Due to their versatility and durability, floor tiles are becoming more and more popular with both home owners and decorators alike. floor tiles are available in a large variety of materials and finishes and the market is flush with mosaic tiles, ceramic tiles, terracotta tiles and porcelain tiles. Specialty tiles like glass floor tiles, metal tiles and leather tiles are also being used by a number of people who want their homes and their floors to stand out.  If you are planning to re-floor your home using tiles, then read on for a general introduction to the most common types of floor tiles.

Ceramic Tiles
Till date, ceramic floor tiles have been mostly used in kitchens and bathrooms by virtue of being water proof and easy to clean. However, due the large variety of designs, styles, colors, textures and sizes that ceramic tiles are nowadays available in, they are becoming an extremely popular flooring option for the whole house.

One of the major advantages of using ceramic floor tiles is that they are cheaper than porcelain tiles, marble and granite flooring but still manage to look very similar to these kinds of flooring at a fraction of the cost. Apart from this, ceramic tiles are extremely durable with a life span of at least thirty years, are easy to clean and maintain and are bacteria and water resistant. They are a perfect option for people who are looking for hypo allergenic flooring at low costs. Ceramic tiles are conducive to under floor heating as well and therefore more and more people are nowadays using it in their living and bed rooms instead of confining the use of the ceramic floor tile to kitchens and baths. An extremely large variety of colors and designs ensures that you can find a floor tile that suits your décor scheme and budget easily.  Ceramic tiles are easy to install and require no glazing or sealing like other types of tiles. However, if they are not installed neatly, they can look very tacky and cheap, so consider a do it yourself job only if you are sure that you will be able to do it well.

The only disadvantage to using ceramic tiles is that they feel pretty hard and cold underfoot, especially if you are living in a cold area, but the same can be an advantage if you live at a place that is hot and dry. You can use area rugs and carpets to soften the hard edge that a ceramic floor gives to your house while availing all the other advantages of this cost effective and versatile flooring option.

Mosaic Tiles
Mosaic tiles provide you with an extremely large number of design and color options, and this is the main reason for the popularity of mosaic tile floors. Mosaic tiles can be laid down as patterns, designs, pictures or at random to give your house and rooms a customized and unique floor that no one else has.

You can use separate mosaic tiles available as two inch squares or buy a pattern or design that is already mounted on a mesh screen for your home. If you are installing the tiles on the floor, then going for a mesh backed style is better, but if you are planning to create your own artwork in the middle of the floor or on a table or wall, then you might have to work with individual tiles.

The advantage of using mosaic tiles is that they are durable by virtue of being made out of ceramic or porcelain. These tiles are also bacteria and water resistant and are therefore perfect for kitchens, bathrooms and the outdoors. Mosaic tiles require minimum maintenance and are extremely easy to clean. However, if you buy glazed tiles and seal them, then your floor will stay cleaner and last longer than an unsealed mosaic floor. The most important advantage associated with mosaic tiles is that they are the cheapest tiles available in the market (the main reason why you find them used so often in public rest rooms). The disadvantage is that your floor might be colder and harder than you like and the tiles might break sooner than expected if they are not installed properly. Do it yourself only if you are an expert.

Terracotta Tiles
Terracotta tiles are made out of fired clay and the main reason for their growing popularity is that they are and look natural and provide a unique hand crafted look to your floor. No two terracotta tiles look exactly the same and therefore each and every terracotta floor has a unique character and identity of its own. These tiles are available in a number of sizes and shapes and are extremely versatile and durable. Because of these reasons, terracotta tiles are nowadays being used both inside the house in living, bed and bath rooms and kitchens and outside the house on the patio and the drive.

Terracotta tiles are extremely versatile and can go well with most types of decors because of their natural look and color. You might also consider teaming your terracotta tiles with porcelain or ceramic tiles to create an interesting pattern and texture on your floor. Or you can go for combinations of light and dark terracotta tiles to create designs on your floor.

Terracotta floors are not only very easy to clean; they are also water, bacteria and allergen resistant, which makes them a popular choice amongst the health conscious. Because terracotta tiles are made out of a natural material, they are cold during summer and warm during winters. These tiles add warmth and natural beauty to a home. Apart from this, terracotta tiles are extremely economical and long lasting. However, in order to get the best from your terracotta floor, you will have to get it properly sealed during installation so that it becomes water and dust resistant. Installation is slightly tricky and might take more time than other flooring options, but this is a floor that will look better with age and look clean without any fuss whatsoever.

Tags: ceramic floor tiles | ceramic floor tile | ceramic floor tile | terracotta tile | terracotta tile | mosaic tile | floor tiles | floor tile | floor tile

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit