How to Choose the Best Type of Tile for Your Room—And Properly Care for It

Tile is one of the most timeless and ecumenically attractive flooring choices for just about any room in the house, but the best tile can vary widely from space to space.

Why?

Because tile is a broad term that can be used to define almost any flat slab of material extracted from the earth. These materials popularly include–but are not limited to–porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, and glass. There is a reason these are the types of tiles we most often use in our projects; they are high-quality and look incredible. But, as we’ve already mentioned, not every type of tile is suited to any room.

If you’re looking to choose the best tile for your room, keep reading. We’re going to help you narrow down the field so you can make a more informed flooring choice for your space. Just remember that the guidance we give here is professional, but also general in nature.

To make the ideal choice, contact us for a free consultation and we can help you select the best tile for your specific space, your budget, and your taste.

Choosing the Right Tile

Porcelain

The composition of porcelain can vary, but kaolinite (a clay mineral) is usually part of the raw mix of this popular tile material.

Porcelain is one of the best tiles for high-traffic areas since they can withstand a lot of wear and tear, are resistant to moisture and easy to clean. Despite their tough capabilities, porcelain tiles are absolutely beautiful and available in a range of styles, colours, and shapes; including mimicking natural stone looks.

We recommend porcelain for bathroom floors and walls, entryways, laundry rooms, mudrooms and, since it’s not porous, even outdoor living spaces.

The only real drawback to porcelain tile is that it is slightly more expensive than some other types. But even so, it is a solid investment since it will last a longtime.

How to Care for Porcelain Tile: Wash your porcelain tile as needed with a mix of three parts warm water to one part vinegar. Use a soft mop or cloth. Make sure you have thoroughly swept the tile first to remove loose dirt or debris that might, over time, contribute to a diminished glaze.

Ceramic

Ceramic tile is very similar in composition to porcelain, the main difference being that ceramic is made of coarser clay than porcelain. Coarser, but ultimately just as attractive, the ever-popular ceramic is also a softer (but still durable) tiling material which can be used on both floors and walls. As ceramic tile flooring installers with decades of experience, we’ve used this type of tile in many spaces.

However, ceramic absorbs slightly more water than porcelain, though if the ceramic tile is glazed, that amount could be little to nothing. Unglazed tile like terra cotta or quarry tile offers a charming, rugged look that is stunning, but is not practical for rooms regularly exposed to moisture.

The best rooms for ceramic tile include living rooms, bedrooms and home offices. However, if it is glazed, it can really be used anywhere porcelain can be used.

How to Care for Ceramic Tile: In our years as professional ceramic flooring installers, we can’t undersell the importance of proper care. Wipe up water and spills immediately (as much to prevent slipping as anything else, especially if your tile is glazed). Use three-part water to one part vinegar solution and a soft mop or brush to scrub the tile. Wipe clean with a dry cloth after, if the tile is unglazed.

You may need to periodically re-seal the tile to fend off stains and mildew from accumulating in the grout.

Natural Stone Tile

Classy and stylish, natural stone tile is easy-to-clean, durable, scratch and abrasion-resistant and available in a range of designs.

The most popular natural stone tile types include marble, travertine, slate, limestone, granite and sandstone. The exact type that’s best for you will depend on where you’d like to showcase your tile.

This said, generally speaking, natural stone tile is an elegant and practical flooring choice in kitchens and bathrooms—just make sure it is sealed and resealed regularly, especially if you opt for porous natural stone like limestone.

Living rooms are also a stunning space for natural stone, since they afford more open floor plans that will display the rustic beauty of natural stone to its fullest advantage.

How to Care for Natural Stone Tile: Use a cleaner made specifically for natural stone to maintain your flooring without damaging the product. Granite Gold is a good brand.

If you’re still not sure which flooring is the best tile for your home, that’s understandable! Our blog can certainly help narrow the field of possibilities, but most homeowners benefit from a personal consultation that brings all their considerations to bear. From budget to aesthetics to function, contact us and we’ll help you select the best tile for your needs.