TILE

Tile Flooring

DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILE FLOORING

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are made of natural clay minerals mixed together, glazed on one side, and then fired under extreme heat to create a strong, resilient material. You can find them in a glossy or matte finish, usually sold in half- to three-quarter-inch thick four-by-four squares, but you can also find large squares. It is very durable; dent, scratch, and stain-resistant; huge selection of colors, shapes, and sizes; affordable and very easy to clean. Hard and cold underfoot, which can lead to back and leg fatigue if you’re standing on it for a long time (which is not unusual during a cooking marathon for a dinner party, for example); slippery when wet; pretty unforgivable when a glass object is dropped on it; and while the tile itself is easy to keep clean, the grout is prone to discoloring.

Porcelain

Porcelain tile is both harder and denser than many other ceramic tile products. It is highly resistant to stain, scratch, and moisture. Porcelain tile is a hard wearing material which is resistant to harsher cleaning agents, scratches, stains, fading, heavy loads and fire. It is strong and long-lasting. Porcelain tile flooring has low water absorption. Therefore, less staining occurs on these floors and they are easier to clean.  Porcelain bathroom tile is very popular.

Natural Stone Tile

Natural stone refers to a variety of mountain born materials including Slate, Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Granite, and Sandstone. Each of these has slightly different properties. It’s important to understand the characteristics of the type of natural stone tile you are purchasing in order to determine whether it is appropriate for a specific location.

Limestone 

Known for its natural, earthen appearance, limestone is formed from sedimentary materials, such as coral and shells. Unlike some stones, when limestone is cut from the same slab, it has little color variation from tile to tile. The stone can be sanded perfectly smooth for a soothing, refined look, or machine-tumbled for a worn look. If you use limestone in a room where acidic liquids might spill, consider sealing this porous material every few years.

Marble 

This porous stone is a sophisticated stone tile choice for formal spaces but is easily scratched. Slabs or tiles come in many colors, based on where they were quarried. Some varieties of marble are harder and more stain-resistant than others, so ask your dealer if the marble you are considering will perform well for the use you have in mind.

Travertine

Travertine tile is perfect for high traffic areas and complements any architectural design from rustic to contemporary. Travertine is a natural stone that originates in groundwater and streams just below the earth’s surface. Formed when calcium carbonate precipitates from heavily concentrated calcium ion groundwater, each piece of travertine has its own natural texture. This crystallized, partially metamorphosed limestone is often mistaken for marble.

Finally, at Floors and Designs, we rely heavily on referrals and repeat business, so we stand behind the products we sell and install. If there is a problem after tile flooring installation, we will return and fix the problem at no additional cost to you. We are your tile flooring specialists and will work with you every step of the way. Our job is not done until you are completely satisfied.

Call us today and let us exceed your expectations!