Choosing floor tiles
An uninformed person researching the tile industry might find themselves confused due to the various design options, and the multiple types and styles of tile.
Firstly tiles are available in different materials, such as marble, porcelain, and ceramic.
Marble is primarily sourced from natural stone, a luxurious finish yet expensive product that in many cases needs to be to be maintained with polish every once in a while. Secondly, there are ceramic tiles, a relatively affordable choice but one that is not as hard wearing and absorbent, which can reduce the longevity of use. Finally porcelain tiles are more durable than ceramic with a reduction in levels of water absorption.
Porcelain tiles, come in a variety of finishes such as sand, stone, concrete, marble, cement, and many more. The most popular finishes create a modern feel such as cement, concrete, and sand tones. In addition, different finishes are available. Matte lappato finishes are currently quite popular as they are quite durable, in that this finish has an increased resistance to scratches. Polished porcelain tiles are also possible however if trying to replicate, for instance the reflectivity of natural finished marble they are likely to give a somewhat blurry reflection in comparison. In general thicker tiles might be considered more robust and longer lasting, here we are talking about somewhere around 11 millimetres.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
2023 HSE data on workplace injuries and ill health
And CIOB's response.
Building Safety Act and Secondary Legislation
Presidential update from CIAT's Eddie Weir PCIAT.
Starting pistol Statement for an election campaign?
Rates freeze, NI cuts, full expensing; early election?
Positive pressure or positive input ventilation
Could this be a remedy for condensation, damp or mould?
Unlocking a Healthier Tomorrow
Report on Social housing retrofit in Scotland 2023
Call for ministerial group and National Retrofit Delivery Plan.
The Great Transformation 1860–1920. Book review.
2023 Autumn Statement in brief with reactions
Including the devolved governments, CIOB, ECA, APM and IHBC.
Irish Life Sciences HQ, an exemplar of adaptive reuse
AT awards small to medium size project category winner.
Formal and informal adaptive re-use or new use of buildings.
Broken Record. Emissions Gap Report 2023
Temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions (again).
Environment Agency cuts waste red tape
No longer enforcing certain waste transfer documentation.
APM Project Management Awards 2023
Winners reactions during the event at the Park Plaza Hotel.
BSRIA Living Laboratory Innovation Challenge
An exciting opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate.
Discussing issues related to inside and outside air quality
Report from the BSRIA Briefing 2023, Cleaner Air, Better Tomorrow.