Ceramic Tile Flooring
You can use ceramic tile to create patterns and designs in your floor. Different sizes of tiles can be combined to create a stylish pattern around the edge of the floor or throughout the entire room.
All ceramic tile is made from either manmade or natural clay that contains a mixture of stone. They are poured into a mold and fired or dried naturally. Color is often added to enhance the look of the tile. Porcelain tiles are fired at very high temperatures and they can be made to look like stone or some other type of flooring material. You can get the rustic look of brick that is popular for both inside and outside the home.
Ceramic tile flooring is durable and is especially appropriate in areas of high traffic. The glazed finished tile does not absorb moisture and is great for the kitchen and bathroom. It is often used in commercial business because of the durability and ease of care. It has a high resistance to wear and tear and also resists dirt and stains. If will not dent with the pressure of heavy appliances and can be found with a slightly abrasive to prevent slipping when it is wet.
Tile can have some disadvantages too. They can be cold when you walk on them with your bare feet, especially in the winter months. The high gloss finish can also be slick if it gets wet. They are not easy to install but they are not that difficult either. It takes some work and patience but the average do it yourself homeowner can successfully lay a tile floor. The can become chipped or cracked if the foundation of the house were to shift or if a heavy object is dropped on them. If you buy a tile that is open stock you can replace the damaged tile without having to replace the entire room.
A concrete sub-floor is usually recommended for a tile floor to last properly without cracking. Because of the coldness in the winter months it may be advisable to install some type of heater to keep the ceramic tile warm. Grout is used to cement the tiles to the floor and they fill the areas in between each tile. Over time this grout can become brittle and need to be replaced. This is not a big job but one that does require patience and accuracy. It is also very messy.
Overall, ceramic tile is a very good choice for flooring but you must weight the pros and cons to determine if tile is the right floor for you and your home. It cleans easily and does not require mopping as often as other floor types. There is never any need for waxing so this is a great time saver. The larger tiles are laid one tile at a time for the smaller ones come in sheets and can be put down as a sheet and then the grout can be applied. This does not necessarily make the job go any faster but it does provide a different contrast to the floor.