The Right Ceramic Tile For Your Home
Vince J. Paxton
Trying to pick the right flooring is no easy task. You might
have decided upon a certain material, but then you still have
to chose color, design, etc. If you have decided upon tile,
there are some important considerations before you begin.
1. Is tile the right choice for this room?
Ceramic tile is easy to clean and long lasting, but there are
characteristics that make it wrong for certain rooms. Tile
holds the cold, so it is not good for a basement; it can be
slippery, so it may not be good for an entrance.
2. What is the right tile?
Tiles come in many shapes and sizes, from as small as one inch
to as large as two feet. The size of the room should determine
the size of the tiles you use. A small room would be
overpowered by large tiles, so smaller sized tiles should be
used here and large tiles limited to larger spaces.
There are many choices of styles for tiles, and your personal
decorating taste will dictate the one you choose. If you prefer
a rustic or natural look, you would choose something rugged
rather than a marble look. The polished marble look would suit
a formal design scheme.
Be careful about the texture of the tile. Smooth surfaced tiles
can be slippery, a consideration if there are children or
elderly people in the household.
3. Pick the right grout color and width
Grout is the cement that is used to fill the space between the
tiles, and can be chosen in many different colors to complement
the tile. Choosing a wider or narrower grout space will affect
the appearance of the tile.
4. Methods of installation
Tile can be installed in many different ways, and the method
chosen depends on the material, time allowed and the patience
of the installer. The most important step in installation is
preparation. Make sure you have all necessary materials on
hand, such as the bonding material, the grout, sealer and all
of the right tools.
The tricky part of laying tiles is to make sure that your cuts
are even and that the spaces between all of the tiles is
consistent. If, after you have laid out in your mind what is
necessary to do the job right, you get cold feet, you can call
in a professional.
5. Maintaining tile
Ceramic tile is very easy care. If you take proper care of
ceramic tile, it will stay new looking for years. Any household
cleaning product can be used to clean tile. Vacuum or sweep the
surface, then mop the tiles clean. That's all there is to it.
You do have to be careful about dropping objects on ceramic
tiles because if they break or crack, it is difficult to
replace only one tile.
About The Author: Vince Paxton publishes almost entirely for
http://www.insidewoodworking.com
, a website on vinyl flooring
and kitchen design ideas. You can have a look at his
publications over at
http://www.insidewoodworking.com/flooring/kitchenflooring.html
and other sources for kitchen flooring tips.
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