The 6 Most Popular Tiles for Your Renovation
Tiles are the cornerstone to a beautifully designed project. Choosing tiles could be a daunting task, so we’ll help you narrow it down by materials.
The bathroom and kitchen are unlike other areas of the home – specific types of floors and walls to withstand daily and prolonged use should be installed to lasts. Each of our renovations include heavy-duty waterproofing behind your walls and on your floors to protect the foundation of your home.
You’re ready for something new. Your tiling will set the scene of of your home each time you step in. To help you make the right decision, we’ve created the ultimate post – let’s jump in.
01
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are at the forefront of home renovations. This material is the most widely available because it’s strong, durable and protects against moisture. You can find ceramic tiles in nearly every texture, finish, shape, size, and color imaginable, letting you easily mix and match for your floors and walls.
Many of the marble-look designs in bathroom and kitchen renovations are actually ceramic. The material even comes in wood texture – finally letting home renovators get that wood look for their project while protecting against moisture.
The pros are that the material is relatively inexpensive and durable. There is virtually no downside to ceramic except that it’s cold when installed as a floor tile so heated flooring is recommended.
02
Porcelain
Tied for first, porcelain tiles are one of the most universally used tiles in a home project. If you are looking for a design option that gives you plenty of room to innovate, then porcelain tiles are the perfect choice.
Like ceramic, porcelain is available in thousands of different shapes, sizes and textures. With limitless design options, high durability, and limited maintenance requirements, porcelain is a great option for any renovation.
03
Marble
Next up, one of the most popular options for bathroom floors and walls. Marble has been used for tiling walls and floors as far as history remembers.
As a natural stone, it’s composed of hard material and built to last. Boasting a distinctive, elegant quality, it offers an original appearance that is unmatched by other tiling.
Marble is durable, easy to polish, conducts heat very well and has a glassy, beautiful appearance. In addition, it’s all-natural, and comes in a range of colors. The beauty of this stone, however, does come with an increased price-tag.
Quick Tip: Polished marble is not the best bathroom floor tile because it's slippery. For this reason, the typical bathroom renovator will used honed marble to protect against slippery floors.
04
Granite
The next option you should consider is granite. Made from glitters of feldspar crystals and quartz, granite flooring blends in with traditional and contemporary spaces due to its unique finish and color variations.
If you’re searching for exceptional tiles, you can’t go wrong with granite tiles. Its cooling effects makes it a comfortable option, especially in warmer climates. It is known for being a luxurious flooring option, resistant to moisture, fade resistant and beautiful, although the downside is that the material is heavy, difficult to cut and therefore very time-consuming to install. You’ll also need to seal granite from time to time, making the upkeep a bit harder than other tiling choices.
05
Terracotta
Known for their versatility, Terracotta tiles are an old-fashioned option. They provide a delightful, cozy, and homey ambiance that stands out – they’re known to be comforting to the eyes. Made using earthy hued or discrete red clay, it has a strong surface and requires a sealing agent after two years for protecting the tiles, making them farther down the rung in terms of in-door tiling.
Terracotta tiles are eco-friendly, relatively affordable, available in an abundance of designs and textures and can last a long time without showing signs of wear and tear. However, they’re porous and not typically used in modern bathroom design.
06
Vinyl
A quick, cost-saving option is vinyl tiles. Vinyl is typically used in renovations where the renovator is looking to save on flooring and wall tiles costs; they're inexpensive and easy to install. These tiles are not prone to breakage, although they do become discolored over time.
The pros are that they’re resilient to moisture, affordable, come in many different designs and are easy to install, but vinyl is not nearly as beautiful or long-lasting as compared to ceramic, porcelain or marble.
Now that you know about the different types of tiles that you can use for your renovation, you can have a better sense of the pros and cons of the most popular materials. From ceramic tiles to marble, each option has something to offer. At the end of the day, it all comes down to preferences. Click here to get an all-inclusive estimate on your project.