With so many types of tile flooring, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of options.
Each has a unique look and feel from the other. Unless you’re selecting tile flooring for a showroom, consider durability and maintenance to choose a floor tile that will stand the test of time.
The selection process can be overwhelming, but once you understand the types of tiles for floors and their properties, you can choose the best one for your home.
By the end of this guide, you’ll understand the different types of tile floors, factors to consider, and where each tile flooring type might be ideal.
Table of Contents
- What Type of Tile Is Best for Flooring?
- 7 Types of Tile Floors and Ideal Scenarios for Their Usage
- Which Floor Tile Is Most Durable?
- Interior Motives Flooring: The Experts on Various Types of Floor Tiles for Your Space
What Type of Tile Is Best for Flooring?
Different types of floor tiles will work better than others in some areas.
For example, a durable porcelain tile may work well in an entryway. Still, a floor tile with a more slip-resistant surface like cement or travertine tiles may be best for more lived-in rooms.
So before you choose your tile flooring, you should consider a few important factors, including:
- What room will it be used in?
- Is it a high-traffic or low-traffic area?
- Is the area susceptible to moisture or spills?
- What is your budget?
- Do you prefer certain colors, styles, patterns, or textures?
Understanding these factors will help you survey the durability and maintenance that fits your needs and prevent you from deciding based on budget or appearance alone.
Still not sure which types of tile flooring are best for you?
At Interior Motives Flooring, you’ll find an extensive selection of tile flooring to choose from. Our specialists are ready to help you choose the right flooring for your space and lifestyle. Schedule a consultation or book a free estimate today.
7 Types of Tile Floors and Ideal Scenarios for Their Usage
#1: Porcelain Tile
One of the more popular options for its versatility and durability, porcelain tile can be used indoors and outdoors. It can withstand cold winter temperatures and is resistant to water, stains, scratches, and UV exposure.
Porcelain tile is made from fine clay and minerals and fired at an extremely high temperature. This high heat allows the clay body to fully vitrify, meaning the silica and alumina compounds fuse to create a dense, non-porous, glass-like structure.
The high heat is also what gives porcelain its characteristic bright white color. However, porcelain tiles can emulate many natural materials, including stone, brick, and wood.
Ranging from $3 to $30 per square foot, porcelain tile is considered a more affordable option for flooring.
When You Might Use Porcelain Tile
With durability at such an affordable price point, porcelain tile is an ideal option for heavy-traffic areas like:
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Entryways; and
- Outdoor patios
Porcelain’s density and water resistance make it ideal for wet areas, though it can be slippery.
If you love to host, you may opt for porcelain tile flooring in your living room, or in any room you may want a natural stone look for less.
Porcelain tile is also allergy-friendly, so it may be a good choice if you’re a pet owner.
#2: Ceramic Tile
Like porcelain, ceramic tile is also made from clay and natural materials but fired at a lower temperature.
The most popular type of ceramic tile is terra-cotta, which can be glazed or unglazed.
Ceramic tile is less dense and water-resistant than porcelain and is often glazed to repel moisture. A matte finish and texturized style can be added to help minimize slipping.
Otherwise, ceramic tile is slightly more cost-effective than porcelain and just as easy to maintain.
Ceramic tiles also come in many colors, sizes, shapes, styles, and textures.
When You Might Use Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile flooring can mimic the look of natural stone and wood without the worry of scratching.
Durability and no-fuss maintenance make ceramic tile flooring a good choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens, entryways, and mudrooms.
Ceramic tile flooring can work well in virtually almost any room in the home, though it’s not recommended for outdoor use.
#3: Stone Tile
Natural stone tile types range from limestone and marble to granite, slate, or travertine and come in a variety of colors and textures.
Natural stone can offer your space a unique character, as no two tiles are alike. You can select a natural stone tile that complements a wide range of styles from rustic to contemporary.
Natural stone tile flooring requires specialized maintenance based on the type of stone. Cleaning agents should have a neutral concentrated potential of hydrogen (pH) that will not affect tile sealants or coatings.
Despite not being as easy to maintain as the other types of floor tile material, stone tile floors are the easiest to resurface to hide damage.
When You Might Use Stone Tile
The cost, availability, and durability can vary depending on your choice of natural stone tile and determine where you might choose to use your stone tile.
For example, marble stone tiles are a popular choice for natural stone and its natural elegance makes it a perfect complement for master bathrooms.
On the other hand, the durability of slate tile and its variations of colors lend well to an entryway or kitchen.
Natural stone tile flooring can add elegance and distinction to your style while adding to your home’s value.
#4: Vinyl Tile
Vinyl tile flooring is a versatile and cost-effective solution with a range of options based on your preference and lifestyle.
For a slightly higher, but still affordable price point, luxury vinyl tile flooring can emulate the look and feel of natural materials like wood and stone tiles, providing a high-end appearance without the associated costs and maintenance.
While known for easy click-and-lock installation, vinyl floor tiles can be less durable and more susceptible to scratching than stone, porcelain, or ceramic tiles.
When You Might Use Vinyl Tile
Vinyl tile flooring is extremely water-resistant, which makes it great for moisture-prone spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and mud rooms.
With a large assortment of vinyl tile types ranging from waterproof wood-look vinyl planks to rigid cover vinyl tiles, Interior Motives Flooring carries a vinyl option for all tastes and budgets. Simply fill out our free consultation form and we’ll help guide you through the process from material selection to expert installation.
#5: Mosaic Tile
Mosaic tiles are crafted from a combination of glass, ceramic, and stone, adding an unexpected artistic element to home design. There’s a mosaic tile to fit every design style.
Mosaic tiles can be installed to inspire even more creativity, arranging them into geometric shapes or a classic checkerboard style, the design possibilities are endless.
Most mosaic tiles come with multiple pieces of varying sizes, finishes, and materials on one sheet with a mesh backing. The mesh backing makes installation easier with less mess and allows tiles to be separated, adding to style and flexibility.
When You Might Use Mosaic Tile
Depending on the type of stone used, mosaic tile flooring can be more or less moisture-absorbent.
Mosaic tiles are also known to be smaller, increasing the number of grout lines and making mosaic tile flooring more slip-resistant.
Mosaic tiles are often found as an eye-catching accent to flooring in bathrooms and kitchens.
#6: Cement Tile
Cement tile flooring is made of blended cement, sand, and pigment, providing a stylish and bold flooring choice.
With diversity in design choices and patterns ranging from geometric to industrial, cement tile flooring has grown popular as homeowners infuse their spaces with more character in unexpected ways.
Though cement tile flooring is eco-friendly, it can be more costly than other options. Cement tiles may also require periodic sealing and a pH-neutral cleaner to maintain their integrity and appearance.
When You Might Use Cement Tile
Cement tiles are exceptionally durable and resistant to moisture, making them suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.
Additionally, the versatility and aesthetic of cement tiles can complement just about any space in a modern-style home.
#7: Terrazzo Tile
Like mosaic tiles, terrazzo tiles are a mixture of marble, granite, glass, and other materials. The mixture is then poured into molds, ground, and polished to create a smooth surface.
The remarkable manufacturing process yields endless design possibilities for any style.
Due to the incorporation of recycled materials, terrazzo tile floors are sustainable, especially durable, and stain-resistant.
When You Might Use Terrazzo Tile
The durability and versatility of terrazzo tiles can bring a timeless elegance to any space in your home.
If you want to get the most out of the beautiful design of terrazzo tiles, hire professionals like the experts at Interior Motives Flooring. For over three decades, Interior Motives Flooring has been serving Auburn and the surrounding area with meticulous, award-winning tile flooring installation. Contact us for your next tile flooring installation.
Which Floor Tile Is Most Durable?
Porcelain tile is one of the most durable floor tile options due to its density and resistance to wear, scratching, chipping, and cracking. Slate floor tiles are also durable, nonporous, and difficult to scratch. Granite floor tiles have been known for their durability and can be extremely water-resistant when properly sealed.
Interior Motives Flooring: The Experts on Various Types of Floor Tiles for Your Space
Selecting the perfect flooring from the many types of floor tiles can be daunting. Choose the right flooring, and it’ll be a source of joy for years to come, choose the wrong flooring and you’ll regret it every time you walk into the room.
Don’t go it alone.
Interior Motives Flooring is family-owned and has been helping homeowners select and install the perfect tile flooring since 1989.
With a large selection of tile flooring in varying shades and styles, we provide the care you’d expect from a small-town company with big-box store pricing.
Interior Motives Flooring, we’re the experts you can trust. Book a free estimate today.
