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TILE FLOORS FAQS

Tile floors have been a popular decorating material for quite some time, plenty of time in fact, for tile to build an impressive record of durability and versatility. And tile flooring takes to customized designs, unique glazes, and special effects with ease. One way to create an eye-catching kitchen tile floor or bathroom tile floor is to use subtle gradations in color across the entire floor.

TYPES OF TILE FLOOR

Natural Tile Flooring

ceramic or stone, comes in many different forms, almost all of them hard-wearing and impervious to water, mud, and grease. All types of natural tile flooring connote luxury (because of its high cost compared to other types of flooring) and permanence, so you may want to restrict its use to small areas, such as entryways. While stone tile flooring (granite tile, marble tile, or slate tile) is often expensive, highly decorative ceramic tile, especially if it is hand-painted, can be quite pricey too.

Tile flooring has the possible disadvantages of being cold underfoot (which actually can be an advantage in warm climates) and can be noisy under hard-soled shoes because the tile itself is very hard. Things dropped on are more likely to break, and in the bathroom, tile flooring can be slippery. One final point: ceramic tile is heavy, so make sure that the subflooring in the area where you plan to install it is strong enough to bear its weight.

Resilient Tile Flooring

Resilient Tile Flooring is easy to install because it can be put down over almost any other type of flooring and requires little preparation. Resilient tile flooring is available in patterns that imitate ceramic or natural stone and come in various sizes, although twelve inches square is the most common. Some resilient tile floors come with an adhesive backing and can simply be pressed into place. Resilient tile is relatively inexpensive, durable, easy to keep clean, waterproof, and stain resistant. Other types of synthetic hard-surface tile flooring include asphalt and rubber tile.

Quarry Tile Flooring

Quarry Tile Flooring is made from clay or shales. You might think of it as the same material as brick manufacture - except this is formed into tiles. Often, quarry tiles are used in the following sizes: 6x6; 4x8; 8x8. You may also see tile in a 12x12 size.
Quarry tile is very durable.

Glazed Tile Flooring

Glazed Tile Flooring are one type of ceramic tile that is fired in a kiln to create an almost glass-type coating. Glazed tiles are highly recommended because the coating seals the tile. This makes it waterproof and easy to clean. Any grouting used should be sealed in addition to the glazing on the tile. Be sure to look for (or make) a non-toxic grouting material for your tile floors.
If you plan to implement passive solar in your home, then darker grout will absorb and hold the heat more efficiently than light colored grout.

Porcelain

Tile Flooring is ceramic tile. It is extremely hard and tends to wear through cutting tools rather rapidly. Porcelain tile can be purchased glazed or unglazed and is typically more expensive than the clay variety.

Terracotta Tile Flooring

Terracotta Tile Flooring is a type of floor tile that picks up the clay color from which it is made. Colors may vary from brown to orange to numerous other shades, according to the chemical composition of the clay.

Recycled Glass

These tiles, made from post-consumer (what you recycle from household use) or post-industrial (what manufacturers recycle) glass. They are becoming extremely popular because they are eco-friendly and use a substance that used to end up in landfills.
Since glass comes in a multitude of colors, recycled glass tile is available in a wide spectrum of shades and can be designed into all types of patterns.

Installation Methods

How you install tile flooring depends on the tile itself and the surface where it is to be applied residential kitchen, bathroom, living room or commercial kitchen, bathroom or lobby. Each brand of flooring is different, and each manufacturer usually includes specific recommendations for use and installation. Many tile floor installations are within the realm of capability for many do-it-yourselfers who can muster the time and patience and ably wield a straightedge, tape measure, and carpenter's level.

Flooring tools, such as tile cutters, tile nippers, and trowels, are often sold or loaned by tile flooring dealers. It's wise to order tile for the entire project all at once, plus 10 percent more than you'll need to cover breakage and replacement. Tile can be installed over most structurally sound floors, but for new or uneven surfaces, or elaborate installations, consider hiring a licensed professional for the job.

CHOOSING A PATTERN FOR YOUR TILE FLOOR:

The following provides a variety of tile patterns and borders to liven up the surfaces in any room, anywhere. The key above each pattern tells you the approximate number of pieces per 100 square or linear feet of each tile size required to create each pattern or border.

So think outside the square. Use tile patterns and let your imagination take shape!

To get started:

Never assume a room is perfectly square - always square off from the center and begin pattern along one edge.
To avoid rough edges on tile, always float the floor to a level state before installing tile.
Always round the next highest footage when calculating square footage of tile needed.
Random is not a pattern, but a specific look designed by the installer.

When installing tile in a random configuration, the percentages of tile for the three sizes involved do not add up to 100%, in order to allow for different looks throughout the installation. These percentages will also allow for overage needed due to centering the layout.

Modular patterns, if laid according to this guide, will have a solid grout frame every three feet.
Each diagram represents nine square feet.

TILE FLOOR INSTALLING

Installing Tile Directly To Wood Surfaces

Chip board, cushioned vinyl flooring, particle boards of any type, luan plywood, OSB (Oriented Strand Board), tongue & groove planking, and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates to directly install ceramic tile over.

Although it can be done successfully, many experts believe that ceramic tile installed directly to plywood surfaces should be avoided whenever possible. Plywood has a smooth surface and tends to swell, warp, and delaminate when it is exposed to moisture. Install at your own risk.

Subfloor construction should consist of a double layered, 1-1/8" thick, exterior grade plywood installed over floor joists spaced a maximum of 16" on center. Face grains of first plywood layer should be installed perpendicular to joists for maximum stiffness and staggered with an 1/8" wide gap between each sheet. Install plywood panel edges 1/4" away from restraining surfaces, including perimeter walls, cabinetry, and door jambs. These are expansion gaps and should not be bridged with setting material. In addition, subfloor deflection should not exceed L/360 of span.

To prevent moisture from damaging the plywood substrate we recommend that a waterproofing membrane be installed per the manufacturer's instructions over all plywood surfaces to be tiled.

Install ceramic tile using a latex modified thinset mortar approved for use over plywood substrates.

Installing Tile Over Vinyl Or Linoleum Floor Coverings

Installing ceramic tile directly to vinyl or linoleum surfaces should be avoided whenever possible. Install at your own risk.

If you are concerned that your vinyl or linoleum flooring may contain asbestos fibers we recommend that you have it tested before attempting to remove it. For more information on asbestos, please refer to Asbestos In Your Home provided by the EPA.

In any case, vinyl or linoleum flooring must be a non-cushioned type and securely attached to the subfloor. Subfloor construction should consist of double layered, 1-1/8" thick, exterior grade plywood installed over floor joists spaced a maximum of 16" on center. The maximum allowable concentrated deflection of the subfloor may not exceed L/360 of the span.

If the floor covering does not contain asbestos fibers we recommend that the surface be scarified or sanded to provide a rougher surface for the thinset mortar to bond to.

Install ceramic tile using a latex modified thinset mortar approved by the manufacturer for installation over vinyl and linoleum surfaces.

Installing Tile Directly To Concrete Slabs

Concrete substrates must be thoroughly cleaned prior to the installation of tile. To remove dust, we mop cement slab using clean water only and allow to dry completely. Very smooth concrete may be roughened up or etched using an acid based solution designed specifically for this purpose.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLOR OF GROUT FOR YOUR FLOOR

Pick a neutral color, such as gray or white, both of which are available in different shades of the basic color. This is the best bet if you're worried about using a trendy color, or if you're worried you might dislike a color in the future. Neutral also is a good choice if you plan on selling your home because it appeals to all types of people.

Choose a harmonizing or blending color if you want to create a solid look in the room. A blending or harmonizing grout color is one that nearly matches the color of the tile, but is slightly different, such as a darker green grout used with dark green tiles.

Look for accent colors, but only if your tile has several different colors running through the piece. This works well with marble tiles and tiles that look like marble. You can use grout that is the same color as some of the veins running through the tile.

Make a bold statement by picking contrasting colors. Black tiles and white grout are one option, but you can use any type of contrasting color. For example, mixing yellow tiles with black grout creates a bold statement and also looks different from yellow tiles with white grout, which is more expected.

Use grout in a shade of brown or tan in high traffic areas such as the kitchen, but stay away from such primary colors as red and green. Primary colors typically are harder to clean and require more cleaning in such areas as the kitchen. Brown and tan shades hide dirt better and require less cleaning.