Tile: Choosing a Home Flooring Design

An Overview of Tile Composition Options

Christine Cadena
Re-desiging a floor in your home can be an exciting, yet frustruating time. With so many floor tile options available, the saavy homeowner would serve well to educate and review the dynamics of the tile materials, the value of each and the methods for repairing stains and scratches. The following is an overview of floor tile and the applications in home flooring use:

Porcelain Tile:

Available in varying colors and textures, procelain tile is highly effective as a durable floor tile for the home. With low water absorption, porcelain tile is extremely durable and requires little in terms of maintenance. As a stain resistant floor tile, the porcelain tile can be used for both indoor and outdoor home flooring as it will maintain stability under the most extreme of flooring conditions. In contrast to other floor tile materials, porcelain floor tiles are known for the richness of colors which are died and melded deep into the floor tile allowing for fade resistance.

Ceramic Tile:

Creating a natural floor tile look and finish, ceramic floor tile comes in a variety of colors and textures. Purchasing ceramic floor tile with a glazed seal will ensure a more pleasant home cleaning experience. Considered the most efficient and least expensive of all floor tiles, ceramic floor tile provides a convenient budget conscious option to that of other floor tile processes. While the labor to install ceramic floor tile may not be any easier than other floor tile, the cost associated with supplies is significantly less. In addition, ceramic floor tile tends to outlive other floor tile materials and is generally slip resistant providing additional advantages to ceramic use in lieu of other floor tile compositions.

Marble Tile:

Imported internationally, marble floor tile is known as an elegant all natural product which adds beauty and significant value to the home. Because marble floor tile can be easily stained and scratched, it is not recommended for use in high traffic areas. Additionally, marble floor tile is extremely slippery when floors become wet and, therefore, is not generally used in the flooring areas of kitchens and bathrooms. As an high end flooring product, marble floor tiles should be professionally installed which compounds the cost involved with installation. However, once installed, marble floor tiles will provide many years of enjoyment to your home decor.

As with any home decorating or design project, understanding the concept of the floor tile composition will ensure a more educated decision is made in the floor tile selection process. In addition to floor tile composition, the homeowner should also consider the cost of supplies specific to that tile composition and the cost associated with installation. When compiling these facts, tile floor composition, supplies and labor costs, the homeowner will have a more educated basis on which to choose new home floor tiles.

Published by Christine Cadena

Working on a graduate degree in psychology, Christine has both professional and educational background in health, wellness, insurance, and health finance. Finance expands to all facets of health and insuran...  View profile

  • Ceramic tile provides the most cost effective approach to flooring
  • Porcelain tile is the most fade resistant of manufactured tile
  • Marble tile becomes slippery when wet and is, therefore, not used in bathrooms and kitchens
Floor tiles are now commonly used as blacksplashes, kitchen counter tops and even to add decor to a fireplace framing.

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