Benefits of Tile
Tile is as good-looking as it is practical. Ceramic tile is tough, easy to clean, and fireproof.
Below is a list of qualities that make tile the perfect floor covering to have installed in your home:
Versatility
Tile can be installed on floors and walls, indoors and out, and exposed to water or high heat.
Ceramic tiles can be used to decorate any room of the house.
Variety
The variety of tile colors, shapes, and sizes creates wonderful design possibilities.
You can find glazed ceramic tiles in a rainbow of hues. Colors ranging from quiet neutrals to blazing primaries, from pretty pastels to dramatic dark colors.
There are decorative tiles with designs, impressions, and imagery. Many tiles are textured, both for better grip underfoot and for an interesting look.
There is an endless array of sizes and shapes readily available.
It is easy to give tile installations a detailed touch with a number of manufacturers offering a variety of trim pieces for edges, corners, caps, and rounded arches and circles.
Many tile producers also provide matching accessories, such as towel bars, soap dishes, corner shelves, and paper holders.
Low Maintenance
Ceramic and stone tiled floors, walls, and countertops are easy to care for.
General cleaning consists of a quick wipe with a damp mop. Even when cleaning is neglected for a long period of time, a good wash will usually bring back the lustrous sheen.
Durability
As long as the original installation was properly done, there is no reason why a tile installation would not last as long as your house.
When the burial tomb of the Pharaoh Zoser was opened in 1803, the blue-green glazed tiles inside were as beautiful as if they had been recently installed. In fact, the Stepperd Pyramid in the Nile Valley was built about 4700 BC.
When purchasing tile, bear in mind that you will be living with it for a very long time. Take time and care in choosing tiles that you think will be appropriate in future time.
Ease of Replacement
If carpeting gets stained or damaged, you usually have to replace the entire piece. However if damage occurs to a tiled surface, individual tiles can be repaired as necessary without tearing out the entire installation.
Cracked or loose tiles or damaged grout can be repaired and rejuvenated relatively easy.
If you want to make changes for aesthetic reasons, most installations can be restyled, accented, or added to without having to remove the main body of tiles.
It is possible to extend a tiled surface should you decide to enlarge an area or add on to a room.
Solar Benefits
Ceramic tile is an efficient solar collector, and one of the best floor coverings to install for that purpose.
In the winter, tile stores heat during the day and slowly releases it at night, warming your feet.
In the summer, tile defuses some of the sun's rays by absorbing heat. Then in the evening, ventilation carries the heat away, cooling the tile.
Consider installing tiles around wall heaters and radiators, around wood stoves, and under skylights to achieve the greatest benefits.
If you are installing tile primarily for solar heat benefits, the best substrate is a thick bed of concrete. However, even installed over plywood, tiles will store and emit heat to some extent.
Value
Ceramic tile looks so good that many people consider it a luxury. Actually, it is very affordable. Many ceramic floor tiles are about the same price as vinyl flooring. In addition, tile will long outlast vinyl installations, making tile the more economic choice as a floor covering.
A tiled countertop will cost more than a laminate one, but will be more durable. A tile countertop will be less expensive than a stone or simulated stone slab.
Tiling a wall can be more expensive than painting or paper hanging. But because of its water resistance, tiles are more practical in wet areas such as shower walls, tub surrounds, and backsplashes.
An important factor when weighing the benefits of tile against other products is the return for your money. Floors, walls, and counters covered with ceramic tile, marble, slate, and related tile products are generally associated with luxury living. Therefore an installation that looks professional will certainly add to the appeal and value of your home.
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Every room in your house has the ability to evoke a mood and an atmosphere. Color, light and texture can stimulate the senses and awaken our emotions. Our homes can become a haven of enhanced spaces to calm the soul and refresh the mind.