Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Four Things You Have To Ask Yourself Before Buying Tiles!

Four Things You Have To Ask Yourself Before Buying Tiles!



By Mike Hartwick





Purchasing tiles can be an extremely exciting task for the homeowner. It can also sometimes be overwhelming. Here are 4 questions you need to ask yourself to help you get through the process with the least amount of time, money, and frustration:



Exactly where are you going to install the tiles? Knowing the answer to this simple question will make it much easier to define exactly what material or kind of tile you need for the project more than any other. There are so many different kinds of tiles available and it is the place that you are going to utilize them that will determine what tile material you finally choose. If you’re going to be laying tiles on the floor, you can only use floor tiles. This might seem obvious, but most people don’t realize that on the wall you can use either floor or wall tiles. This is because floor tiles are designed to considerably tougher than wall tiles, thus they can perform both jobs. Wall tiles being more delicate, could not handle the heavy use of being used on the floor. You must also determine whether the place you are going to have them installed is going to be moist or encounter high temperatures such as a backsplash or perhaps a bathroom, because this can rule out many materials. If you are tiling an area that is outdoors it’s essential to also select tiles that are graded strong enough and non-vitreous enough to be used as outdoor tiles.



What do I want the tiles to accomplish? After you have determined where the tiles will be installed you will need to take into account what you would like them to do for your space. If you want to portray a particular feel or look you will have to go with a material that not only can be used within the space but also that conveys what you need it to. For example if you wanted a Mediterranean look for your patio, you might utilize quarry tiles. If you want a safe, heavy duty area surrounding your pool you might go for rubber tiles. The tile pattern you choose to use is very important too. The pattern you decide on can function to: make a room look smaller than it is, larger, longer, much wider, or even more modern. Knowing what you need to achieve in the space will help you to pick the correct material and the pattern you utilize with that material.



How much time do I want to spend cleaning and maintaining these tiles? So you’ve decided on the space you need to install your tiles, and what you want them to accomplish. This should have narrowed down your choice of tiles significantly. The next step is to honestly answer how much you like to clean. While some tile materials are extremely easy to clean others are notoriously hard to clean and maintain. Wood tiles for example, while they look like they need a lot of a care, are easily cleaned with most household and tile cleaners because they are actually made from porcelain or ceramic. However, many stone tiles like quarry tiles, need to be power washed and most need to be periodically sealed to prevent water and moisture from being absorbed into the tile. So make sure you always find out what type of maintenance and tile cleaner the material of tile you are considering needs. It might weigh heavily on your decision.



What’s your budget and can you install the tiles yourself? As with all materials some are relatively cheap while others can be very expensive, and tiles are no exception. Ranging from ceramic to hard to find stone, there are tiles for every budget. There are always good deals to be had, and Mexican tiles are a perfect example, they are handmade works of art which are even cheaper than ceramic tiles. Make sure you are clear about how much you have to spend because not only will you have to pay for the actual tiles, but for the installation as well. And if you can install the tiles yourself you can save yourself a lot money. Rubber tiles and wooden deck tiles are great because they can be put down by anyone because they just snap together. That being said unless you are comfortable using a tile saw or have experience laying tile there are a few materials and patterns you should leave to the professionals.



These questions will help you buy the right tiles and save cash too. If you answer them honestly they’ll help you to get rid of the many options which don’t work for you, and leave you with only those which do. Not only will addressing these questions help to make buying the right tiles pleasurable and easy, but a quick process too.









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Four Things You Have To Ask Yourself Before Buying Tiles!



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