From concept to creation

Whether you are renovating your home or buying a new one, the process of choosing and installing tiles on the floor takes time and is extremely important for the final result. 

How your room will look and how durable the floor tiles are will completely depend on the right choice and professional installation.

The market is already oversaturated with various options that can easily mislead you into choosing beauty and style over durability. However, it is possible to achieve both as long as you are well-prepared. 

That is why we created this quick view guide. We will share the most important things you need to pay attention to so you get all you need to know before starting the process of floor tiling.

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What are floor tiles?

Floor tiles are a type of hard-surfaced flooring material commonly preferred in many residential and business settings around the world. 

Floor tiling services are commonly required during residential or commercial renovation projects for kitchens and bathrooms due to the material’s durability and ease of maintenance, which makes it also suitable for heavy foot traffic areas.

Common materials used for manufacturing include ceramic, stone, or porcelain. Manufactured in small standardised modules, floor tiles are easy to assemble and rearrange during the installation process. 

That, combined with thousands of options for colours, patterns, shapes and sizes, makes floor tiles a popular choice not only for functional purposes but also for achieving decorative goals and design visions.

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What Are the Different Types of Floor Tiles?

Below, we will look at the different options for tiles depending on the room and their application – granite, terracotta, decorative tiles and others, and explain their pros and cons in a comparison table.

Here are the main ones:

• Ceramic
• Porcelain
• Glass 
• Cement 
• Marble 
• Granite 
• Terracotta 
• Limestone 
• Travertine tiles
• Quarry tiles

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*A comparison table of floor tile types and their application

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Choosing the right tile style

Choosing the right style for your tile floor may turn out to be more difficult than you expected. Our advice is to follow the trends but don’t ignore best practices, common guidelines and your personal preferences. 

The most important thing is to decide early on what you will need the tiles for — for outdoor purposes (e.g. terrace, yard, staircase, etc.) or for your indoors (e.g. rooms, hallway, bathroom). You may want to install them in your office or residential building, on the floor or walls, and for all kinds of indoor rooms and spaces.

All of the above is crucial to think about before making a purchase because that will define the material, thickness, strength and durability requirements for your floor tile choice.

For an office with a lot of traffic, you will need the strongest tiles, but a room in your home may be less demanding. If you want to decorate your bathroom floor with tiles, then you’ll need to think about moisture, humidity and anti-slip features.

After quality and purpose, you’ll need to think about the design – do you want texture? Do you want a marble effect? Do you want a small accent on your interior?

Choose a vision to stick to. If you have a large decorative element in the tile design, choose the rest of the flooring to be in the same shade. If you like retro-style furniture, the tiles should be in softer colours. If they are the main focus point, you can choose similarly coloured decorations to place on the wall or the floor. 

Installing tiles in any room requires attention to detail and forethought, as your floor durability will depend on the correct selection of tiles and professional installation. Everyone has a different taste in design, but keep in mind that while small tiles are more trendy, larger models are easier to maintain.

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Although there is an endless number of options for tiles for your kitchen, bathroom, terrace or office, once you have given a deeper thought to these important factors, you’ll find it much easier to choose the most suitable ones for your space.

Benefits of tile flooring

Tiling is an increasingly preferred flooring option by people when they decide to refurbish or renovate a home or business building. 

When done right, tile floors give every room an innovative and stylish design. The market offers a wide range of floor tiles, which differ in patterns, design, and size.

They all share high technical characteristics — strength, resistance, durability, and reliability.

Tiling is preferred not only because of its wealth of interior and exterior advantages but also because of its ease of maintenance and high wear resistance. 

Tiles are the choice of many households because of several benefits:

• Durability 
• Easy maintenance 
• Versatility 
• Hygienic 
• Temperature regulation
• Longevity 
• Increased property value

For homes and commercial properties, tiles are the optimal solution due to their easy maintenance, resistance to scratches and stains, and ability to regulate temperature. 

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Tile patterns and layouts

You will find a wide variety of design choices when it comes to tiling. Make sure to research enough colour variations, patterns, and layouts to find the one that matches your planned interior design and complements your space.

Settle on one that you like and think is worthy to enjoy for many years to come.

Remember that tiles can be laid differently, depending on the desired style and aesthetic effect. They are most often glued in regular horizontal rows, which is the simplest, but diagonal rows, herringbone, mosaic and tiles of different sizes are not uncommon.

The design you choose depends on your taste and the style of the room or exterior space in which the tiles will be installed. The diagonal layout, or the so-called herringbone, is especially recommended in old buildings, where construction irregularities are “corrected” with visual effects.

Installation options

You can tile your floor by yourself or hire a professional tiling contractor.

If you are crafty and experienced in DIY projects, floor tiling is an accomplishable task. 

However, you need to be prepared to perform tasks such as mixing mortar or adhesive, measuring and planning layout and cutting and laying tiles. If you are not confident enough to do it yourself, hiring an expert is the optimal solution. 

Consider IVCG Renovation for your tiling project in Cork or Galway to achieve the best and most professional result. You can count on IVCG services for any type of tile bonding or tile installation. 

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Maintenance

Maintaining tiled floor surfaces is important for preserving their beauty and durability over time. 

Here are some tips for effective tile maintenance:

• Clean the tiles regularly – regularly sweep or vacuum tiled floors to remove dirt, dust, and debris. 
• Take care of the grout – clean grout lines by scrubbing them with an old toothbrush and appropriate cleaning agent.
• Avoid scratches and damage – protect your tiled surfaces from scratches by using felt pads or coasters under heavy furniture and avoiding dragging sharp or abrasive objects across.
• Avoid strong impact – avoid carrying or transferring heavy objects that could fall or impact tiled surfaces.
• Inspect them routinely – periodically inspect tiled floors for signs of damage, such as cracks, chips, or loose tiles.

Following these tips, you can keep your tiled surfaces looking clean and beautiful for years. Regular and proper care will help extend the life of your tiles and preserve their appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best types of flooring?

There are numerous flooring options, and tile flooring is one of the most popular choices for homeowners and businesses, especially for rooms like kitchens and bathrooms.

Should tile floors be darker or lighter than walls?

Design knows no limitations, but the general rule of thumb is to go at least three shades lighter on the walls than the floors. 

Which are the most common colours for floor tiles?

White, beige and light grey are among the most common floor tile colours. However, you can find a wide variety of designs, patterns and accents.