Kitchen Tile Guide
Water and stain resistance, variety, weather durability and low maintenance are just some of the advantages of tiles. But how do you go about picking the tile type that best suits your kitchen? Check out our kitchen tile guide of course!
1. Ceramic (non-porcelain)
Ceramic tiles are either porcelain or non-porcelain. If they are non-porcelain we just call them ceramic. What's the difference between ceramic and porcelain? Ceramic tiles are mostly made with red, brown or white clay that is fired and finished in a kiln with a durable glaze that helps to keep colour. Porcelain tiles are made by a dust pressed method which means there are less imperfections.
Benefits
- They are cool in hot weather and take well to underfloor heating.
- Range of shapes, sizes, colours and patterns.
- Price range is generally lower than porcelain.
- They are slip and fire resistant.
- They appear softer and lighter and can be used on the floor or walls.
Ceramic tiles can cause sore feet if you're standing for long periods of time. The tile can be cold in cooler weather and items that drop to the floor have a good chance of breaking against the ceramic material.
2. Porcelain
Porcelain is a considered a higher quality material as it is created and sealed under high pressure and heat to create a non-porous product.
Benefits
- No sealing is required to waterproof them.
- Well suited to areas with high foot traffic as.
- Highly weather resistant.
- Work well in many rooms and with many design styles.
Bear in mind the cost is usually higher and the flooring beneath the tiles needs to be strong to support the porcelain.
3. Terracotta
We love the natural raw feel and texture in terracotta tiles.
Benefits
- Great on the feet - makes them less tired when standing.
- Ages well and is timeless from a design perspective.
- It's flexible for modern or traditional style kitchens.
They're not automatically sealed so this will come at an extra cost.
4. Stone
Stone is also a great material to get that natural, organic feel in your kitchen/home.
Benefits
- Easy to maintain.
- Designers often reccomend stone to give your home a natural and warm feel.
- Stone is an excellent conductor and eco-friendly if you add underfloor heating.
- With an increased demand for stone tiles they are not as expensive as they used to be.
Consider cost to lay down the tiles and also maintenance.
