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Tile flooring is great because of its durability and multitudes of designs and styles. Finding the right tile can seem overwhelming at first, but with a little research, you can find the flooring option that best fits your needs. You’ll want to pick out the right tile for your space. That includes choosing the right design, the correct hardness, the perfect size and the proper shape. Tile can simply stun when everything falls into place, and if you choose an affordable type of flooring, you won’t have to break the bank for great style, either.
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What Is Tile Flooring?
Tile flooring typically shows up in bathrooms and kitchens but can be used throughout the house. Tile comes in two forms: ceramic and porcelain, so it’s important to know the differences between the two before selecting tile flooring.
Types of Tile Flooring
Though there are two types of tile, there is also floor tile and wall tile. Wall tile is thinner, lighter and not suitable for foot traffic. It rates lower on the hardness scale. Wall tile is used primarily for backsplashes or countertops.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile isn’t as durable as porcelain tile because of the way it’s composed and fired. But it is cheaper than porcelain tile, easier to cut, more flexible and can have texture for an added visual effect.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile differs from ceramic tile because it’s made with finer clay packed at higher pressures and baked at higher temperatures. Those differences make porcelain more durable than ceramic and it’s less porous than ceramic.
Tile Sizes
Tiles can come in a variety of sizes. Tile is considered large when it reaches 15 inches or greater. Tile also comes in squares from 2 inches to 12 inches, but usually come in 6-inch squares. Rectangular tile typically comes in sizes like 1-inch by 3-inch, 4-inch by 16-inch or even larger sizes like 6-inch by 24-inch or 12-inch by 48-inch.
Mosaic tiles come in smaller sizes from ½-inch to 2 inches and can be arranged easily into different shapes.
Tile Ratings
Tile has five hardness rating classes, according to the Porcelain Enamel Institute. The higher the grade, the more resistant the tile is to scratching and chipping.
Class I: Wall-only applications
Class II: Lightfoot traffic, more ideal for bathrooms
Class III: Light to moderate foot traffic, good for areas with routine foot traffic
Class IV: Moderate to heavy foot traffic, perfect for all home use
Class V: Heavy foot traffic, perfect for all home use and heavy commercial use
Floor Tile Pros and Cons
Before buying, it’s important to know the pros and cons of tile flooring to make sure it’s the right material for your home.
Pros
Durable: Porcelain tile is waterproof while ceramic is more porous, which is something to consider when choosing between the two. Both are durable and rarely crack or chip. Plus, tile can be stain resistant, slip-resistant as well as scratch and dent-proof.
Porcelain tile is waterproof while ceramic is more porous, which is something to consider when choosing between the two. Both are durable and rarely crack or chip. Plus, tile can be stain resistant, slip-resistant as well as scratch and dent-proof. Easy to Maintain: Like with other smooth floor finishes, tile cleans up easily. Floors can be swept easily and spills cleaned up without staining. You can mop tile floors with a mild detergent to keep them extra clean.
Like with other smooth floor finishes, tile cleans up easily. Floors can be swept easily and spills cleaned up without staining. You can mop tile floors with a mild detergent to keep them extra clean. Affordable: Ceramic and porcelain tile can range from $1 per square foot up to $9 per square foot at home improvement stores.
Cons
Tough to install: Cutting and installing tile is a tedious task that requires precision to make the job go smoothly. Once cut, grout needs to be applied to put the tiles in place. Long story short, it’s a big job and if you’re not DIY-inclined, it’s best left to the pros.
Cutting and installing tile is a tedious task that requires precision to make the job go smoothly. Once cut, grout needs to be applied to put the tiles in place. Long story short, it’s a big job and if you’re not DIY-inclined, it’s best left to the pros. Cold: Tile isn’t a great heat conductor, which leads some homeowners to install radiant floor heating.
Tile isn’t a great heat conductor, which leads some homeowners to install radiant floor heating. Grout needs attention: If a grout sealer isn’t used after installing tile, the grout lines can be prone to stains.
Tile Flooring Factors to Consider
Ceramic vs. porcelain tile
Durability
Water-resistance (Porcelain tile is water-resistant, while ceramic is more porous)
Attractiveness
Tile size and shape
Where tile is Installed (Higher traffic areas require harder tiles)
Sunlight (Some tiles can withstand more sunlight than others and not fade)
Tile Flooring Costs by Type
Tile Flooring Labor Costs
Tile flooring installation can range from $1,500 (including tile) to $2,400 for a 120-square foot space, which equals around $13 to $20 per square foot.
How to Choose the Right Tile Flooring for You
First, identify the space that you want to install tile and determine how much foot traffic that space typically sees. If it’s a higher traffic area, you’ll want to pick a harder tile, if it doesn’t see much foot traffic, you can go with a softer tile.
Tile design is another important factor because it can increase or decrease the installation time. Smaller, more intricate mosaic designs will need more time than larger subway tile designs.
You’ll also want to pick the shape of the tile. Different shapes work better in different spaces than others, so choose wisely.
You might have to pick between ceramic and porcelain tile, so be sure to know which kind of tile is best for a specific area.
Tile Flooring Designs
Basketweaves
Chevrons
Diamonds
Herringbones
Mosaic
Offsets
Pinwheels
Versailles
Tile Shapes
Circles
Diamonds
Hexagons
Octagon
Ovals
Parallelogram
Rectangles
Squares
Trapezoid
Triangles
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Tile Floor Installation
Installing tile floors involves ripping up the old floor and applying an adhesive base on a flat subfloor. The adhesive layer needs to be consistent and spacers used to prevent an uneven lippage.
Tile adhesives can be grout, which is placed between the tiles and to the subfloor and tile. There are sanded grout and unsanded grout. Sanded grout works best for larger grout lines and unsanded grout works better for smaller grout lines.
Mortar is a mix of cement, lime, sand and water that can be used to lay tile. Mortar is applied to the back of the tile and placed on the subfloor with spacers in between for grout lines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is tile flooring installation a DIY project? If you’re knowledgeable, slightly adventurous or both, then installing tile flooring can be a DIY project, but expect for the process to take at least a week. You need time to rip up the old floor, apply the tile, let it dry and seal it. How long before you can walk on newly laid floor tiles? It typically takes 24 hours for tile to set before you can begin walking on it. How long will tile floors last? The National Association of Home Builders estimates the average lifespan of ceramic tile floors to be around 75 to 100 years. Porcelain tile floors typically last around 50 years.
