What Are The Different Types Of Tiles?

Tile is an excellent addition to any home. It's a durable flooring option, it's easy to keep clean as a kitchen backsplash, and it does not require much maintenance when used in your bathroom. It's a super versatile material with many benefits in the home. However, there are many different types of tiles, making it challenging to figure out the right tile to install in your space.

Depending on your budget, needs and preferences, certain kinds of tiles will work better for your project than others. Read on to learn more about different types of tiles, their benefits and which option will work the best for your space.

The Benefits of Tile 

Tile is a popular flooring and backsplash material — and for good reason. It has been used throughout history as a durable and natural building material. It has many benefits for homeowners and is a stylish, elegant and timeless flooring and decor choice. If you are looking for an option that will be long-lasting, easily cleaned and maintained, and able to handle heavy foot traffic, then tile flooring and wall tile will fit nicely into your home.

There are so many different styles, colors, shapes, patterns and textures available, so you can let your creativity loose and create a space that truly reflects your personal style. Whether you're looking for an intricate and colorful pattern for the tile floor in your bathroom or would like a classic and modern backsplash in your kitchen that will fit your clean aesthetic, you'll be able to find a look to complement the rest of your room.

Costs vary dramatically, depending on the tile you choose and project size. If you are looking for a kitchen backsplash, ceramic tile is a budget-friendly pick that won't drain your bank account and will provide a durable and stylish tile option.

It's Easy to Clean

Tile flooring is easy to clean, making it the superior choice in places like the kitchen and bathroom, where food stains or water spills are common. It's also a great flooring option if you have small children, as you no doubt know that messes are the norm and not the exception. When your toddler spills their juice all over the kitchen floor, the only thing you'll need is soapy water to clean up the mess!

Tile is also more resistant to scratches than hardwood flooring, so it's a great option for those who are tired of their pet's nail scratches on their hardwood floors.

It's Durable

Tile is a durable material that can handle years of high-traffic wear, water and messes. Your kids can walk in with their muddy sneakers, and all it takes is a bit of soapy water to have it looking as good as new!

With this in mind, tile is great for entryways, as it can handle moisture and hard shoes well. Hardwood floors and carpets tend to be less durable than tile when it comes to moisture exposure and stains. So, for rooms like the kitchen, bathroom and entryway where moisture is pretty much inevitable, it's wise to stick with a durable flooring choice that can withstand spills, water and messes.

It Requires Little to No Maintenance

When you use high-quality materials and the correct application, tile flooring generally requires little maintenance over the years. Sometimes, cracks or broken tiles happen, but replacing them is easy and won't cost much if you keep a few of the same tiles on hand. Simply replace the broken tiles with the replacement, and your floor will look great again.

Different Types of Tiles

Choosing the right tiles for your walls and floors is exciting, thanks to the wide selection of options available. These are some of the most popular choices.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is a popular choice for home improvement projects due to its versatility, slip resistance and durability. It is also easy to clean and keep hygienic. These tiles are common around the house, from bathrooms and entryways to kitchens. 

Ceramic tiles come in many styles, colors and budget-friendly options, making this a popular home improvement project. Glazed ceramic tile offers longer protection from stains and wear, while unglazed ceramic tile has a rustic appearance that many people find appealing. However, it doesn't offer the same protection as glazed tiles. If you are looking for ceramic floor tile with a glazed finish, this light-colored option will work great in your bathroom or kitchen, as it's easy to clean, will resist moisture and won't collect stains.

Ceramic tile can be installed by a professional or completed as a DIY project. Here's a quick look at how:

1. Put down a cement board to act as a sturdy base for the tiles.
2. Apply the mortar evenly across the cement board.
3. Carefully lay your tiles, placing tile spacers to ensure your spacing is uniform.
4. Grout the tile to ensure moisture doesn't seep between the cracks of your tiles. 
5. As final finishing touches, remove excess grout and apply a sealant to the grout.

Though this process includes many steps and involves a certain amount of knowledge and skill, when done correctly, the end result will be long-lasting, durable and beautiful flooring.

Porcelain Tile

Another common tile type is porcelain tile. It's often confused with ceramic tile but is more durable. Thanks to its durability, it is one of the most versatile tile options and can be used in the bathroom, as a kitchen backsplash and even outside. While natural stone options need upkeep and maintenance to prevent wear and cracks, porcelain tile can emulate the look of natural stone without any of the maintenance issues. If you're looking for a durable tile that will hold up in places like your entryway, patio or front porch, this porcelain floor or wall tile is an excellent choice.

However, because the material is so dense and strong, installing porcelain tile can be difficult to do by yourself. The application can be tricky, as you will need an adhesive to lay the tiles and special tools to cut them. If you don't have previous experience installing porcelain tile, it may be best to let a professional install this kind of tile in your home.

Floating Porcelain Tile

Floating porcelain tile offers the same appearance as regular porcelain tiles. However, the application of these tiles is a bit different. Instead of gluing tiles in place to the subfloor, floating porcelain tiles interlock together. While regular tiles use a mortar base to stabilize the tiles, floating tiles use a rubber base that interlocks with each other. This makes applying floating porcelain tile much easier than regular porcelain tile. If you're looking for a DIY tile project, this is an easy option compared to other tile floors.

Ledger Stone

Ledger stone is a popular natural stone for walls, fireplaces and borders. People often use this material in their homes due to its appearance. Its stacked stone look adds a rugged and natural elegance to any room. It comprises many different shapes and sizes of stones, giving it a unique texture.

This stone tile is not easy to clean, and it often doesn't work well as flooring due to its unevenness. If you use ledger stone tiles in your bathroom, you can likely expect extra work if you like to keep things clean. However, if you're looking for an eye-catching, rugged stone for your fireplace or kitchen backsplash, then this blue and gray ledger stone will look great.

Ledger stone installation isn't an easy DIY project for most people. Because it's a natural stone, it is quite heavy and requires special tools. Especially in the bathroom, if you need to install fixtures on top of the ledge stone, you should avoid installing the stone yourself, as the fixtures can easily become damaged. It's best to let a professional install ledger stone. When done correctly, it will look beautiful and last a long time.

Mosaics

Mosaic tiles are perfect for flexing your style and creativity in small areas, like a backsplash in your kitchen, shower walls or floor, or a decorative border. This type of tile is known for its eye-catching designs and colors that can transform a drab space into an interesting room. Many people want to add a touch of vibrancy to their spaces, and adding mixed color palette tiles to your space will give the room dimension.

If you're looking for a colorful accent in your kitchen or bathroom, a mosaic tile will be the perfect choice for your project. This beautiful mosaic tile is durable and can be used anywhere in your home, including as a shower floor.

Mosaics are easy to install and much less messy than other tile options. They typically come on a mesh backing. On this sheet, there are various tile pieces in different sizes, colors and finishes. Because the tile pieces are all on one sheet, they make for a less messy application than other tiling methods. 

Glass Tile

Glass tiles have become a favorite tile type for good reason. They are a practical and beautiful tile type and provide many benefits:

• Eye-catching: Glass tiles have a clean, modern look that easily catches the eye with the variety of shimmering colors the tile can hold. And because glass easily reflects light, these tiles can also create the illusion of a room being more spacious and bright — which is why they are perfectly suited for bathrooms and crowded kitchens.
• Easy to clean: Glass tiles are incredibly easy to clean — fingerprints, grease and dust easily wipe away with a damp cloth and a mild soap solution.
• Waterproof: Another reason glass tiles are perfect for bathrooms and backsplashes is that water won't penetrate and weaken the glass.
• Eco-friendly: Glass is made from raw materials like sand and limestone. It is also reusable and recyclable.

Glass tiles are generally more expensive than ceramic or porcelain. Still, it is worth the investment if you decide it's the right tile for your home — especially if you can find competitively priced options like this beautiful white marble glass tile.

Travertine Tile

Travertine is a type of limestone renowned for its natural and timeless look. Travertine tiles typically come in cream, tan and white but can also come in yellow, grey and red.

Although they are one of the more expensive tile choices, they are an excellent investment because they are timeless, durable and long-lasting. And since travertine is a stone with a natural texture, it also has a high level of slip resistance. 

How to Choose the Right Tile Type

Consider these tips for choosing the best tiles for your walls and floors:

• PEI ratings: The Porcelain and Enamel Institute (PEI) rates tile products by the hardness of their glaze to determine the right application for the tile. Tiles in Group 1 are only suitable for walls, while tiles in Group 5 and higher are suited to heavy traffic areas like your home's floors.
• Style: Style is an important deciding factor when choosing the best tile for your walls or floors. For a long-term investment, look for a timeless style that complements your fixtures.
• Thickness: A tile's natural thickness can help you decide if it's the right fit for your project. For example, a tile that is too thick and heavy may not be the best option for your walls.
• Price: Choosing tiles that fit your project's budget does not mean you need to settle for anything less than the best. At Carpet & Tile Mart, you can shop an extensive range of tiles at excellent prices.

The Best Tiles for Walls

Wall tiles are less durable than other tiles and cannot handle weight like floor tiles. However, they are perfect decorative pieces that can tie a room together, prevent splashes from staining or damaging walls, and add texture to your space

Wall tile can be a bit trickier to install than floor tile. Though the process is not more complicated than tile flooring, simply put, wall tiles are easier to mess up. Because the stones are heavy, installing them vertically is harder than laying them on the ground. If you're looking for the highest quality and appearance, hiring a professional to install your wall tile is a good idea.

Popular wall tiles include materials like porcelain, ceramic and mosaic.

The Best Tiles for Floors

Floor tiles must be durable enough to withstand constant foot traffic and the weight of furniture and fixtures. They also need a high modulus of rupture (MOR), which indicates a dense structure that can withstand stress. Other features that you should look for in floor tile include:

• High slip resistance: The measurement for determining a tile's slip resistance is the Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF). The higher the DCOF value, the less slippery the tile is. Unglazed tiles and tiles with rough surfaces are generally less slippery than tiles with a glossy finish. 
• Low water absorption: Tiles with a high MOR absorb less water than porous tiles. Low water absorption also means the tile is less likely to stain.
• High stain resistance: Because your tiles will experience a high level of traffic, it's vital to choose naturally stain-resistant tiles like glass, porcelain and ceramic.

Porcelain and travertine are some of the best types of tiles for floors because they are durable and slip-resistant. 

Shop Tiles From Carpet & Tile Mart

Whether you are looking for a subtle and durable flooring option for a bathroom or would like to find a colorful mosaic as a stylish accent in your kitchen, tile is a great choice for elevating any room. When you choose Carpet & Tile Mart for your tiling projects, you shop at a supercenter that provides quality products at competitive prices.

Shop a versatile range of the best tiles, rugs, flooring and countertops or contact our professional team to discuss your tiling project today!