Modern homes are mostly fitted with tiled floors, which making cleaning and maintenance a breeze. Choosing the right kind of floor tiles is rather a complicated task because of the number of varieties available. The main kinds are pressed tiles and extruded (stone) tiles.
Kitchen tile flooring is usually chosen from pressed tile varieties, which are suitable for domestic use. Pressed tiles are very common and are divided into mono-cottura and bi-cottura types:
• Mono-cottura tiles are fired at very high temperatures; as a result the base is much stronger. These tiles have higher impact resistance but this does not affect how long the glaze will last.
• Bi-cottura tiles are a lot finer and consist of a far more decorative glaze.
Fully vitrified or porcelain ones are yet another variety of the pressed style, which is characterized by great durability. The good brands manufacture these ones that are almost non porous and you can usually find them in shopping malls. They will be very well suited for kitchen tile flooring purposes. Manufacturers will put a high glaze on the tiles to market them as high quality glazed tiles; however, the glaze can and will wear depending on use.
Extruded tiles are made from wet clay and then extruded into shape and fired. These tiles are best suited for the outside of the house to provide a rustic effect. They are also referred to as quarry tiles.
Stone tiles are of either slate, sandstone, granite or other stone material. These tiles are very expensive and do not have the finish pressed tiles have. These tiles may not be best suited for kitchen tile flooring; even though they are sealed the glaze is not as effective. Stone tiles have their own limitations but are strong with low porosity.
Kitchens are one of the busiest areas in a home apart from bathrooms; you need to have a durable floor that is easy to clean and maintain. Tile flooring of marble, ceramic, porcelain or slate are all highly durable materials. They have the added benefit of providing protection against water damage. Protecting your kitchen floor against moisture should be one of your prime considerations when choosing kitchen tile flooring.
Some tips when choosing your kitchen tile flooring:
– You need to make sure that the tile wear is correctly rated for the job you have in mind.
– Tiles vary in color from one batch to the next because it is virtually impossible to get the exact same shade with every batch. You have to take perfect measurements and buy the quantity you require to complete the entire kitchen tile flooring project. It is not a good idea to buy them in lots; you will end up with a patchy kitchen floor.
– It is recommended you buy more than the exact quantity of tiles to cover any breakage or damage. You should promptly return the tiles to the manufacturer once your kitchen tile flooring project is completed – they usually take them back.
– Choose a reputed store with a reasonable size stock instead of a very small retailer who may or may not be able to supply your entire requirement.
