Types of Tile Flooring – From Rustic to Elegant
Types of tile flooring come in a wide spectrum of materials from brick and pavers, to mosaic and porcelain, to terra cotta and terrazzo. With a natural handcrafted look and inherent durability, tile has become an increasingly popular flooring choice for homeowners.
Tile flooring installation can be done as a DIY project. Learn how to lay a tile floor in this Ultimate How To video:
You have unlimited possibilities for textures, colors and sizes. Let’s look at some contemporary choices for tile flooring.
Terra Cotta: The same material used in clay garden pots, it needs to be treated for indoor use as it is moisture absorbent.
Terrazzo: This type of tile flooring is composed of marble or stone chips embedded in cement.
Quarry: Earth shades of orange and red are the predominant colors. Quarry tile is durable and relatively inexpensive. It is unglazed and requires sealing in wet areas.
Saltillo: An air-dried Mexican tile, Saltillo is somewhat softer and less durable but has a unique look. A sealer is required if installed indoors.
Brick: Normally used in outdoor settings, brick can be arranged in interesting geometric patterns. It is available in several earth tones and works well with rustic or informal decor. Brick should be treated with a stain-resistant sealer.
Pavers: Similar to brick but thinner, this shale-based material can be used indoors and outdoors and requires stain-proofing and sealing for moisture.
Ceramic: Manufactured from clay and other minerals, ceramic tile is shaped and fired in a kiln. If left unglazed, it requires sealing for stain resistance. Glazing, added to the tile after firing, adds stain resistance and allows the use of brighter colors. Glazed ceramic is used primarily on countertops and walls due to the glassy, thick surface.
Mosaic: This tile can be ceramic or porcelain, unglazed or glazed. Tiles can be premounted on paper or mesh sheets, or they can be installed individually. Mosaic comes in two-inch or smaller squares.
Porcelain: A dense tile made by firing at high temperatures, porcelain tile is more moisture resistant.
Cement: This type of tile flooring, which can be colored, is made by pouring cement into molds and then either dried naturally or fired. Like pavers, a seal must be applied to provide stain and moisture resistance.
Flooring tile is typically made in 4″ x 4″ to 24″ x 24″ squares that are 1/2 to 3/4 inch in thickness. Wall tile comes in 3″ x 3″ to 6″ x 6″ squares and is thinner than flooring tile. You can also find nonstandard tile shapes such as hexagonal and octagonal.
Make sure the type of tile flooring you choose is appropriate for the area where it will be installed. For example, you will want a nonslip material for a bathroom and a hard abrasion-resistant material for an entryway; both areas also need a moisture-resistant material. Porous tile should not be installed outdoors in climates where there are freeze/thaw cycles.
