Wall and floor tiles are a popular choice for many homes in Nigeria, offering durability, easy maintenance, and resistance to humidity and warm climates. Choosing the best tile for interior walls and floors ensures a perfect blend that complements modern lifestyles. Unlike other finishes like carpet or traditional concrete floors, tiles not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of a space but also offer long-lasting performance.
In this article, we will guide you through key considerations for choosing the best tile for interior walls and floors. We will also help you identify the right tiles for your space, ensuring they meet both functional and aesthetic needs.
DEFINITION FOR WALL AND FLOOR TILES.
Tiles are durable pieces of material made from ceramic, stone, or porcelain, used to cover and protect surfaces. Choosing the best tile for interior walls and floors involves understanding their unique purposes and benefits. Wall tiles come in rectangle or square shapes and are used to cover and decorate vertical areas. People use wall tiles in areas like the kitchen, toilets, and bathrooms to protect against moisture, stains, and damage. These tiles are designed for simple maintenance and cleaning. Floor tiles withstand foot traffic, moisture, and wear while enhancing the aesthetics of your space. They are easy to maintain, durable, and slip-resistant.
CLASSIFICATION OF TILES BASED ON MAKE
Manufacturers use several materials for tiles, each with its unique characteristics, uses, and properties. Here are some materials used to make tiles.
Ceramic tiles
Manufacturers make ceramic tiles from clay and natural minerals that fire at high temperatures, making the tiles hard, durable, and moisture-resistant. Ceramic tiles can be either glazed (with a shiny surface) or unglazed (with a matte or rough texture). Use these tiles primarily for interior walls with minimal exposure to water. They also suit kitchen floors in low-to-medium-traffic areas like living rooms, dining areas, bathrooms, commercial spaces, and outdoor areas.”
Ceramic tiles can be identified by their surface finish (glazed or unglazed), weight, thickness (they are lighter than stone or porcelain), pattern, and colour.
Porcelain tiles
Porcelain tiles are a type of ceramic tile that is fired at a much higher temperature than regular ceramic tiles. As a result, porcelain tiles are denser, harder, and more durable than standard ceramic tiles. These tiles are a good choice for both exterior and interior spaces due to their low water absorption and resistance to moisture and stain. They are best used for floors in high-traffic areas (living rooms, entrance, kitchen, bathroom). Porcelain tiles are less porous than ceramic tiles, heavier, and have a polished or matte finish. Porcelain tiles are highly recommended for exterior and bathroom floors where there is constant exposure to water. Using these tiles will ensure no damage to the tiles because they are water resistant and provide long-lasting durability to the space.
Mosaic tiles
Manufacturers make mosaic tiles from materials like glass, marble, ceramic, porcelain, and stone. They cut the tiles into smaller square or rectangular pieces and arrange them on a mesh backing for easy installation. People use these tiles for decorative purposes, walls, and flooring. Installers find them easy to use in small spaces and work well in water-prone areas like pools and spas.
Mosaic tiles come in small sizes ranging from 1 inch to 2 inches or can even be smaller. Installers mount the tiles on a mesh backing that holds them together to prevent shifting during installation. Depending on what you want to achieve, these tiles can create simple patterns or detailed designs. Understand that mosaic tiles can have a glossy or matte finish, but glass mosaic tiles have a shining surface, while stone or ceramic mosaic tiles can have any finishing.
Vinyl tiles
Manufacturers make these tiles from synthetic materials like PVC or smaller plastic-based materials. They design them to simulate the appearance of natural materials like wood and stone, making these tiles cost-effective. You can use vinyl tiles in residential and commercial spaces, such as kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, basements, and healthcare facilities.”
Vinyl tiles are a versatile, durable, and cost-effective flooring option, perfect for a wide range of residential and commercial applications. They offer a realistic appearance, ease of maintenance, and water resistance, making them a popular choice in homes and businesses alike.
Marble tiles
Manufacturers make it from natural marble stone material, offering colours like black, white, green, and brown. You can identify marble tiles by their unique veining patterns, which are irregular and can’t be duplicated. It has a natural thermal conductivity and can withstand any wear and tear, making it suitable for both residential buildings and commercial buildings. People can use them for kitchen worktops because they resist heat, and in the bathroom, they serve well for shower walls to create a spa-like atmosphere.
It’s important to note that for slip resistance, unglazed ceramic, vinyl, and textured mosaic tiles are safer to use. Do not recommend or use polished porcelain tiles in areas with frequent water usage if slipperiness is a concern. Perform a simple water absorption test to determine if a tile is ceramic or porcelain. If you place a few drops of water on the back of the tile and it absorbs quickly, the tile is likely ceramic. If the water beads up or takes longer to absorb, it’s most likely porcelain.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FLOOR TILES
Consider the function of the space
Porcelain or ceramic tiles are suitable for heavy foot traffic areas in spaces, like living rooms, entrances, and kitchens. It’s essential to choose water-resistant materials for spaces exposed to moisture, and therefore, porcelain, ceramic, and vinyl are the best options. For commercial spaces, consider durable, easy-to-maintain tiles; it’s advisable to choose porcelain, vinyl, or stone tiles. For bedrooms and living rooms, vinyl tiles are ideal because they are softer underfoot. However, if you want a luxurious look, marble tiles can add elegance.
Size and shape of the tile
Small tiles like mosaics are suitable for areas with irregular shapes, detailed designs, and complex designs. People use medium tiles (12×12, 18×18 inches) for standard spaces, while large tiles (24×24, 36×36 inches) work best for living rooms or commercial spaces.
Tile finish and texture
Shiny tiles make the room appear larger. Matte finishes are good for wet areas like the bathroom and kitchen because they hide dirt and footprints better but require more cleaning.
Colour and design
Light-coloured tiles can make the room feel brighter and more spacious, which is good for smaller areas. Darker tiles create an atmosphere that makes the room feel smaller, while patterned tiles add character and style to any room.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST WALL TILES
Purpose of the space
Choose tiles that enhance the aesthetic and create a stylish atmosphere, like ceramic tiles. For accent walls, use mosaic tiles because they will create a unique pattern.
Consider durability and maintenance
it’s essential to pick tiles that are stains- and scratch-resistant for kitchens and high-traffic areas and easy to clean and maintain.
Aesthetic appeal
It is possible to create unique styles that enhance the appearance of a space with wall tiles. Because wall tiles come in different colours and patterns, you can also match the tile colour with the room colour to create a pleasing match for that space.
CONCLUSION
Selecting the right tiles for your space can transform or add value and lasting appeal to your space. Choosing the best tile for interior walls and floors involves considering the purpose, durability, and maintenance of the tiles that will enhance your space and are reasonably priced. However, porcelain tiles are the best recommendation for both wall and floor tile finishes because of their resistance to moisture and stains and their durability. For floor tiles, ceramic tiles are a popular choice because they’re simple to maintain.
