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Look To Ceramic Tile Flooring For Unmatched Versatility And Design
Ceramic tile flooring will give you the stunning visual appeal that you want at an affordable price. This unique flooring material that is fired from clay and other additives has been used in buildings throughout history and dates back to ancient times.
And it continues to be a popular choice in homes today with a broad selection of choices that suits every taste and budget. If you want an elegant look that is durable and that will make you kitchen stand out, then this may be the perfect choice for your kitchen flooring.
Not only is it beautiful, it is also extremely scratch, moisture, fire, and wear resistant compared to other flooring choice that you can get.
With an endless array of tiles to choose from, you have a great selection at your fingertips and many ways that it can be laid. This gives you unlimited design creativity so that you can have a ceramic tile floor that is unique to your home.
Which Tile is Right For You?
Choose from different shade variations, textures, random size patterns, and get a truly unmatched appearance that brings out the warmth and adds presence to your kitchen.
Today you can even get tile that resembles the
best hardwood floors
and it's more durable then wood being dent and scratch resistant! It will wear much better then wood and won't require refinishing in the future.
Along with all of the versatility is the ability to use ceramic tile flooring with both traditional as well as contemporary kitchen design to get the look that you're after. For instance, rustic
French country kitchens
will look best with a textured, unglazed or lightly glazed tile that varies in color and is made to look like natural stone.
Due to technological advances in tile making, many attractive ceramic tiles that you can get today are hard to tell from real stone. The nice thing is that ceramic is much easier on your budget then real cut stone tile!
On the other hand, a glossy finish adds a modern feel to a
contemporary kitchen design.
If you want to use a glossy or semi-glossy tile, make sure that it's slip resistant so that it doesn't pose a hazard when wet in your kitchen. Maybe you want something that is transitional. By mixing sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns you can add visual interest for a one-of-a-kind flair.
Look for ideas online, in kitchen design magazines, and ceramic tile brochures or catalogs that have a lot of examples. Tile showrooms often have several tiles that you can view in place on the showroom floor. You can also look online and get free samples of certain tile, and use them to match with your other kitchen finishes.
Learn about ceramic tile flooring in this video
Choosing Ceramic Tile Flooring
Choosing ceramic tile flooring may seem overwhelming at first with all that there us to select from. However, your
kitchen colors
including your cabinets and
kitchen counter tops
all need to work together to give you the look you want. It is best to choose a tile that both contrasts and coordinates with you cabinets and countertops.
When choosing ceramic tile flooring, be sure that the tile that you select is made specifically for flooring. There are different grades of ceramic tile and some tiles are only suitable for wall, and backsplash uses. Be sure to look at its durability rating.
The PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) is a rating system that classifies the overall durability of ceramic tile for different uses. There are five ratings with this system:
PEI Class 1 ceramic tile:
No foot traffic. For wall use only in home and commercial buildings.
PEI Class 2 ceramic tile:
Light traffic. Used for both walls and on bathroom floors where there is light foot traffic.
PEI Class 3 ceramic tile:
Light to moderate traffic. For use on countertops, walls, and floors that will get normal foot traffic.
PEI Class 4 ceramic tile:
Moderate to heavy traffic. Good for all residential uses as well as medium commercial and light institutional.
PEI Class 5 ceramic tile:
Heavy to extra heavy traffic. Good for all residential and heavy commercial and institutional foot traffic.
So be certain that you get the quality of tile that is rated for normal to heavy floor traffic depending on your needs.
Sizes and Patterns
The way you have your tile laid will add a lot of character to your kitchen. Laying larger square tiles on the diagonal is a very popular choice as it leads the eye across the surface making your kitchen seem larger.
Larger tile that range in size from 18" x 18" to 24" x 24" are very popular today. Once you look at what's available you will find that there are many shapes and sizes that will work well for your new kitchen design.
There are also a number of different random patterns that you can use for your floor. For instance, if you choose three different tile sizes to mix in a random pattern, (as shown in the photo on this page), there's a variety of ways that those tiles can be arranged. Tile stores often have brochures that show different random patterns that you can choose from.
This elegant flooring can be one of the most striking features of your kitchen and can work well with many kitchen styles. It will add value to your home and give you years of enjoyment, and is easy to care for. Simply clean your ceramic tile flooring with a vacuum and/or damp mop with a mild detergent.
Check out the many different types of ceramic and porcelain tile that you can get for your project by going to BuildDirect. They have the best prices, excellent customer service, and free samples on many of their products. Once you narrow your choices down, you'll be able to find an excellent tile that will give your kitchen a customized look that is outstanding!
