Ceramic Tile Flooring
Is tile your thing? Will you select ceramic tile flooring, or porcelain? Will you go with a mosaic ceramic tile flooring or is retro your thing? Who's installing your tile flooring -- a professional, or will you do it yourself? It's good in the bath, kitchen, entryway, and just about anywhere in your house. And, there are lots of ceramic tile flooring patterns to choose from, so have fun!
Ceramic tile flooring is considered one of the most durable and cost-effective flooring solutions. Ceramic tiles are basically pieces of clay that have been pressed, heated, shaped and glazed.
Ceramic tiles offer many advantages:
- Simple installation
- Large variety of styles
- Durable
- Easy maintenance
- Add value
And only a few drawbacks:
- Difficult to remove
- More expensive than some options
Ceramic tiles are made by a process in which clay is pressed, cut into shapes and fired in a kiln to create hard tiles. Most manufacturers also cover tiles with a glaze before firing to add to the tile's hardness and functionality. Ceramic tiles that have been glazed are easier to clean and resist weather and moisture more effectively. Tiles that are unglazed can look stunning and some people prefer them because they are less slippery. If you plan on using unglazed ceramic tiles for your floors, however, you will want to make sure that they are covered with a protective sealant. This will help prevent stains and will protect your floors.
Ceramic tiles are quite durable. Most are grouped by a hardness scale based on their glaze. This scale is sometimes referred to as the Moh scale and is based on tests conducted by the Porcelain Enamel Institute. The scale is numbered from 0 to 5. Ceramic tiles that are ranked at 0 are decorative only and should not be used on floors at all. Ceramic tiles that are ranked at 5 are very durable. These tiles are specially glazed to be used for residential, commercial, and even industrial applications.
Historically, ceramic tile has been used extensively for both practical and decorative features. In ancient Rome, mosaic ceramic tile was used on floors and walls. In fact, when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, many of the ceramic tiles in nearby homes were not destroyed and can still be seen today.
Many people find that removing ceramic tile flooring, especially older flooring, can be a problem. If you want to remove only a few chipped or cracked tiles, for example, you may want to get expert help. Another small disadvantage of ceramic tiles is that glazed tiles can be very slippery when wet. To avoid this problem, you may wish to buy quarry tiles, which are unglazed, or you may wish to buy tiles that are covered with a special anti-slip surface. People who are on a very strict budget may also notice that ceramic tiles cost more initially than some other types of flooring. However, the high quality of ceramics can help ensure that your investment lasts for many years.
Despite the very few disadvantages, ceramic tiles offer many great options.Decorators love the huge array of tiles available. Whether you require ultra-modern floors or retro ceramic tile flooring, today's ceramic tile flooring patterns offer you all the stylish and durable options you need. Exciting new style options allow you to use retro ceramic tile flooring in acid green, gold and orange or in Andy Warhol pop designs. It is even possible to create customized ceramic flooring options that suit your decor perfectly.
Ceramic tiles are also quality, durable products. They last for years with no fuss. With a good glaze, these tiles are fade, chip and stain resistant. Clean-up is usually as simple as a quick mop. Since these tiles are very resistant to water and weather, they are perfect options for the kitchen, bathroom, and entranceway. In fact, bath ceramic tile flooring can keep bathrooms looking great longer, while ceramic in the kitchen can make cleaning a breeze. Ceramic floors can also be replaced one tile at a time. If one tile chips or cracks, a professional can replace the affected tile quickly and affordably. This can make tile floors a great investment, since you will be able to avoid replacing entire floors.
When it comes to durability, quality, and versatility, ceramic tile flooring is a great option for the discriminating customer.
I just had my ceramic floor cleaned professionaly.Now it's clean but really dull & the grout is now kind of whitish looking (it's supposed to be brown). The tile cleaner said to put Mop N Glo lightly all over the floor. Should I do this ? I need your opinion!! Thank You!
Denise at January 10, 2009 10:00 AMHi Denise,
The Flooring Lady at January 12, 2009 8:36 AMNo - never use Mop N Glo, Orange Glo or products like these. I'm not sure why the grout is whitish now - usually the problem is white grout looking brown! Was the grout sealed? If not, maybe you're experiencing efflorescence? It really sounds like you need to call the 'professional' you hired and ask them what's going on and to fix it.
We are planning to stack our washer/dryer anddo a little remodel in the laundry/mud room. Would you suggest tile? and would the kind that's not glazed be better?
Linda at January 22, 2009 5:26 PMHi Linda,
The Flooring Lady at January 24, 2009 12:15 PMI would think it's more of a personal preference. ;o)
Good Day Floor Lady,
Lucie Foulem at February 17, 2009 11:51 AMWe have ceramic heated floors in our office and every time we clean it we are left with water spots and streaking. I am just wondering if you could tell me what it is we should use to correctly clean the floors and eliminate these disappointing stains. Thanks for your time!
Hi Lucie,
The Flooring Lady at February 19, 2009 10:29 AMVinegar/Water mix (1 part vinegar to 15 parts or more water, clean rinse water, with a microfiber mop. Have a second clean dry mophead as well to kind of 'buff' the floor.
I have white ceramic tile floors in the kitchen and they are very hard to keep clean. I would like a darker color, but can't afford to it. Can it be repainted and resealed?
Terri at March 6, 2009 10:44 AMHi Terri,
The Flooring Lady at March 11, 2009 1:09 PMYes, this can be done and has been covered - please do a search to find entries. Search bar is in the upper right hand corner.
We have used Mop and Glo on our ceramic/porcelain kitchen tiles. The floor is shiny but there are dull spots all over it now. Maybe water spilled on the shine. How do I remove the Mop and Glo?
Margaret at August 29, 2009 12:05 PMMargaret,
Give Mop and Glo customer service a call to see if they have a solution for stripping it or perhaps it's on the bottle. I would buff it off with a White Pad. 3M makes a Super fine buffing pad that I've had success with in my many flooring adventures.
The Flooring Lady at August 31, 2009 2:17 PMI just had wood like tile put in my home. It has been hand washed numerous times. The was supposed to be a slight shine so it would be mantence free. You know wash and go. It has a dull,lacks luster,drab,dusty look. Is there a type of sealer I can have put on it to keep a premently shine look? Are you suppose to put a type of sealer on the tile? If so what? Is it expensive?
Marion at October 16, 2009 9:16 AMMarion,
Is this ceramic tile, as in the article above? All tiles need to be cleaned with the right cleaners. Something too strong can damage the finish and remove the luster and shine. You may want to try washing with a vinegar and water solution of 1:15 parts. If this floor was just put in, I would ask the installer or the supplier for suggestions on the proper cleaning and care of that type of floor.
You should be able to reseal the floor with a polyurethane and make it shine again. I would recommend the water-based Diamond Coat Varathane Polyurethane. It is much less expensive than a new floor.
The Flooring Lady at October 20, 2009 1:39 PMHello! I have a commercial kitchen that is built over a deck so winter weather really chills my floors. We had a product installed that was ceramic tiles glued to a floating wood floor. It was installed 5 months ago and about half of my tiles are cracked. Any suggestion?
susie at November 18, 2009 5:28 AM