Category: Flooring

How to Make Carpet Look Fluffy and New

When it comes time to put your home on the market, make your property stand out by removing clutter, making necessary repairs, and cleaning your residence from top to bottom. One of the first things buyers may notice when entering a home is the condition of the carpeting, so make that a main focus of your cleaning efforts. A thorough shampooing, vacuuming and grooming will erase years of wear and tear and make your carpet look fluffy and new.

Remove the clutter from the carpeted rooms you’ll be cleaning. Store the items in another part of the house or arrange to use a storage facility. You can temporarily move large furniture pieces, like a bed or a dresser, if you wish to clean under them.

Get on your hands and knees and examine your carpet closely. Crawl around the room, and cut any threads that are sticking up with a pair of sharp scissors. Do not pull up the thread when cutting it; lay the scissors perpendicular to the carpeting and cut to even the surface.

Spray hardened stains with a stain remover formulated for carpeting. Leave the cleaning agent in place for the amount of time specified on the instructions. Blot with a rag to absorb the cleaner and the stain.

Place an ice cube onto dented areas of the carpet that were underneath furniture. Allow the ice cube to melt completely.

Blot the wet area gently with a paper towel until no more moisture can be absorbed. Avoid pressing the towel into the carpeting, which will reinforce the dent. Run the edge of a spoon against the direction of the dented carpet to fluff it up.

Wet a hand towel and wring out the excess liquid. Lay the towel over the dented carpet. Heat an iron to the cotton setting, and gently iron the towel for one minute, concentrating on the area above the dent. Leave the towel in place until it dries. Remove the towel, and fluff the area with your hand. You can try this method as an alternative to using ice cubes.

Vacuum the carpeting to suck up all the dust and dirt before shampooing. Pay attention to high-traffic areas, as well as corners and spaces where the carpet meets the wall. Use an attachment, if necessary, to get suction into spots the vacuum can’t adequately cover.

Fill your carpet shampooer with the amount of water and cleaning solution specified by the manufacturer.

Begin shampooing the carpet in the farthest area from the exit doorway. Go back and forth slowly in straight lines, working your way toward the door so you don’t have to step on the damp carpet to leave.

Allow the carpet to dry completely.

Sprinkle an unscented or scented carpet deodorizer over the entire floor. Leave the powder on the carpet for the amount of time specified on the instructions.

Vacuum the carpeting one last time to suck up the deodorizing powder and any other cleaning residue and dirt.

Return any displaced furniture to the room.

How long should carpet last?

While there is no definitive answer to the question of how long a carpet should last, the quality of the carpet and where it is used are among the factors that can make a significant difference.

A carpet in a spare bedroom that is rarely used will last much longer than one in a commercial building with a high footfall. The cheapest carpet you can buy will wear out much more quickly than a premium quality carpet, meaning paying as little as possible may be a false economy.

How often should you replace your carpet?

Though you cannot predict when a carpet needs replacing, there are signs that it is time to replace it. A modern carpet should last between five and fifteen years, but how long a carpet actually lasts depends on the quality of its construction and the level of foot traffic.

If there are threadbare areas or immovable stains, then it is time to replace your carpet. Strong odours that remain after deep cleaning may also be a sign that it’s time for a new one.

If the carpet pile stood up when new and is now flat, this indicates that the carpet is wearing out. A carpet may look a lighter shade in some areas than others. A faded carpet may not necessarily need replacing, but if aesthetics are important, it is a good idea to change it.

How long does a carpet last in a buy-to-let?

Some landlords do not install carpets in buy-to-let property because they prefer solid flooring like laminates and vinyl, which are easy to clean and less prone to staining. This may be a good idea for multi-occupancy property for young people who have parties or invite their friends over regularly. Carpet in these properties gets lots of use and if wine, coffee and other split liquids are not cleaned up promptly, the carpet can soon look stained.

For the more luxury end of the buy-to-let property market, tenants expect good-quality furniture and fittings. It is appropriate for these properties to have good quality carpets, perhaps even wool ones. Provided that the tenants regularly clean the carpets and look after them, the carpets should last a long time.

If a carpet is a little worn, some landlords like to replace them when tenants change. If the carpet is not replaced, it probably needs a thorough clean before a new tenant arrives.

How often should a carpet be cleaned?

Cleaning helps to prolong the life of a carpet. Regular vacuuming, at least once a week or more will keep the carpet free of loose dirt and dust, but dirt can get embedded at the bottom of the pile. To remove ingrained dirt, the carpet should be professionally cleaned. You could hire a carpet cleaning machine and do it yourself, but this may not be as thorough a job as a professional using an industrial-grade carpet cleaner.

Professional carpet cleaning should be carried out at least once a year, but every six months for a heavily used carpet. A deep cleaning may be required more frequently for carpets in commercial premises. Some carpet warranties will specify that the carpets must be cleaned regularly, otherwise the warranty is void.

What Type Of Carpet Is Likely To Last The Longest?

There are several factors that affect the durability of a carpet. Firstly, the fibre, with nylon or wool lasting longest. Then there is the weight and density of fibres. By and large, dense fibre heavyweight carpets will last longer.

The carpet fibres are twisted on most good carpet. Look for a carpet with a twist level of seven twists per inch or more.

There is no difference between how long a light-coloured carpet lasts compared to a dark one, but of course stains show up more on light colours. A pattern carpet may camouflage stains.

If a carpet doesn’t look dirty, there may be a temptation not to clean it as often as a light coloured one. Remember, whether you have a light or dark colour carpet, both need to be cleaned regularly if you want the maximum lifespan for the carpet, and ensure good hygiene in the home.

Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Carpet

1. A Lot Of Visible Stains

It’s possible to hide a couple small stains under furniture. But, if you’re scrambling to move things around to cover up multiple severe stains, it’s time for new carpet.

This is especially true if the stains persist after a professional cleaning. Most carpets now come with a stain-resistant finish. This protection fades with time, though, leaving you vulnerable to potential messes.

Trying to remove stains with DIY recipes gleaned off of the Internet will usually make them worse. The same is true for store-bought cleaning products, which often contain harsh chemicals.

2. Old Carpeting And Wear And Tear

You might be using furniture and small rugs to cover up not only stains but also tiny rips and tears. If there are just a few small rips, you can probably get by.

But, if there’s matted carpet, large tears, or significant wear and tear on your major walkways, it’s time for new carpet.

If it’s matted down, and the carpet is made from polyester, there’s no way to fluff it back up again. Polyester doesn’t work like that.

What’s more, older carpets that have seen a lot of foot traffic generally can’t be restored. These are all signs that it’s time for a replacement.

3. Your Carpet Has A Funky Smell

If you have a pet, your carpet may tend to be a bit smelly. But, after a professional cleaning, those smells should go away. If not, the odor has penetrated deep into the carpet fibers, the carpet pad, or even the sub-floor.

You may also have a mold or mildew problem underneath the carpet. Again, that means you have to replace the carpeting.

Furthermore, older carpets tend to trap dirt and dust more than newer ones. If yours is on the older side, and smells persist, it’s also time for something new.

4. Don’t Forget About The Carpet Padding

When thinking about your carpet, it’s easy to forget the padding underneath. But, it’s the padding that helps support the carpet, making it comfortable to walk on and lay down on.

As mentioned above, cleaning the carpet doesn’t necessarily mean the padding gets cleaned as well. In addition, if you spot any unevenness or wrinkles in your carpet, it’s a sign your padding is old and needs to be replaced.

If the carpet is still in good condition, maybe you can replace just the padding. If not, it’s time for both items to go.

How often you should vacuum your carpet depends on the level of traffic and activity in your home.

Once per week should be the minimum that any household should vacuum its carpet. For homes with high traffic or pets, more frequent vacuuming will be necessary, likely twice or even three times per week. This will release allergens such as dust and pet hair from the carpet fibers and will help to keep your carpet looking and performing its best.

Proper Technique

Before you begin vacuuming your carpet, walk through the space looking for small objects on the carpet that are too big to be vacuumed up (such as small toy pieces, coins, paper clips, etc.). These items should be picked up by hand to avoid the possibility of their getting caught in the vacuum and impairing suction, or causing damage to the vacuum.

Don’t Rush

As you vacuum your carpet, pass the vacuum cleaner back and forth slowly. When there are so many other chores and duties requiring your time, it can be very tempting to move the vacuum as quickly as you can, to speed up the process. However, this does not allow the vacuum adequate time to pick up everything in the carpet fibers, and so it will not be as effective.

Instead, run the vacuum slowly in one direction, and then pull it back towards you. Move on to the next section of carpet, allowing the vacuum to slightly overlap the area you just cleaned, to allow for the lack of brush or suction at the very edge of the vacuum head.

Reverse

Continue this way until the entire area is finished. For best results, repeat the process in the opposite direction i.e., if you originally vacuumed in a north-south motion, turn and vacuum east-west. This is not necessary every time that you vacuum but is a good idea every once in a while to ensure a nice deep clean.

Be sure to empty the canister or vacuum bag when it gets full. A full bag or canister will decrease the suction power of your vacuum, causing all of your work to be less effective. Try not to let it get more than three-quarters full, to ensure the best performance of your vacuum.

TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS DURING A MOVE

Are you moving into a new home, rearranging your furniture or looking to add some new furniture over the holidays or new year?

During a move of any kind, many people are so focused on their furniture that they neglect an equally important part of their home — their hardwood floors. Your hardwood floors are an important investment that adds value to your property, comfort to your lifestyle and brings you more overall satisfaction with your space

Cover Your Floors

Before moving furniture into or out of your home, cover your hardwood floors to prevent dents, scrapes, and scratches. There are many different types of products that can be used for this purpose. One is Homasote 440, a shock absorbing protective mat that you can cut to any shape, and keep it for future use.

Don’t Drag Furniture

No matter what you use to protect your floor during a move, never drag heavy furniture across the floor. No matter what type of wood floor or prefinished wood floor you have, this can damage the surface of the finish and cause dents in the wood. Carry lightweight items and stack boxes onto dollies with rubber tires. When moving large furniture, such as a couch, use furniture sliders if you can’t carry it.

For heavy or bulky furniture such as tables and chairs, cover the feet and edges with a soft fabric or wrap them in padding. This helps protect your hardwood flooring in case you accidentally drop the item on the floor.

Be Cautious in Bad Weather

When it’s rainy or snowing, take extra precaution not to track any salt, mud, or water onto your floors. Keep a large, heavy-duty mat at the front door for people to wipe their shoes on before walking in and out of your home.

Is Waterproof Hardwood Flooring Really A Thing?

Ah! Handsome hardwood flooring, the homeowners’ delight. Just one problem – moisture is hardwood’s kryptonite. If only someone would invent a waterproof hardwood flooring

The Threat to Non-Waterproofed Wood Floors

While untreated solid hardwood floors can withstand a few drops of water, when doused with larger quantities they start to resemble a sponge. If you’re too busy to wipe up spills, pet accidents, or tracked-in snow immediately

Eventually, all these liquids will cause unprotected wood flooring to swell, bloat, and warp. A badly water-damaged hardwood floor cannot be repaired; instead, it is likely to rot and/or mold and will need to be completely replaced. That means unwelcome hassle and expense for you.

What Is Waterproof Hardwood Flooring?

Waterproof hardwood flooring is natural hardwood, pine, or bamboo that has been enhanced by technology to make it impervious to liquid. The tech varies according to the manufacturer. For example, Shaw makes a product comprising a layer of real wood on top of a core of stone polymer composite (SPC).

Waterproof Hardwood Flooring: Pros

Beauty. This new flooring has all the rich luster of genuine hardwood, the flooring most prized by homeowners AND home buyers.

Versatility. Enjoy hardwood floors anywhere in the house, including rooms formerly “off limits” to real wood floors, like the kitchen, mudroom, laundry, kid’s room, or even an elegant master bath.

Authenticity. Unlike ceramic tile or laminate, you will never see a pattern repeat in waterproof wood flooring.

Choice. Choose your personal favorite from a variety of wood species, attractive finishes (such as hand-scraped), and plank widths.

Peace of mind. When your lifestyle includes kids, pets, and tons of activity, spills and splashes are impossible to avoid. With waterproof flooring, you can relax … no harm done!

Engineered Flooring: Easier Hardwood?

None can deny the appeal of a hardwood floor. It has a long tradition of luxury, and a timeless beauty. Installing a hardwood floor is also expensive and difficult. Those looking for that classic look and feel might do well to consider engineered hardwood flooring. When determining whether or not to invest in engineered wood flooring, here are the essentials to keep in mind.

Engineered Hardwood

Unlike conventional hardwood, which comes straight out of a tree and into your home, engineered hardwood is a more complex product that consists of several layers. The outermost is a hardwood veneer, a thin slice of wood (less than 1/8″) of whatever species you desire. The inner layers are made of plywood, high density fiberboard, or hardwood. The core layers make the product more stable than regular hardwood, while the outer veneer surface adds beauty and authenticity.

Pros:

Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to reduce the moisture problems associated with conventional hardwood.

Its layers block moisture and provide added stability to your floor.

Engineered flooring will not swell or warp, making it very low maintenance

Environmental Advantages of Engineered Hardwood

Choosing engineered flooring is considered more environmentally-friendly than traditional hardwood for a few reasons.

Veneer is sliced rather than cut with a saw. This process produces no sawdust, which means that all of the tree’s wood can be used. The sawdust produced making hardwood boards is wasted wood (and adds up to a significant amount).

Hardwood trees grow much more slowly than the trees used to make engineered flooring cores. Because more surface area is produced making veneer, installing traditional hardwood uses many times the amount of slow growing tree. This makes the replenishing time much longer.

Alternatives to Hardwood Flooring

Wooden floors are a timeless and classic choice for any home. However, sometimes wood floors might not be a practical option for your home, due to either cost or function. Fortunately, there are other flooring materials that imitate wood so you can have a cozy atmosphere that costs less or is more durable than traditional wood flooring.

So how do you go about deciding if real wood is the best flooring option for you or if you should go with an alternative? Here are a few things to consider when it comes to your flooring options

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood is a durable and attractive type of flooring. It goes well with pretty much any style of home. It also has a long life, since you can refinish it multiple times. Hardwood floors keep their value over time, as is evident by their resale value: Fifty-four percent of homebuyers are willing to pay extra for hardwood floors. If you think you might sell your house in the future, it could be worth it to invest in hardwood floors now.

One point to keep in mind is that hardwood floors do require regular maintenance. You will also need to make sure wood floors don’t get too wet, as this could cause warping. Additionally, hardwood typically costs around 6 to 22 dollars per square foot for materials and installation, making it one of the more expensive flooring options.

Other Options for Wood Floors

Maybe hardwood isn’t the right choice for your home. What other types of floorings are there for you to choose from? Some popular alternatives to hardwood floors are laminate, vinyl, and ceramic tile. All of these can imitate the look of wood. (yes, even tile!) They each have their own positives and negatives, and they vary in price points.

Ultimate Guide to Hardwood Flooring

Are you planning to upgrade the flooring in your home or business, or do you already have wood floors and want to learn more about maintenance and increasing its lifespan? Well, you’ve come to the right place! With this Ultimate Guide to Hardwood Flooring, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an expert on hardwood floors

While hardwood flooring may seem like a simple concept, there’s actually a lot more to it than many people realize. For example, you can get solid or engineered hardwood, prefinished or site-finished hardwood, and there are a large variety of wood species to choose from. Furthermore, luxury vinyl designed to look like wood (pretty convincingly so, too!) is becoming an increasingly popular alternative. It’s important to understand the similarities and differences, as well as the pros and cons of each if you want your floors to last a lifetime while looking their best.

In this Ultimate Guide to Hardwood Flooring we’ll educate you on the basics of hardwood flooring and cover the various types available in the market, as well as manufacturers we trust, installation know-how, cleaning and maintenance tips, and much more.

Before the Floor: Tree Anatomy and Characteristics

You know what they say about the beginning – it’s a very good place to start. Wood flooring is manufactured on a massive scale, and the materials are sourced from all around the globe. There are many different options when it comes to installing it in your home or business, so it’s a good call to do some preliminary research before you make your purchase.

Tree Translations

Let’s start with the very source of hardwood flooring: the tree itself. Once you know the anatomy of wood flooring, you’ll understand a bit more about why certain species of trees, growing characteristics, and the age of the tree itself all contribute to the final look of your floors. Every tree on earth can be segmented into five different parts: the pith, heartwood, sapwood, cambrium, and the bark. Of these five parts, the pith, heartwood, and sapwood all have an impact on the appearance of the wood used for flooring. For example, throughout these parts of the tree, pores and tunnels that carried sap and nutrients will in turn produce medullary rays, which are natural streaks of color that are a very desirable design characteristic in hardwood flooring

TIPS FOR CHOOSING BATHROOM TILE

That means that in the last few months I’ve selected tile for bathrooms. One in my own home and three in my aunt’s home. Selecting tile for someone else has taught me a lot about how to explain how to select tile for your bathroom.  I’ve come up with tips for choosing the perfect tile that I hope will help you if you ever decide to tackle your bathroom.

PICK YOUR MUST HAVE TILE FIRST.

Typically when we start a bathroom renovation we have one tile that we dream of including in our design. Sometimes it is a really special or unique accent tile and sometimes it is as simple as knowing that you want white subway tile. Either way, take that dream tile and use it as the starting point for the other tile you will choose for your bathroom design.

TRY TO KEEP IT TO NO MORE THAN 3 DIFFERENT TILES.

Taking your first (must have) choice as a starting point, use it to make the decisions for the other tiles you will include in your design. If your must have is a really unique color or pattern and is going to be the focal point of your design, pull more subtle colors from it to use in your accent tiles. If however your first choice is really plain (like a white subway tile) you may want to add an element of interest with a colorful accent tile or even a smaller scale white penny tile to change it up and add interest.

STICK TO ONE SHOW STOPPER.

There are so many beautiful tiles out there and a bathroom is a perfect place to show off some of your personality and take a risk with a fun color or pattern on your tiles. However, if you are going to go for it, keep it to one show stopper. This will make your look timeless and really create the wow factor that you are going for since it won’t be competing with the other elements in the room. (Many of these super special tiles can be pricey, but if you are working in a small area like a bathroom, they might just be the splurge you need since you won’t need very many square feet.)

TAKE MAINTENANCE INTO CONSIDERATION.

I don’t like to clean. I especially don’t like to clean the tub and shower so when choosing tile for these very wet areas you will probably want to go with porcelain or ceramic tile since they are virtually maintenance free. (You will want to double check to see if they need to be sealed.)  Tiles make from natural stone require more maintenance and do have to be sealed. They are definitely more pours so they tend to hold on to dirt and grim more. If you are wanting to add texture with stone, it may be a good idea to use it on the floor or in a less wet area. Lastly, glass tile is so pretty and makes a great wall or accent tile. It is super slippery, so it doesn’t work well on the floor.

STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON CHOOSING YOUR FLOORING

FINDING THE FLOOR COVERING THAT MATCHES YOUR STYLE

When deciding on the flooring for your home, there are a number of steps to consider finding your perfect match. We have compiled a list of 8 steps to help you with the process.

DECIDE ON YOUR BUDGET

Low-price range: there are plenty of great laminate flooring products for those on a tight budget, and these products are quite easy to install yourself, so you can save again on installation costs.

You can also consider tile flooring such as porcelain as it’s a very cost-effective option that combines beauty with durability. However, tile flooring requires a much more labour-intensive installation.

Mid-price range: There’s quite a great variety in the mid-price range, and Tile Wizards do offer great quality products that will suit. From carpet, timber-look flooring, and of course tiles, you will definitely be able to find something you like that also suits your budget.

High-price range: With a generous budget, it’s important to make sure you are getting really high-quality products. When you are spending a great amount of money on flooring, it’s highly recommended that you get qualified and experienced professionals to install your flooring and make sure your purchased products look their absolute best.

CONSIDER WHERE THE FLOORING IS BEING INSTALLED

High moisture rooms: If you are looking at flooring for high moisture areas such as the bathroom, laundry or kitchen, you will need to look at ceramic or porcelain tile or vinyl tile as its suited for high moisture environments.

Low moisture rooms: If moisture is not a limiting factor, all other types of flooring may still be considered and you can continue to the next step

DO YOU HAVE PETS OR CHILDREN?

Wear resistant flooring is a must for pets and children. Thus, it’s important to choose flooring with high durability and that are easy to clean, as some flooring options can be easily scratched and stained

Tile Buying Guide

Tile Sizes

Floor tile is usually 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick, manufactured in squares measuring 4 inches by 4 inches up to 24 inches by 24 inches. Other shapes are available, such as rectangular or subway tile, octagonal and hexagonal shapes.

Tile Ratings

Tile hardness ratings determine if the tile is suitable for the area where you plan to install it. Entryways need a hard, abrasion-resistant, moisture-proof tile. Baths require a moisture-proof, nonslip material (slip-resistant tile is treated with an abrasive material for safety). Some tile is rated for indoor or outdoor use only; others can be used in either application. If your home includes ramps for universal design and you plan on tiling a ramp to keep the flooring consistent with the rest of your home, explore slip-resistant tile

Porosity

Porosity ratings are important. Porosity is the ratio of voids (or airholes) to solids in a tile, which affects the percentage of water absorbed into a tile. The denser the tile, the less water it absorbs because it has less airholes to fill with water.

Firing

The firing process affects the hardness of tile. Usually, the longer and hotter the firing, the harder the tile will be. The raw tile material, called bisque, is either single fired or double fired.

Before You Start

The correct trowel and mortar as well as floor or wall, indoors or outdoors, tile type and size are all factors to consider before installation. Find the right trowel and mortar to make your next tile project successful.

Different Types of Tile Flooring

Tiles are a popular flooring choice in many Australian homes, offering a huge range of benefits. They will outlast any other flooring material, and keep the home nice and cool in the summer months. A good investment, floor tiles will almost always increase the value of your home and keep it looking its best long after being laid

Travertine

Travertine is a type of limestone that is a byproduct of natural artesian springs, hot springs, and caves from around the world. A natural, porous stone, its pits and rough texture are caused by air bubbles and organic matter, and this is what gives travertine tiles such as varying colours

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are manufactured from clay materials that are quarried, prepared, and then formed into a mould. They can be best characterised as either porcelain or non-porcelain

Marble

Marble is a highly durable stone that exists in almost every colour due to the variability of component minerals. Marble tiles have multiple finishes from polished to honed and brushed to tumbled, making marble an ideal choice for any room in your home.

Slate

Slate is a metamorphic rock which can be found in large deposits all over the world. Used in flooring for centuries, it comes in a range of colours, such as blue/grey, green, red, orange, or brown. There are often veins of colours running throughout the tile, meaning no tile is identical

Bathroom Tile Designs: How to Choose the Best Tiles for Your Bathroom

Durable and waterproof, tile is the perfect material for protecting the walls and floors of your bathroom from dirt and moisture. Available in a wide variety of materials, colors, and sizes, tile also offers you a lot of stylistic freedom – no matter what your design preferences are, you’re sure to find several types of bathroom tile that you’ll love. Keep reading for tips on how to choose bathroom tile colors, types, and sizes.

Consider Location

Your bathroom has several surfaces that can benefit from the protection of tile: the floor, the vanity backsplash, and the shower walls. Because tile is uniquely water-resistant and easy to clean, it’s a good idea to tile any surface that comes in contact with moisture. Once you have a location (or locations) picked out, it’s time to narrow down the types of bathroom tiles that are best suited for those surfaces.

Types of Bathroom Tiles

Ceramic: One of the more affordable and easy-to-install options, ceramic tile is great if you’re on a budget and want to DIY the installation. Basic ceramic tile is white and glossy, though it is available in a wide range of colorful glazes and painted designs.

Porcelain: Porcelain tile is denser and more durable than ceramic tile. It tends to be a bit more expensive than ceramic, but because of its increased impermeability and slip resistance, an investment in porcelain tile is well worth it. Porcelain is also available in a wide variety of bright colors. It’s important to note that, because of its density, porcelain is harder to cut and is not the best choice if you’re interested in tiling your bathroom yourself.

Glass: Pearly and polished in appearance, glass tile is a gorgeous choice of tile for the bathroom. Glass tile is lightweight and easy to install, though it tends to cost slightly more than ceramic tile.

THE BUYER’S GUIDE TO SELECTING THE BEST TILES FOR YOUR HOME

Why choose tiles?

Tiles are one of the most popular flooring solutions used these days. In addition to being strong and durable, they also give your home a classy look. Easy to maintain and clean, they come in a wide variety of colours and designs that easily blend in with the décor of your house.

Ceramic tiles

are available in glazed (polished) and unglazed varieties. Glazed ceramic tiles are either plain or decorated and are used on floors and walls.

Cement/concrete tiles

are extremely durable and strong, making them perfect for driveways and exterior floors. Since they don’t have a smooth finish they offer a good grip even when wet

Terracotta tiles

are made from natural clay. They are extremely durable and water resistant. They are glazed for variation in colour and extra durability. They are suitable for floors and walls and, although they are generally preferred in the living room, they are also used for the roof.

Mosaic tiles

are small tiles made from porcelain, natural stone, glass or ceramic. They come in glazed or unglazed versions and are a great way to add colour to your room without making it look fuzzy. They are generally installed in kitchens and bathrooms.

tips for selecting tiles

If you would like to make an informed decision when it comes to selecting tiles for your space, here are a few tips to help you.

With the plethora of options available in the market, it’s a challenge to choose the right tile for the right space. Popular tile brands in the market include Somany Ceramics, Kajaria Tiles, Nitco, Johnson Tiles, and Asian Granito. Each of these has thousands of options in various categories for both wall and floor tiles. There are vitrified tiles, ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, cement tiles, quartz, stone and even glass tiles available, making decision making a huge challenge

Down to the basics

The first step is deciding what kind of tile you need. For flooring, Vitrified tiles are the best bet since they are durable and can withstand heavy traffic. For walls, you can choose either ceramic or porcelain tiles as they are non-porous or do not absorb stains. For outdoors it’s best to opt for either matt finish or anti-skid tiles to avoid slips.

Size-it-up

Tiles these days are available in a wide range of sizes. Some popular sizes for floors include 300×600 mm, 600×600 mm, 610×610 mm and 800×800 mm, while wall tiles generally come in sizes of 250x350mm, 300x450mm, and 300x600mm. According to experts, large format tiles lend a more spacious look to space. However, it is advised to match tiles to room size. If the room is small, and you use large size tiles on the floor, then the room will look even smaller. For such a room, it is recommended to go for medium format size tiles like 250×350 mm. Also, it’s a good idea to opt for the size that entails a minimal amount of cutting and wastage. Example: If you have a room that is 6×5 ft, then pick a tile that is a multiple of the size of the room

Choose the right finish

With digital printing, it is now possible to recreate any pattern on a tile. However, the pattern and design should not be the only deciding factor. It’s important to identify the right finish as well. Glossy tiles look great on walls, while stone finish tiles are ideal for exteriors. For bedrooms, wood finishes are recommended since they lend a warm feel while for bathroom and kitchen walls one can experiment with metallics and mosaics in combination with plain tiles. For living rooms, natural finishes and designs are recommended while for restaurants its advised to look for anti-skid, high resistance vitrified tiles with a pattern or a design that suits the déco

The right colour

For flooring, it is usually advisable to opt for light colours to create an intimate look indoors. For outdoors one can experiment with darker colours. Light colours make the room look more spacious and airy while dark colours are easier to maintain.

FIND YOUR PERFECT TILE

With so many choices, finding the perfect tile may seem overwhelming. Your best resource are the professional interior designers at our Premier Dealers and showrooms. (And consultations are free!) But to get started, we have gathered basic information to help narrow the options.

SELECTING FLOOR TILE

Explore the different types of tile, variety of applications, and detailed information needed to make your best floor tile choice.

SELECTING WALL TILE

From large scale to mosaic and all the different options, delve into expert advice for selecting the ideal wall tile.

RESIDENTIAL SPACES

There are a few things you should be aware of before selecting tile for your home. For instance, as a rule, glazed floor tiles shouldn’t be used where water, oil or grease is consistently present. This may cause increased risk for slippage. Daltile also does not recommend glazed floor tiles on home exterior applications unless tiles are sufficiently protected from direct weather or are a textured tile

COMMERCIAL SPACES

Commercial spaces come with a slew of construction requirements. Selecting tile that meets these requirements is easy at Daltile. We test our tile for DCOF, breaking strength, and more, and we provide the results to you so you can make the best decisions. We always meet, and often exceed, ASTM standards but we encourage customers to have tile independently tested to determine if the product meets specific requirements.

All About Tile Flooring: Choosing the Best Type

Stain-Resistant Porcelain

“Porcelain is always a more popular choice than natural stone for the kitchen because it’s impervious to spills,” says James Brooks, owner of Floor Coverings International. When it comes to color and style, James considers the cabinets and countertops. “Look for a neutral tile without high shade variation to tie everything in the room together.” And to be safe, pick a grout color a shade or two darker than you think you want — it will hide inevitable stains better.

Durable Slate-Look Porcelain

“A laundry room or mudroom is going to get knocked around, so you want something strong,” says Joseph Jovinelli, VP at FLOORMAX. But homeowners also want to keep things casual or rustic in there, too. The solution is slate-look porcelain, which, he says “looks almost indistinguishable” from natural stone, but is impervious to moisture. Given the vibration of the washing machine and dryer, Joseph says that extra care and attention need to be given to preparation and installation.

Small Mosaic Tiles

A small room means using small tile, says Joseph, who points to mosaics as the hot trend in bathrooms right now. Tiles of one inch and smaller are much easier to install in a small room compared to a large one, even coming as they do on 12″ x 12″ sheets. In addition to their spectacular appearance, mosaics are a practical choice in moisture-prone baths because smaller tiles mean more grout lines and traction.

Vinyl Tile

The additional weight of tile flooring can become a structural issue in some areas of the home, explains Joseph, but that is definitely not the case in the basement, which has the most stable subsurface of the entire structure. That gives a homeowner the freedom to choose large, heavy tiles that may not work elsewhere.

Oversized Travertine Tile

While not common in bedrooms on a top floor due to load, noise and instability of subfloor, tile is a popular choice for ranch-style homes in the hot Southwest, says James. “Throughout the Southwest, you see really beautiful travertine or natural stone flooring throughout the house, including the bedrooms,” he says. “Natural stone has a cooler feel under foot.” And in climates that experience some seasonal chill, stone works great with radiant heating because it maintains and distributes the heat better than wood.

Choosing the Right Tile

Not all tiles are created equal. Well, they’re basically the same, but there are many small differences to consider when deciding the application intended.

Tiles are a combination of clay, minerals and solvents that are shaped and sized and then heated to very high temperatures. At this point, the tile can just stay as is and is considered finished. It’s unglazed and without decoration. Without the glaze, the tile is very porous and, though attractive in a rustic way, it wouldn’t be wise to use it at this stage in areas where spillage might be common, like the kitchen.

Glazing adds a non-porous element that’s usually impermeable and therefore good for all areas, including kitchens and baths, foyers and countertops. A good idea is to take this one step further and seal the grout around the tile so that it’s also waterproof.

Besides being beautiful, ceramic tile is a desirable surface. Let me count the ways: It’s strong, colorfast, and flame-resistant, it doesn’t conduct heat or electricity, it’s hygienic, it won’t absorb odors or emit hazardous chemicals, it won’t swell or contract in extreme temperatures, and it’s easy to clean

Where do these tiles come from? All around the world. Is tile from Spain better than tile from France? No, the only real differences are in design and perhaps shape.