Ceramic tiles are still one of the most popular choices for UK homes, but are they right for your bathroom, kitchen?
Available in a vast range of styles and colours, they’re a great choice for an entire ground floor too, however, there are certainly a few pros and cons to first take into consideration before going with this flooring option.
Cost and Convenience
Tiles are cheap and very easy to put into place. Assuming you have a flat, smooth surface to tile over, the initial cost of renovating will be low.
Even if you have a slightly uneven floor surface, there are many self-levelling liquid screed compounds that can be applied to your floor prior to tiling. Due to developments in processes and mixtures, this can be laid on in incredibly thin layers, which shouldn’t cost you too much.
You’ll also be able to replace tiles individually should one get damaged. You can quickly and easily stick the new one in to replace a damaged one. Just make sure that when you buy the tiles you buy plenty of spares.
Versatile
Tiles can work well in so many different rooms. They look great for living rooms, especially if you constantly have people coming in and out, as well as conservatories and porch areas.
They are really practical too if you have dogs and cats that bring in all kinds of muck and dirt. Being able to simply wipe a tile floor means it can work anywhere, including rooms that typically get wet, like kitchens and bathrooms.
Maintenance
As the surface is flat and shiny there’s no way that mess can get caught in any gaps or small spaces, as long as your floor has been laid professionally.
With ceramic tiles, dirt can simply and easily be wiped off with a cloth, meaning the room will generally appear cleaner than it would with other kinds of flooring — all without you needing to use any elaborate cleaning methods or materials.
Design
There is a wide range of different styles and patterns available. You can go with a contrast black and white for a very contemporary minimalist look, or choose an ornate traditional Victorian pattern.
Mosaic tiles are particularly attractive in modern decors, as well as ceramic and porcelain tiles that are designed in Portuguese patterns. Dark colours, with contrasting patterns made from mirror tiles and other details, can be striking in any home.
Generally, ceramic tiles typically have more patterns and colours available compared to porcelain.
Should I Tile My Entire Home?
When compared to materials like carpet or lino, ceramic tiles are quite brittle and can easily be broken or chipped. While you can easily replace a chipped tile, it does add a small amount of inconvenience compared to more hardwearing floors.
Another issue with having tiles throughout your home in the UK is that they are cold. While tiles are a good all-year-round choice in hot countries in the Middle East, they can be very cold to the touch during British winters.
If you have a decent underfloor heating system in place though, that shouldn’t be a problem at all!
When tiling your entire home, it’s imperative that you have a good level of evenness throughout each room. Any slopes or dips will be easy to see with a tiled floor and can lead to future damage, chips and cracking.
If you want to install a tile floor throughout the entire downloads floor, you’ll probably need to lay a levelling compound like anhydrite liquid screed to produce a 100% flat and even surface for any tile finishings to sit nicely on top of.
Hire Liquid Screed Contractors in Oxford
If you’re considering a tile renovation job for your property, hire Liquid Screed Contractors in Oxford from UK Screed Ltd and get in touch with us for advice on preparing your floor and laying the right kind of liquid screed flooring. We can also advise on full floor renovations for underfloor heating units, in both new builds and older homes.
