Tile Flooring Style Guide

If you’re redoing your floors, tile could be a suitable option. You’ll find numerous colors, sizes, styles, and materials to fit the needs of your home renovation project. Use this guide to help you maximize your investment and ensure years of enjoyment from your tile floors.

Schedule a consultation for tile flooring installation—call Blackdog Design/Build/Remodel at (603) 952-3192 to reach our Salem office, or at (603) 769-4938 for our Nashua location.

Types of Tile Flooring

If you have never undertaken a tiling project before, you might be surprised at the vast array of options available. Aesthetics are an important consideration, but you must also choose tiles with characteristics that meet your expectations and fit the application at hand. Here are some of the most popular types of tiles used for indoor flooring.

Ceramic Tiles

Excellent durability and cost-effectiveness make ceramic the right material for large-scale use in kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways. Hundreds of styles are available to fit any design, in both glazed and unglazed varieties.

Porcelain Tiles

This all-purpose material can mimic the look of natural stone, brick, or wood in any room of your home without the high cost or maintenance you might expect. Porcelain can even be used outdoors, thanks to its resistance to freezing, fading, and cracking.

Cement Tiles

This tile material dates back to the 19th century, but it’s experiencing a resurgence. Be aware that cement tiles are porous, so they can become discolored. It’s possible to sand and reseal them like hardwood floors, but to avoid the maintenance, plan to use cement tiles in low-traffic areas only.

Natural Stone Tiles

Granite and marble floors add beauty to any home. These materials require more upkeep and come with a higher price tag, so they work best in smaller, low-traffic applications, such as powder rooms, shower stalls, and butler’s pantries.

Quarry Tiles

Similar in appearance to bricks, quarry tiles are naturally dense, nonporous, and slip-resistant. They can be glazed or left natural, and they never need to be resealed. However, they are prone to staining, so they shouldn’t be used in the kitchen.

Pros and Cons of Tile Flooring

Tiles are a popular material for home flooring, but they may not suit every application. Weigh these pros and cons to help you decide if tile flooring is right for you.

Pro: Low-Maintenance

Most tile flooring is easy to maintain. Unlike carpet, stains don’t get absorbed, and unlike hardwood, water and high humidity don’t cause damage.

Pro: Durable

Tile is difficult to scratch or crack. Plus, it’s relatively easy to replace a single tile if it does become damaged.

Pro: Cost-Effective

While the price depends on the exact material, tiles tend to be more affordable than hardwood floors, but more expensive than carpet.

Con: Cold Underfoot

Stepping on a chilly bathroom floor is a disadvantage in the winter, but tile flooring can help your home stay cooler in the summer.

Con: Heavy

Tile weighs more than hardwood and carpet, which could affect the integrity of your home’s second story. Speak with a structural engineer before proceeding with your project.

Con: Hard and Slippery

It can be uncomfortable to stand on a tile floor for long periods. Older adults, kids, and pets may also be prone to slipping on the smooth surface, especially when it’s wet.

Considering Tiles Floors? Choose Blackdog as Your Home Remodeling Partner

Blackdog proudly provides top-quality home remodeling services throughout Salem and Nashua, NH. We emphasize customer service and satisfaction, and we offer an industry-leading three-year warranty for your peace of mind.

To learn more about tile floors, check out our recent podcast. Then, call our Salem office at (603) 952-3192 or our Nashua location at (603) 769-4938. You can also schedule a consultation online.