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
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard Sept update
Pilot version for testing and feedback on its adoption due.
New Floods Resilience Taskforce
With a wet met office autumn prediction.
National Retrofit Hub takeover of Net Zero stage
At Birmingham UK Construction Week in October.
AT Awards 2024 finalists announced
With more to come, prior to the Awards ceremony in October.
London construction cools as hotspots appear nationally
Increases in the East of England, Yorkshire and Scotland.
ARB proposals for a new Architects Code
Announced in the shadow of the final Grenfell Inquiry report.
Combining human creativity and tech innovation now and in the future
Building automation and control systems market study
BSRIA 2024 North America BACS software & services.
Impact of digital technology on productivity in construction
New CIOB academy guidance for companies of all sizes.
Demolition and retrofit approaches in Planning Policy
MHCLG demolition and retrofit survey to inform future updates to national planning policy.
Expert taskforce to spearhead new, new town generation
Sir Michael Lyons given 12 months for recommendations.
Government policy statement on new towns
A coded vision for a new generation of new towns.
AT Principal Designer exemplars published
Supporting clear and comprehensive demonstration of the skills required.
Homes England goes to TOWN for co-housing project
Marmalade Lane developer selected for Northstowe neighbourhood.
Cohousing and related approaches to solve housing issues
Different forms of community housing explained with examples.
Alternative and off-grid housing communities in the UK
From Hockerton Housing Project to Tinkers Bubble.
Skills gap highlighted to Minister for Industry
Key opportunity in mission for economic growth and net-zero.