Choosing Tiles? 5 Important Things to Know.

There’s more to choosing the right tiles than just liking a colour and shape. Whether you’re gearing up for some DIY tiling, or you’re choosing a style for a professional to install, there are some important things you need to consider first.

Here are the 5 most important things you need to be thinking about when you’re choosing your tiles:

1. Is it actually waterproof?

Not every tile is a good match for a wet area like a bathroom, despite how good it might look. People choose tiles because they’re much more waterproof than timber or carpet, but many popular tile materials – like marble – actually do a terrible job of handling moisture over time. 

When you’re choosing a tile material, be sure to do your research on how waterproof it really is. Make sure you keep waterproofing in mind when choosing a grout as well. You don’t want to have to spend a fortune retiling only a few years later.

2. How slippery is the surface?

This is another thing that might not be at the front of your mind, but it’s an important factor to consider. Tiles with a polished look can be extra-slippery, and popular materials like ceramic and porcelain can be notorious for this – especially if they also have a waterproof glaze on them.

If you’re older and prone to falls, or you have young kids, this should be a serious concern. Stone tiles – like granite or limestone – can be a better choice. If you’re on a bit of a budget, try vinyl tiles. Vinyl comes in a wide range of styles and has great non-slip qualities.

3. Don’t use easily stained materials in the kitchen.

Some tiles have great waterproof and non-slip qualities, but stain super easily. Porous materials – like limestone, concrete, and quarry tiles – are probably the biggest offenders for this.

We recommend never using these tile materials for kitchen floors or splashbacks. You don’t want to be worrying about permanently staining your tile when you’re cooking that bright orange curry or red-wine pasta sauce.

 It’s better just to choose a tile that’s easy to clean, like porcelain or ceramic. There are some great stone-look tiles out there that are made out of these simpler, more affordable materials.

Glass tiles are a great choice for splashbacks as they clean extremely easily. Though obviously, they are too fragile to make for a good floor tile. This brings us to the next consideration, and perhaps the most important – durability.

4. Prioritise durability for high-traffic areas.

When you’re choosing tiles for an area that gets a lot of foot traffic – like a hallway or anywhere where shoes will be worn – then the strength of your tile should be a primary concern. Some thinner tiles are better suited to walls and won’t do well as a floor tile.

Consider thickness, hardness, and the type of glaze when you’re tiling a high-traffic area. A cheaper tile might seem like a bargain initially, but you’ll end up spending more on maintenance over time. 

Tiles that have been fired at high temperatures – like porcelain tiles or quarry tiles – are great affordable workhorse tiles that can take a beating without chipping or cracking.

5. Don’t go crazy with colours, patterns and tile sizes.

Now that we’ve gotten all the sensible stuff out the way, you can start to have fun thinking about the visual style of your tiles. Yet although choosing a tile style for your home can be exciting, you should try and exercise a little bit of restraint in your selection.

Stick to 2 or 3 colours and sizes throughout the home – it will likely look a bit of a mess if you don’t. Another thing you should consider is room size: A smaller room will always look better with smaller and lighter-coloured tiles, whereas a spacious room will look even bigger with dark flooring and large tiles.

Busy patterns like terrazzo tiles or mosaics can look amazing but are better kept to feature walls or small areas. Tiling a whole room with them will generally be too visually noisy. Otherwise, though, you should feel free to follow your own tastes and take a few risks. It’s the best part of DIYing your own home!

These are 5 of the most important things to consider when you’re choosing tiles for your wall or floor. Having this knowledge handy is especially important if you’re DIY-ing, as you won’t have an expert around to call out any potential mistakes.

Looking for a bit of inspiration for your tiling project? Why not check out the wide range of porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles at Multifors. We can deliver your tiles and your tools right to your door, with fast delivery across Metro Melbourne from $19.95