Five Tips to Consider when Choosing Tile for Your Home Flooring

When picking tile for your next home project you'll find you have many options from which to choose. Ceramic tile is the most popular because it is functional and durable. But you can also choose decorative tile, such as metal or glass tile. Which tile is right for you really depends on what you plan to do with it.

First, let's examine a few tips you need to consider for your next tile project and tips for tiling certain areas of your home.

*Be sure when buying tile it suits your purpose. For example, some tile is sturdy enough that it can be installed outdoors in just about any climate. Other tile, however, is only strong enough for indoor floors or walls and countertops. So when choosing tile, it's important to pick the right tile for the job.

*Note how the tiles are rated for slip-resistance. What this means is heavily glazed tiles won't work very well in wet areas such as bathrooms, entryways and kitchens.

*If the speed of the job is important, remember that larger tiles are quicker to install on average.

*Find out whether trim pieces such as bull-nose tiles (tiles with one or two rounded edges instead of four 90-degree corners) and cove (aka curved) tiles are available in a tile you're considering. These pieces can be critical to making the installed tile visually pleasing, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.

*If there's no trim tile available in your tile of choice, consider choosing a second tile and adapt its trim pieces for use in a coordinated design you create. You can also use wood strips in place of trim if need be.

Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing Tile

Tile is very durable - so much that, depending on use, some types may last for the lifetime of the house. While picking something trendy, like glass or metal, might seem stylish at the time, it can also look outdated in a few years. Solid or lightly patterned tiles in neutral colors have a classic look and are easy to decorate around.

Other pitfalls to consider include:

*Very light solids (like almond and white) or very dark tiles (such as navy, black, and chocolate brown) show more soil.

*High-sheen tiles easily show dull footprints from people and pets.

*To make a room appear larger, pick large, light-colored tiles. Go with smaller, darker tiles to make a space seem smaller and more intimate.

*Take home some sample tiles so you can get an idea of how they will look. Dry-lay (set the tiles on the surface without grout) to see whether the color and design work with the room's lighting. You can also test potential floor and countertop tiles for heel and pot marks. In addition, test the tiles to see if they are easy to clean.

*White and light-colored grouts can be difficult to keep clean. This is especially true on floors and counter tops. By choosing a darker grout - like dark gray or walnut brown - it can save you tons of cleaning time.

Picking the Right Tile for You

By remembering these tile tips and suggestions, choosing tile will be a snap. For best project results, plan ahead. Also remember that what you pick today can theoretically last for decades, so be sure that the choice you make is a sound one.