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Types of bathroom tiles - advantages and disadvantages

Bathroom tiles is a topic of discussion in every home while the youngsters want it to have a personality and be something unique, the older generations are more keen on hygiene, water resistance, durability etc. Allow us to introduce to you, a variety of tiles and their suitability according different areas of your bathroom. Bathroom tiles can be divided in many different ways.

Let’s start with the most obvious size. Tiles come in small, medium and large size. For the floor, smaller bathrooms call for small size tiles and same for large bathroom spaces. But the trick is to pick correct one for your requirement. One can go for large floor tiles for smaller bathrooms if too many grid-lines are not desirable and/or if same tiling is to be done for walls and floor. On the other hand larger bathrooms can opt for smaller floor tiles around area with curves like the ones near bathtub or shower bath seat. Also different wall patterns call for small sized tiles. Medium sized tiles are good option for either of the bathroom spaces. The key is to minimize labor of tile cutting and create a good ambience.

Second most important is make of the tile. The clay baked porcelain (also available in polished version) and glazed ceramic tiles have always been the favorite choice for bathroom floors and wall due to their almost non-porous nature. However tiles like marble, slate, travertine have now made their place as an option for bathroom floor and/walls. These types of tiles add elegance to your bathroom but at the same time be mindful to follow the manufactures advice while tiling especially with regards to waterproofing solutions. Recently nature inspired bathrooms are the next big thing and to accommodate the requirement we have the classic porcelain and ceramic tiles with wood finish available in the market. Although to create a rustic look one can bring original stones for bathroom floor and wall as long as its water resistance and staining is taken care.

Thirdly be conscious about the class of tile in terms of coefficient of friction (preferably rated more than 50) or slip resistance (A or B rating), moisture absorption, breaking strength, scratch/ chemical and/or abrasion resistance. While buying porcelain select the one with Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating of at least PEI III.

The floor and walls dominate the bathroom but creativity hints to many different areas of bathroom such as your shower or basin area. Current trend is to use glass tiles for shower walls and even all over bathroom to create patterns. The glass tiles come in different variety’s (transparent, patterned, frosty etc.) and color. However while using it to create a wall pattern make sure the area under the tile surface is neatly done to avoid any imperfections that can stand out with the use of glass tiles.

Additionally be bold to use a different kind of backsplash to add that extra edge and personality to your bathroom. Also keep in mind though neutral colors are always been a gold standard for the bathrooms but remember it’s your home and not hotel so go ahead and add dimension to your bathroom with a splash of color or pattern (diamond, mosaic, etc.) or with the help of printed tiles.

Lastly don’t forget to visit different vendors or websites to get a hang of recent variety of tiles and trending styles. Go gift yourself, a special space for relaxation and fun (wink)!