Choosing the Right Tiles

Choosing the right tiles for your home or building is very crucial. You not only need to look for tiles that will compliment your décor theme or your preferences, you need to look for quality, durability as well as suitability with your space.

Nowadays, there are various stores that sell both local and imported tiles are prices that are affordable. But before you go shopping for your floor or wall tiles, here are a few tips on choosing the right kind for your place:

  1. Choosing the right color and pattern is the first step as you do not want to create an eyesore
  2. Great texture and finish compliments the color and pattern
  3. Good grouting work gives it the quality look
  4. Planning the entire look from color to pattern, texture and grouting will give you the brilliant effect of a job well done plus beautifying your home
  5. Choosing the right tiles for walls, floors and whether for wet or dry areas are also essential. You can’t use floor tiles for walls and tiles for wet areas on dry areas-it just won’t work.
  6. Quantity is also crucial-no point getting too much tiles. Generally, if tiles are installed diagonally, and cutting needs to be done, then you’d need more than what is required.  Measure the area that you want tile and order at least 10 to 15% more tiles. This will cover the loss of any tiles that have been accidentally broken, cut or damaged.

 

Types of Ceramic Tile

Ceramic is the kind of material used to fashion out various other things than tiles alone. A ceramic tile is a mixture of clays that is shaped and then fired at high temperatures. The resulting tile effect can then be glazed or decorated though the popular favorite is to leave it un-glazed.  A lot of people nowadays prefer doing DIY tiling and thus, a lot of manufacturers produce tiles specifically for an easy-does-it.

 

Glazed Tiles

These kind of tiles come in a variety of finishes can colors from matte to sating to high gloss which give very nice decorative elements.  These kind of tiles can be found for both wall and floor tiling. Each raw elements is carefully selected to make sure that decorative materials stick well to the body of the tile.

Cottoforte, Earthenware and Majolica are the most common and suitable materials for the glazing process, each with its very own unique colors and characteristics. The tiles are manufactured using a process called ‘double firing’ (Bicottura) technique for floor tiles where as single firing' (Monocottura), where bisque and glaze undergo a single firing at extremely high temperatures specifically for walls. Monocottura tiles have a matte finish and are slightly thinner than the double fired ones.

 

Unglazed tiles

Unglazed tiles have a completely different character and appeal. Red Stoneware, Terracotta, Clinker and Porcelain is all types of unglazed tiles which have natural colors and are smooth and matte surfaced. A high sheen can be achieved if it is polished as polishing intensifies the natural color. These tiles have a completely different character and appeal making them ideal for different applications for both indoor and outdoor use.

 

Helpful products ...

BAL Supercover Rapidset tile adhesive

 BAL Supercover Rapidset tile adhesive
BAL Supercover Rapidset is a cement-based, polymer modified tiIe adhesive suitable for fixing all types of wall and floor tiles including ceramic, porcelain, fully vitrified, mosaic, quarries, marble, terrazzo and natural stone tiles in interior and exterior situations.
more info on BAL Supercover Rapidset tile adhesive...

BAL Blue Star tile adhesive

 BAL Blue Star tile adhesive
A white, non-slip, ready mixed ceramic tile adhesive designed for use in internal dry and intermittently wet areas.
more info on BAL Blue Star tile adhesive...