Tile flooring is a beautiful way to make an impact when designing or remodeling a home. Flooring a room is a huge commitment, so when remodeling or building, you want to be sure to consider all flooring options.
There are many advantages to tile flooring. The first is that glazed ceramic tiles are extremely water resistant, making them a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. In addition to preventing unsightly molds and fungi, the water resistant nature of the tile means it is also relatively stain resistant and easy to clean. Note: unglazed ceramic tiles will need to be sealed to ensure water resistance, and you will also want to seal the grout between the tiles for the same reason.
Ceramic flooring is incredibly durable. Due to the strong nature of the tiles, they are difficult to crack, and a quality installation should last between 10 and 20 years. Compared to carpeting, which can rip or stain, and hardwood flooring, which can wear down or become warped with moisture, tile flooring is incredibly long-lasting. Also, if just one tile cracks, it is simple to remove and replace, instead of re-doing the entire floor.
Ceramic tiles are less expensive than hardwood flooring, but more expensive than carpeting. When well-placed with an attractive design, it is not unheard of for a tile floor to increase property values.
As with most things, there are disadvantages to tile flooring as well. While the hardness of ceramic tile makes it low maintenance and easy to clean, it can be uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you may want to invest in rugs for the spaces in front of the sink and stove, or consider another type of flooring.
One major reason homeowners consider other floor options is that tile installation is difficult and time consuming, especially when compared to the ease of linoleum flooring installation. If you are not confident in your tile installing prowess and decide to hire a contractor, keep in mind that the cost of your beautiful new floor will have just risen exponentially, an issue that does not arise when having other types of flooring professionally installed.
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