Selecting a bathroom floor tile is an important decision, not only does it have a strong influence on your bathrooms appearance, but once laid it is a semi permanent fixture. You need to consider the visual appeal of your bathroom floor tile choice, functionality, durability and cost.
If you are having difficulty deciding which type of bathroom floor tile to choose then the following information provides a lit of pros and cons on different floor tiles and some questions to ask yourself when trying to make a decision.
-Ceramic tiles-
Ceramic tiles are the most popular choice in bathroom floor coverings because they tend to score well in the three main areas of appearance, price and practicality. Many public restrooms use this type of tile.
Pros-cost effective, quite strong and durable, wide variety of designs available including tiles that look like natural stone, quite easy to cut and fit.
Cons-tendency to chip particularly on the corner of tiles, cold underfoot, can be slippery.
-Porcelain tiles-
Pros-very durable- they have a stronger chip resistance then ceramic tiles and if they do chip it won't be obvious because they are manufactured from the same material all the way through, also available in many different designs, still fairly competitively priced, bacteria does not breed easily and they are one of the most resistant tiles to staining.
Cons-they tend to be a little more expensive then ceramic tile, cold underfoot, can be slippery.
-Natural stone tiles-
Natural stone tiles are made from natural sources like; marble, limestone, sandstone, slate and granite. Please be aware that natural stone tends to be quite heavy so you must ensure that you have a good quality slab to lay these tiles on. Some homes these days have been built in a somewhat slap dash manner and the slab is filled with waffle pod and as little as 3-4cm of concrete. Applying a heavy weight can cause a cave in.
Pros-timeless appeal, all natural, the most durable, no moisture problems
Cons-cold underfoot, can be slippery (think about wet rocks at the beach), most expensive, can be difficult to cut to fit
-Vinyl tiles-
Pros-easiest to install, cut and fit making them great for DIY jobs, limitless choice in designs, they don't feel cold underfoot.
Cons-they tend to lift over time especially in areas where moisture exposure is high, they also tend to look cheap and they tend to be less hygienic in that they are a more favorable breeding ground for germs
-Quarry tiles-
Quarry tiles are constructed from clay or shale.
Pros-they are made to endure, which is why many commercial businesses in the fast food and restaurant arena use this type of tile.
Cons-you are limited to natural colors like dark red, grey and brown.
-Terrazzo or agglomerate tiles-
These tiles are made from natural stone chips combined with an epoxy mix.
Pros-they incorporate the stone element, they come in various styles and sizes and are typically only up to 2cm thick so are suitable for different slabs.
Cons-they don't have the durability of all stone tiles or the same timeless appeal.
Questions to ask when trying to decide on a tile type:
How long do you want the tile's to last? If you plan to live in the home for decades then maybe stone would be a wise investment, however if you think you will sell your home within a couple of years vinyl might be the way to go.
How much cleaning and maintenance are you prepared to do?
Who uses the bathroom? If young children or elederly people are frequent users then you'll probably want to choose a textured tile to avoid slips.
Will you use the same tile on the walls? If not how will the combination look?
If the bathroom is an ensuite off a bedroom does it compliment the dcor in the bedroom?
Some extra information to be aware of:
-If you like the look and hardwearing nature of porcelain, ceramic or stone tiles, but don't want them to feel cold underfoot you can have an electric floor heating system applied under your tiles.
- The larger the tiled surface the more slippery the floor, grout provides something for the feet to hold onto, and textured surfaces can also solve this problem. However, larger tiled surfaces are typically easier to clean because there isn't as much grout for soap scum to build up in. Larger tiles also make the space look bigger.
-Tiles are typically the most suitable floor covering choice for bathrooms, but there are a few other options like; wood, laminate, plain or polished concrete and rubber.
The decisions don't stop once you have decided upon a tile type. Next you'll need to consider color, size, shape, laying pattern and decorative choices like borders, mosaic sections and grout color. Enjoy!