Floor Tile ComparisonsWhether it is for an entryway, kitchen, bathroom or another area of your home, with so many choices which one is best for you?
Choosing can be mind-boggling! But do not fear...this is the right place to find it all broken down just for you!
With tons of colors, textures, tiles sizes, and materials of excellent durability qualities available, you'll find price ranges to fit any budget.
We have provided complete descriptions with options and recommendations to help you get a great start on your tile flooring project... We all know that knowledge is powerful...Keep reading and learn!
Marble, Travertine, LimestoneSmooth, hard, cool to the touch and beautifully patterned, marble flooring, limestone and travertine tile offer the classic look of elegance and create a very luxurious effect. Available in a wide variety of colors, especially earth tones, and often imitated by other types of floor tile such as ceramic and porcelain. Marble, travertine and limestone are calcite-based stones and have similar properties when it comes to care and cleaning. Marble is relatively simple to maintain once you know how. Most problems are simple to solve, however, sealing may be necessary to protect against staining. Using the proper cleaning products requires a little more care and work, but it is a must... the results is a terrific looking tile floor! Extremely durable and versatile, marble, travertine or limestone floor tile can be used anywhere in your home, even your patio, but are particularly suitable for bathrooms, showers, hallways and formal living areas... Etching in marble may be a concern, and when it comes to cleaning, using the proper product for marble is a MUST! Taking care of marble requires a bit more work than other types of tile flooring, but the beauty it adds to your home will be worth it... Bear in mind that counter tops are more susceptible to etching than flooring. While they are expensive, hard underfoot, can stain, be difficult to lay and generally too heavy for upper floors without reinforcing the sub-flooring, they will last a lifetime... Granite TileGranite floor tile is basically indestructible if you choose the right variety... It can be used in any room with no concern, including an entry way or outdoor patio.Unlike marble, limestone and travertine, granite tile does not etch the same way and rarely is staining a problem. There is basically an endless array of patterns and magnificent colors for you to choose from... Like most floor tile, granite has maintenance requirements... Depending on the degree of use and wear, polished granite may require periodic re-polishing just like any polished stone floor will. To help reduce the chance of staining, some types of granite tiles may need to be sealed.
Slate TileRugged and rustic looking slate flooring tile is definitely unique and loved by many. The distinctive characteristics are easy to spot and adds to its allure, but the up-keep can be over-whelming... and is a draw back for some consumers... But slate floor tile makes an exceptionally good-looking, tough flooring material, and one that will receive much envy! Not all slate is alike and the quality can vary widely from soft and crumbly to hard and dense. Slate is usually thought of as "dreary" gray, but it comes in colors, too! You will find green, blue, black, gray, rust and multi-colors of all of them, together. Most slate must be sealed to prevent staining. The cleft (ridges) finish slate is noted for collects dirt easily. Also, any element that is acidic will cause etching (corrosion) if it comes into contact with slate tiles. Slate may not be the best choice for large flooring areas because of the the up-keep it requires. Having it honed (smoothed) will reduce the time and care needed to keep your flooring looking its best... Cleaning Natural Stone FlooringUsing the proper cleaning product is very important when it comes to cleaning natural stone flooring. It eliminates the possibility of apply a product with acidic ingredients that are harmful to the finished stones. I recommend Scp-DAILY CLEAN. An excellent, safe, effective product that will preserve the quality of the stone and keep it looking like new! Porcelain TilePorcelain is steadily gaining in status as an alternative to stone or ceramic floor tile... It's characteristics are equal to natural stone tile without the price...Also, it is more durable, longer wearing and more damage resistant than ceramic, which make it suitable for any area in your home. Full-bodied porcelain carry the color and patterns throughout it's thickness making it virtually impervious to wear and suitable for residential, commercial and industrial highest traffic application. If you like the stone tile look, but fear the price, porcelain floor tile provides a better imitation than any other "non-stone" tile. There are plenty of choices in patterns, colors and textures available to compliment any style or design. Nearly maintenance free, and cleaning is a breeze with just soap and water!
Ceramic Tile FlooringPopularity has greatly increased for ceramic tile flooring as an alternative to natural stone tile. It wears well in light to moderate traffic areas, but is more prone to chipping and wear than is porcelain tile. Of all the hard tiles, ceramic offers the most choices in colors, shapes and patterns. It's suitability for any room makes ceramic a versatile tile floor covering. The finishing glaze may give it a plastic "look" (depending on your choice of color & pattern). None-the-less, it has great eye-appeal and style... It provides better traction than most stone tiles and is resistant to water and stains. No special cleaning agents are needed; diluted household detergent will work just fine.
Saltillo TileSaltillo tile captures the rich yellow-orange colors of the Southwestern desert clay it is made of. In a class by itself, each tile is made by hand and no two tiles are the same...It's uniqueness and color cannot be compared to any other floor tile and is what people are drawn to and love... The downside, clay is very porous and stains easily. In colder climates it may crack and scratch more easily. NOT the best choice for kitchen or bathroom. Lack of uniform tiles makes them difficult and consequently expensive to install. Saltillo tile should be sealed before, immediately after and every six months there of once installed.
Cork TileGrowing by leaps and bounds, cork flooring tile is quickly becoming the flooring of choice over other types of tile, and especially so for kitchens and bathrooms, ...
Long-wearing, affordable, rich and warm looking, easy to take care of and easy to install are just a few features why it has gained such popularity! It's natural insulating and sound proofing properties, resistance to friction, impact, moisture, dust, mold, bacteria and rot make it suitable for any room... and hard not to like! With so many incredible colors, patterns and designs available, there is something to fit any life style and the creative mind... just imagine. Cork floor tile require very little maintenance... once installed apply a coat of acrylic varnish sealant, and from then on when the tiles begin looking dull. Rubber TileMade from synthetic materials, rubber flooring tiles are square and available in many sizes, thickness, colors, simulated stones, patterns, textures and finish. They are hard-wearing and resistant to most flooring issues, but can mark easily. Rubber floor tiles are better suited for wet areas like the kitchen, bathroom, utility room or garage, but work well in a child's bedroom or play room too. They are affordable, practical and very contemporary, with minor drawbacks compared to other types of tile. Dirt can accumulate in raised or dimpled textures and light colors show the dirt more easily. Special products are needed for polishing the surface. Rubber tiles are not difficult to install, but are heavier and harder to handle than cork, vinyl or linoleum tiles.
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