need to make because the rest of your choices will depend on the availability of the colour you prefer. When choosing a colour for your tiles, you need to decide on a colour scheme for the room. In your kitchen, for example, you might want your flooring to match the colour of your worktops. Remember, dark colours make a space appear smaller whereas lighter colours make the space appear more spacious.
There are also plenty of neutral colours that you can choose if you are not completely sure about a colour scheme. Another important point to keep in mind is the fact that dirt and dust show up very quickly on dark tiles versus lighter tiles. It's also important to choose a colour that will stand the test of time. Sometimes colours and designs can become dated relatively quickly. This makes a classic approach your best bet.
Durability
Tiles are made from various materials and the main decision that you will need to make is whether you prefer porcelain or ceramic tiles. Porcelain is known for its durability which is why it is often used outdoors. If you have very high-traffic areas, you might prefer porcelain. Remember, even ceramic tiles are graded according to durability and this grading will affect the price. If you choose a cheap tile, it might not last long before cracks and chips start to appear.
If you are unsure, you should consult an expert tile retailer or an interior design professional. Another good point to keep in mind is that you should always order a few extra tiles. Sometimes, tiles can be damaged during installation. Tiles can also become damaged due to an accident (dropping something heavy). If you have a few spare tiles, you will be able to replace the damaged tile without having to replace the entire floor.
Size and pattern
If you want fewer grout lines, you should choose larger tiles. If you want a more complex design, smaller tiles might be your best choice. Sometimes tile sets can be purchased in several sizes in order to create an interesting pattern. For example, you may have one large main tile along with several smaller tiles for each square meter. In general, fewer grout lines will help give the impression of more space, so keep this in mind when you are choosing flooring for smaller rooms.
Wetrooms
Rooms where water is likely to be a major factor usually require a slightly sloped floor for drainage purposes. When this is the case, the floor could be sloped from one or more angles in order to guide water to a drainage point. Although the slope is not clearly visible, once you start installing tiles, it will soon become apparent. Smaller tiles are easier to work with in this situation. If you use larger tiles, you may not be able to create the slope you desire. In addition, with the larger tiles, the slope will be far more noticeable. Mosaic tiles are often a top choice. Not only are they easier to install in such environments, but thanks to all the extra grouting, they can also offer some extra grip in wetrooms.
The right colour grouting
The colour of your grouting will depend on the colour of your tiles and whether or not you want to complement or contrast that colour. You could also choose to match the tile colour if you like. Matching the colours will make the room appear more spacious while contrasting colours give the room a busier feel. The graphic effect of dark grouting is amplified when you have more lines. This is an important point to consider when using mosaic tiles. If you want to add something extra special, you can add copper, brass, or stainless steel metal inlays. Of course, another matter to consider is cleaning. If you don't want to have to scrub that grouting too often, choose slightly darker colours. Light colours show up dirt really quickly and, in some cases, dirt can stain the grouting which means that your floors will never look clean.
Whether you are looking for an expert to help you design an amazing space in your home or business, or you are searching for the best tiles and tile experts, you will find what you need here. Take a look at the numerous showrooms at Improve Canada, your home renovations supermall, for everything you need to make those important changes.
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