Tiles are resistant to moisture and environmental factors like heat, humidity and cold making them a durable flooring option with a longer lifespan. Flooring offers the first visual appeal in a house and is more or less permanent. It is very important to consider its design and future functionality while deciding on the flooring change in your home or office. There are different types of tiles and flooring options available in the market and we’ll discuss each of the Top 10 Flooring Tiles for 2024 in this article.
Ceramic tiles – Ceramic is a mixture created out of clay, water and other inorganic materials put together and hardened at high temperatures. Ceramic Tiles are available in various shapes, patterns and colours making them a versatile option. They are durable and offer a neat look while being much more affordable than natural stone. Ceramic tiles are very hard, almost brittle and are covered with glaze. Ceramic tiles are impervious to water making them an excellent option for kitchens and bathrooms. While they can withstand heavy foot traffic and are easy to clean they require a bit of maintenance.
Porcelain tiles – Porcelain tiles are specialised and upgraded versions of ceramic tiles that are a harder, stronger and even more water-resistant version of ceramic tiles. Porcelain is created by mixing clay and water with finer particles and firing at higher temperatures ranging from 1,200 and 1,400 °C to achieve the result. Porcelain tiles are harder, more dense making them susceptible to be used in even commercial environments. While porcelain tiles are easier to clean and maintain, the grout lines in between tiles are still vulnerable to stains. Unlike Ceramic tiles, Porcelain tiles have the same colour throughout the material and offer a smoother finish than Ceramic tiles.
Marble – Marble tiles are natural tiles cut out of metamorphic rock pieces consisting of carbonate minerals that recrystallize under the influence of heat and pressure over time. Marble tiles offer an elegant and aesthetically rich look to your house. Marble tiles are unique to the stones they are cut out of and are typically different from each other with no two stones having the same look. Marble tiles are extremely durable and very versatile. They do not need any chemical treatment and are available in various colour options. Floors made up of marble tiles offer an exquisite, timeless look to your house.
Granite – Granite tiles are cut out of the most commonly known Granite rocks and offer a combination of white, black and grey particles bound together. Granite tiles are naturally durable and resistant to heat or being easily chipped. Granite is tougher than marble and outlasts it. While granite tiles may not be able to offer the polished and elegant look of marble, it covers up for the same through its toughness, durability and affordability. Granite tiles are known for their lifelong durability while they offer a sense of opulence to your kitchen, bathroom as well and commercial areas.
Cement tiles – Made from a mixture of cement, sand, marble powder and colours, Cement tiles can be customised as per preferences. Cement tiles are man-made yet environment-friendly and can keep up their appearance for years to come. With their tough manufacturing process and inbuilt colour, Cement tiles have been touted as a good investment. Cement tiles are easy to install and maintain, making them a long-lasting remodelling solution. Cement tiles are versatile and can be used anywhere inside the house ranging from floors and walls of your bathroom, kitchen, living and dining room and around the fireplace.
Limestone – Another natural stone, Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of minerals. While Limestone tiles offer a soft and polished look, they are very tough and durable. Natural limestone tiles offer much tougher, scratch resistant and long-lasting flooring in comparison to wooden, vinyl or laminate floors making them an ideal indoor as well as outdoor flooring option. Limestone tiles are not completely water-resistant hence are a cheaper option when compared to marble and granite.
Terracotta – Terracotta tiles are made out of clay and moulded into different shapes and colours are relatively lower temperatures in a kiln. ‘Terracotta’ in Italian refers to baked-earth and these mostly red-coloured tiles are probably the oldest and have been used across Asian and European cultures for ages. Terracotta tiles are strong, durable and naturally resistant to bacteria and mould. Terracotta tiles work well with underfloor heating offering a natural earthen and vintage look to your place.
Vinyl tiles – Vinyl tiles are made of Polyvinyl Chloride Plastic commonly known as PVC and can be manufactured in various patterns and finishes. Vinyl tiles resembling wooden patterns offer a resemblance to a wooden floor and are a favoured flooring option also due to its affordable pricing. Vinyl flooring can be achieved through large vinyl rolls, vinyl squares, planks as well and tiles to offer the desired look in your home. Vinyl Flooring is ideal for indoors as it lasts 15-20 years depending on the foot traffic and usage.
Resin Floor – Resin tiles offer economical DIY options to further accentuate the décor in your house and can be customized to your preferences. Resin or epoxy flooring is a soluble mixture applied on an already prepared floor to offer a clear and shiny floor as the mixture hardens. A properly done resin floor offers a durable, water-resistant and unique flooring option in the house. Resin floors offer a much more flexible and tensile floor for use.
Quartz tiles – Quartz tiles come from an extremely strong stone called Quartz along with other materials offering durability and strength. Quartz does not absorb liquid and is not completely heat resistant. Since Quartz is a manufactured stone, it offers a lot more variety in colours and patterns in comparison to natural stones. Flooring made out of Quartz tiles offers a beautiful look and is resistant to staining making it a perfect fit for contemporary kitchens.
About Livwell Collective
At Livwell Collective, we design, renovate and define your signature style by considering and working on the softer and larger elements of your home. It is advisable to invest in a good design team when it comes to flooring in a house. We offer you the opportunity to examine different flooring patterns for your house before you finalize your flooring renovations. Contact our design team to learn more.
