Be it for an entire bathroom makeover or simply updating its floor, patterned tiles add color and personality. Just be careful not to go too far with them!
Terrazzo made its comeback into style this year. With its unique terrazzo pattern and vibrant colours, terrazzo adds visual interest without overwhelming your space.
Slate is a hard-wearing natural stone with a natural slip-resistance surface that should be sealed regularly to maintain its beauty. To preserve its gleam, regular maintenance of sealants should also be completed to preserve their finish and prolong its shine.
Natural stone
Stone tile adds an earthy and luxurious atmosphere to any bathroom, and its distinctive veining creates an unparalleled look that cannot be replicated with other flooring materials.
Stone tiles are one of the most durable floor coverings available and provide good moisture drainage, but require additional upkeep compared to other forms of flooring. We suggest sealing them every one to three years to protect their beauty and keep moisture at bay.
Stone flooring is one of the most adaptable surfaces available and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Complete Design used our Hayden pattern tile in their impressive washroom renovation to create an eye-catching patterned wall effect using this gorgeous bathroom remodel using Hayden pattern tiles from their inventory.
Cement
Cement tiles are an extremely durable and adaptable material, fitting seamlessly into many design schemes. Their timeless appearance fits in well whether used to add interest within limited areas of a room, or in larger ones to define different zones and create continuity throughout it all.
Cement tiles differ from ceramic ones in that they’re created using an age-old, artisanal process of mixing natural pigments with dry Portland cement and powdered marble powder before pouring it into metal molds and hydraulically pressing. When sealed properly, this surface can resist staining from certain foods and beverages.
Stain removal can be accomplished simply by sanding and sealing the tile again.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles remain one of the most sought-after flooring materials, thanks to their variety of styles and designs. Furthermore, they’re highly durable if installed by professionals – lasting 10 or more years before any issues arise.
These surfaces are easy to keep clean, as germs cannot hide on them. Perfect for bathrooms as they resist water, bacteria and odors – a practical choice indeed!
However, without installing radiant floor heating beneath them, they can be cold on bare feet. Furthermore, without selecting ceramic with low porosity ratings they’re not waterproof so should only be used in areas that won’t be subjected to moisture exposure; scratch resistance also should be taken into consideration when selecting ceramic options.
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles differ from their ceramic counterparts in that they are harder and denser, providing greater resistance against water, bacteria, and stains. Because of this property, porcelain tiles are ideal for bathrooms, laundry rooms and patios.
Porcelain is composed of fine clays and minerals such as feldspar and quartz that have been fired at extremely high temperatures, making it an excellent choice for foyers and entryways that might experience steam, rain, sleet or snow accumulation that would ruin flooring constructed using other materials.
Look for porcelain tiles with “through-body color,” meaning their colors and designs extend right through the body of each tile, so chipping won’t expose a white or tan base color. Porcelain is an excellent option for those who wish to avoid the maintenance requirements associated with natural wood and stone surfaces.
Engineered wood
Engineered wood flooring may seem like a misnomer at first, but engineered hardwood is genuine hardwood throughout and in every sense imaginable; just not in one solid plank. Engineered hardwood has thin layers of veneer layered over high performance plywood or HDF cores for support.
Engineered wood’s plywood core gives it its moisture resistance. While traditional hardwood cannot withstand humidity conditions without warping and distortion, engineered wood is more easily suitable to bathroom conditions. Furthermore, engineered wood typically comes in DIY-friendly planks which make installation simpler, as well as being prefinished by manufacturers for an even lower cost than hardwood options.
Cork
Cork floors are traditionally comprised of solid natural cork that’s adhered to the floor, but WE Cork offers floating cork flooring and glue down tiles with marbled/variegated patterns, mosaic linear designs, and densely packed natural cork looks for easy gluing down.
Mold and mildew may grow on this flooring type when exposed to excess spillage or standing water, but its soft surface means that furniture marks don’t leave marks that dent other materials like hardwood and carpet flooring materials. Furthermore, vinyl tiles or pre-sealed click planks may be laid directly over it for convenient installation.