05/01/2023
Every project has tile work, whether it be in the kitchen or, of course, bath and shower rooms.
Porcelain tiles are the most durable and extremely hard. They are best for floors and many are suitable for indoor/outdoor use so a kitchen floor could visually extend out to a tiled patio. They are more expensive than ceramic tiles. Using a large size reduces grout joints making cleaning easier.
Ceramic tiles are very suitable for walls. They are certainly durable but are much more easily cut and fitted around sanitary ware, taps, sockets, etc. They are the most cost effective type of tile. Again, a larger size reduces grout joints to facilitate cleaning but keep in mind the scale of the tile versus the size of the area to be covered. The tiles should not be too large if used in a smaller space.
Stone tiles are another option but are costly and, depending on the stone, they can stain easily. However there are some very realistic stone printed tiles available that are a good alternate. They tend to be glossy so most suitable for walls so as not to have a slippery floor.
My favourite tile to use for an accent is a mosaic tile. These are the most expensive but normally are used in smaller amounts as a feature wall or detail within the other tiled areas. They come in a multitude of colour combinations and many times combine an assortment of materials which could be glass, metal , marble, etc.
Gold leaf mosaic tiles are the most costly and luxurious. Using them for a smaller detail can be very elegant. The photo shows a simulated peeled back plaster with the gold mosaic as a background.
