The
kitchen is the one room in the house that can have several different
types of tiles, in different applications, and they all will enhance
your kitchen beautifully. When choosing
kitchen tile
for your home consider where it is going to go first. Glossy tile that
goes on a wall will not be the same as flooring tile. Flooring tile has
to be safe to walk on, and a glossy floor kitchen tile could be unsafe
under foot. Here are tips for choosing the right application and type
of tile for your kitchen.
Determine where the tile will be installed
Before you select a material you will need to decide what surface
the tile will be applied. Tile can be
placed as a backsplash behind a stove, or on the wall to the underside of the
upper cabinets. Tile is a popular countertop material, and can also be used on
the kitchen floor.
Decipher the difference between ‘tiles'
The word ‘tile’ refers to a resilient material that can be
laid in rows over a surface. For
kitchens, this could include: quarry, stone, cork, vinyl, bamboo, ceramic,
porcelain and glass. Applications like
vinyl, cork and bamboo tiles are most commonly used in flooring. While quarry,
ceramic, and porcelain can be used for counters and floors. Glass tile is
commonly reserved for walls and back splashes.
Determine your budget before getting sold on the look
Kitchen tile can be inexpensive, such as vinyl and linoleum
tiles or they can be expensive, such as custom designed ceramic tiles. Do your homework before getting married to an
envisioned look in your head! Tile and home improvement stores can help you estimate
the amount of product that will be required for your kitchen.
Consider your household’s lifestyle
Although kitchen tile is resilient, it still requires
up-keep and the longevity of each material differs. For counter tops, ceramic tile is durable and
will hold up to heat from hot pans, and is easy to clean and maintain.
Unfortunately a ceramic tile surface can be uneven and it can easily crack or
chip. Determine if your family’s
lifestyle will match the tile finish you choose.
Choose a floor tile
that can withstand your family’s habits
When choosing floor tile it has to be durable enough to
withstand heavy traffic, pets, spilled foods and cleaning supplies. Ensure that you purchase floor tile that is
called ‘floor tile’. If you choose a
wall tile for a floor the coefficient of friction (COF) will be too low, which
in turn means it’s too slippery for walking. Instead choose floor tile that has
a slight raised pattern, or texture to it to allow for a safer kitchen floor.
For a more refined and elegant look consider using quarry tile. The clay and
limestone based tile is fired to look like natural stone. Quarry tile is more
expensive than the traditional ceramic tile, but is gorgeous in the right
application.
The sky is the limit for your tile back splash
Well, to a certain point the sky is the limit. Since your back splash doesn’t take direct heavy traffic, glossy, and painted tiles are a
perfect fit for your back splash.
Although they still have to withstand, hot oil splatters, grease and
daily cleaning. Choose from porcelain,
ceramic, glass, metal or stone materials for a back splash that can subtly or
boldly bring a decorative flair to your kitchen.
