Tips On Choosing The Right Tile For Your Reno

Does your next renovation project require tiles? If so, we’ve got your back with tips on which tiles to choose for your upcoming renovation project. For instance, we’ll dive into which tile materials are best suited to your room, as, believe it or not, tiles are not all created equally. So, rather than speed-dialling your tile flooring in Toronto to walk you through which tiles are suitable for your space, read this article, and then give your tile contractors, like the Brothers Flooring, a ring if you need a free consultation!

Tile Rating System

Before we get started, there is a critical system every homeowner should know about: the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating. On every tile box, you will see a label that has a PEI Class 0-5 rating; here’s what they mean:

• PEI Class 0 tiles are light wall decorations only.

• PEI Class 1 tiles are decorative only for walls and not suitable underfoot.

• PEI Class 2 tiles can handle light use, ideal for bathroom walls and floors.

• PEI Class 3 tiles are suitable for moderate usage on walls or floors.

• PEI Class 4 tiles can handle heavy traffic in homes and light-medium use commercially.

• PEI Class 5 tiles are the hardest to wear and great for residential or commercial use.

Interestingly, the PEI grading system only applies to human-made tiles. Thus, natural stone is not graded because it is not glazed, but rest assured, it is ultra-durable and long-lasting.

Tile Material Choices

Let’s take a closer look at when you should get your tile installer in Toronto or the GTA to lay each type of tile material.

Ceramic

One of the most popular tile materials is ceramic, and for good reason! It is economical and comes in almost any design, colour, shape, texture, and trend. Ceramic is more water-absorbant than porcelain, meaning it is slightly less durable. However, some durable ceramic lines can be installed anywhere in the home, as they score a PEI rating of 3.

PEI Rating: 1-3

Best Uses: Bathroom, laundry room, and walls.  

Porcelain

The cousin of ceramic tiles is porcelain. While ceramic is more economical, porcelain is more durable. As porcelain is kiln-fired at higher temperatures, the result is a less water-absorbant product that is frost-resistant and hard-wearing. However, the only downside to porcelain is that it’s not a DIY project. These tiles are tough to cut to size, so hiring a tile installer in Toronto or the surrounding area is best!

PEI Rating: 5

Best Uses: Anywhere, residentially or commercially 

There is something mesmerizing about tiny, artfully designed mosaic tiles, which is why they are a popular tile material with homeowners. But how practical are they? One consideration when using mosaics is that they will need more grout than larger tiles, requiring more maintenance. Another thing to remember if you want mosaic tiles is that they are tricky to install by yourself, so you may want to hire a tile installer in Toronto or the surrounding area to do it for you.

Mosaic

PEI Rating: 0-1

Best Uses: Backsplashes

Natural Stone

For homeowners who want a touch of opulence or a natural look, try natural stone tiles. Natural stone could be travertine, marble, limestone, or any other naturally occurring material. The benefits are they are durable, easy to clean, and visually striking. The shortcomings are natural stone costs more than human-made tiles like porcelain, and due to their added expense unless you’re well versed in tile installation, you should also hire a professional tile installer in Toronto or elsewhere to lay them for you.

PEI Rating: Not rated  

Best Uses: Applicable anywhere but ideal for kitchens, accents, hallways, or bathrooms.

Additional Tips

Tile material aside, there are a few additional considerations if you’re working with tile. For instance, tiles come in a range of sizes (tiny to oversized), shapes (plank, hexagon, circle, etc), designs (herringbone, mosaic), metallics (gold), textures (polished, raw) and colours (white, blue, etc). Of course, most of these additional considerations are typically for PEI Rated or human-made tiles. So if you’re keen on porcelain tile, then you’ll have to think about your design goals like:

• What is the room colour palette? Then, identify a complementary colour.
• Try a shape, texture, or design if you want visual interest.

Final Thoughts On Finding The Right Tile

Like any other flooring material, there is much to consider before you settle on the right type, such as style and practicality. Fortunately, you can rely on the PEI Rating to help you select the correct tile for the job!

If you’re still unsure which tiles you should use for your space, contact us, the Brothers Flooring, for a free consultation. We are always happy to help you discover the best tile material for your space!