Tiles for fabulous floors

Tiles have become one of our favourite floor coverings

Floor coverings follow fashion just the same as clothing and cars. It’s not just the design of the flooring that matters, but the material too. Some people opt for comfortable carpets, whilst others prefer the warmth of wood flooring. Increasingly, however, many people are opting for tiles – and tiles of all different types – that can give their homes a feeling of luxury.

Why choose tiles?

So, why are so many people choosing tiles for their floors? For most, tiles are the ideal choice for kitchens and bathrooms. If you choose the right tiles, they are waterproof, which is important in these key areas, but tiles are also popular because of their:

• Durability – most tiles are extremely durable, because of the construction process and because they are specially glazed and sealed – particularly those that are destined to be floor tiles. Choosing a good quality tile and fitting it well will ensure that the flooring looks good for many years to come and will survive most types of wear and tear.

• Maintainability – tiles are easy to clean and floor tiles aprticualrly so. A good quality dry brush will remove most day-to-day dirt and fluff, whilst a mop and a recommended detergent will get rid of stubborn marks and any stickiness, leaving your tiles looking as good as new. Depending on which tiles are used on the floor, there may be specific cleaning instructions, and you should be aware of this when you recommend, choose or fit the tiles.

• Flexibility – pretty much any floor can be tiled, and you can use a variety of tiles to create the effect you want in each room. Whether you choose plain white, stone effect, patterned or any other type of tiling, you can match floor tiles to a décor scheme without any trouble. And although most tiles come in either square or rectangular shapes, there are other shapes available, or you may even be able to get tiles made to your specification.

• Variety – as well as a wide choice of colour and size, flooring tiles are also made in very different ways, so you can choose a type of tile or manufacturing process that suits the look you want.

Many people are choosing to put underfloor heating in underneath a tiled surface. This gives you the clean, tiled look you’re after, without having to walk on the cold tiles first thing in the morning. If you’re tiling a living space or conservatory, you an also put down rugs in order to bring some additional colour to the room and to make the floor feel more comfortable without losing any of the benefits of the tiles. http://www.housetohome.co.uk/homesandgardens