Purchasing tiles can be an extremely exciting task for the homeowner. It can also sometimes be overwhelming. Here are 4 questions you need to ask yourself to help you get through the process with the least amount of time, money, and frustration:
Exactly where are you going to install the tiles? Knowing the answer to this simple question will make it much easier to define exactly what material or kind of tile you need for the project more than any other. There are so many different kinds of tiles available and it is the place that you are going to utilize them that will determine what tile material you finally choose. If you're going to be laying tiles on the floor, you can only use floor tiles. This might seem obvious, but most people don't realize that on the wall you can use either floor or wall tiles. This is because floor tiles are designed to considerably tougher than wall tiles, thus they can perform both jobs. Wall tiles being more delicate, could not handle the heavy use of being used on the floor. You must also determine whether the place you are going to have them installed is going to be moist or encounter high temperatures such as a backsplash or perhaps a bathroom, because this can rule out many materials. If you are tiling an area that is outdoors it's essential to also select tiles that are graded strong enough and non-vitreous enough to be used as outdoor tiles.
What do you want the tiles to do for your space? Once you have decided what place the tiles will be installed, you need to think about what you want them to accomplish. If you want to portray a certain feel or look you will need to pick a material that not only can be used in the space but also that conveys what you want it to. For example if you wanted a Mediterranean look for your patio, you might use quarry tiles. If you wanted a safe, durable space around your pool you might choose rubber tiles. Just as important is the tile pattern you decide to use. The pattern you choose can make a room look smaller, bigger, longer, wider, or more modern. Deciding what you want to accomplish in your space will help to determine both the material and the pattern.
How much time do I want to spend cleaning and maintaining these tiles? So you've decided on the space you need to install your tiles, and what you want them to accomplish. This should have narrowed down your choice of tiles significantly. The next step is to honestly answer how much you like to clean. While some tile materials are extremely easy to clean others are notoriously hard to clean and maintain. Wood tiles for example, while they look like they need a lot of a care, are easily cleaned with most household and tile cleaners because they are actually made from porcelain or ceramic. However, many stone tiles like quarry tiles, need to be power washed and most need to be periodically sealed to prevent water and moisture from being absorbed into the tile. So make sure you always find out what type of maintenance and tile cleaner the material of tile you are considering needs. It might weigh heavily on your decision.
How much money do you want to spend and can you do the job yourself? Jut like with any product tiles range from very inexpensive to extremely costly. From common ceramic to difficult to find stone, there are tiles for any budget. There's always good deals available, and Mexican tiles really are a perfect example, they're hand-made pieces of art which are even cheaper than ceramic tiles. Make sure that you're very clear on how much you must spend because you will not only need to pay for the actual tiles, but for the installation too. And if you can install the tiles yourself, you'll save yourself a lot money. Rubber tiles and wood deck tiles are fantastic as they can be put down by anyone because they just snap together and there are many more options available. With that being said if you aren't comfortable using a tile saw or have experience laying tile there are several materials and patterns you should leave to the pros.
Using the above 4 questions will help you select the right tiles and reduce your cost too. If you answer them honestly they will make it easier to weed out many of the options which don't work for you, and leave you with only those which do. Not only will answering these questions help to make buying the right tiles enjoyable and easy, but quick as well.
Exactly where are you going to install the tiles? Knowing the answer to this simple question will make it much easier to define exactly what material or kind of tile you need for the project more than any other. There are so many different kinds of tiles available and it is the place that you are going to utilize them that will determine what tile material you finally choose. If you're going to be laying tiles on the floor, you can only use floor tiles. This might seem obvious, but most people don't realize that on the wall you can use either floor or wall tiles. This is because floor tiles are designed to considerably tougher than wall tiles, thus they can perform both jobs. Wall tiles being more delicate, could not handle the heavy use of being used on the floor. You must also determine whether the place you are going to have them installed is going to be moist or encounter high temperatures such as a backsplash or perhaps a bathroom, because this can rule out many materials. If you are tiling an area that is outdoors it's essential to also select tiles that are graded strong enough and non-vitreous enough to be used as outdoor tiles.
What do you want the tiles to do for your space? Once you have decided what place the tiles will be installed, you need to think about what you want them to accomplish. If you want to portray a certain feel or look you will need to pick a material that not only can be used in the space but also that conveys what you want it to. For example if you wanted a Mediterranean look for your patio, you might use quarry tiles. If you wanted a safe, durable space around your pool you might choose rubber tiles. Just as important is the tile pattern you decide to use. The pattern you choose can make a room look smaller, bigger, longer, wider, or more modern. Deciding what you want to accomplish in your space will help to determine both the material and the pattern.
How much time do I want to spend cleaning and maintaining these tiles? So you've decided on the space you need to install your tiles, and what you want them to accomplish. This should have narrowed down your choice of tiles significantly. The next step is to honestly answer how much you like to clean. While some tile materials are extremely easy to clean others are notoriously hard to clean and maintain. Wood tiles for example, while they look like they need a lot of a care, are easily cleaned with most household and tile cleaners because they are actually made from porcelain or ceramic. However, many stone tiles like quarry tiles, need to be power washed and most need to be periodically sealed to prevent water and moisture from being absorbed into the tile. So make sure you always find out what type of maintenance and tile cleaner the material of tile you are considering needs. It might weigh heavily on your decision.
How much money do you want to spend and can you do the job yourself? Jut like with any product tiles range from very inexpensive to extremely costly. From common ceramic to difficult to find stone, there are tiles for any budget. There's always good deals available, and Mexican tiles really are a perfect example, they're hand-made pieces of art which are even cheaper than ceramic tiles. Make sure that you're very clear on how much you must spend because you will not only need to pay for the actual tiles, but for the installation too. And if you can install the tiles yourself, you'll save yourself a lot money. Rubber tiles and wood deck tiles are fantastic as they can be put down by anyone because they just snap together and there are many more options available. With that being said if you aren't comfortable using a tile saw or have experience laying tile there are several materials and patterns you should leave to the pros.
Using the above 4 questions will help you select the right tiles and reduce your cost too. If you answer them honestly they will make it easier to weed out many of the options which don't work for you, and leave you with only those which do. Not only will answering these questions help to make buying the right tiles enjoyable and easy, but quick as well.
About the Author:
For more information about tile patterns be sure to read: "Tile Patterns: 3 Secret Methods For Using Them To Your Advantage"
No comments:
Post a Comment