The choice of tiles can either bring splendor to a room or cast an ugly, unattractive and, or thoughtless portrait of the room. In any case though, tiles account for one of the most daunting tasks for a home owner or a home builder.  Nonetheless, with the right choice of quality, tiles can be that final touch of beauty that your bathroom wall or kitchen floor needs. The bottom line however, lies in the kind of materials your choice of tiles is made of. You will also need to consider how much they cost and what colour they come with. Here are pointers that should lead you in getting the right tile for your house:

Colour

When selecting a colour, determine if you want a solid colour that has no variations, or a colour that has variations across the surface of the tile. Essentially, you will have to choose between ceramic and porcelain tiles. In the same breath, you may opt to go for natural products such as marble, granite and quartz.

Size

Go for large tiles if you are installing in a large room, say, the living room, bedroom, or a large kitchen. For example, a 12*12 inch tile would make a good choice for a large living room. An 8*8 inch tile would be suitable for bathrooms and entry-ways. Note that they bring a more attractive look to the room.

Slippery and Slide

Due to high water presence, bathrooms and kitchen are usually prone to slip-related accidents. Consequently, they always require high slip-resistance. Therefore, make sure that you go for tiles that are not too slippery.

Water Absorption

Most tiles usually have a rate of water absorption. Always keep in mind when looking for tiles that the more the absorption, the more poor the quality of the tile is. Remember to check for the guarantee of the tiles’ quality.

Breaking Strength

Strictly go for tiles that provide long term durability. You can begin by examining the thickness of the tiles. Note that the more the thickness of the tile, the stronger and long lasting the tile is likely to be. Usually, a strong tile is supposed to be at least 6mm thick. Consider too the amount of traffic that your bathroom or kitchen is likely to receive and ask how each type of tile is resistant to wear or tear. While buying, take care to ask the seller for a product guarantee.

Surface Abrasion:

Tiles usually come in grades. To get the best grade of tiles that are resistant to surface abrasion and scratches, go for the grade that can stand up to scratches, dirt and excess traffic. The tile grades range from one to five. Here’s their functionalities:

• Tile grade one: It is the weakest of all standard tiles, and is really only suitable for walls, eg. bathroom walls and backsplash.
• Tile grade two: It is the best for light traffic rooms. It can also be a good application for walls, and residential bathrooms.
• Tile grade three: It is the most common in residential buildings, and perfect for rooms with light to moderate traffic.
• Tile grade four: It is an improvement of grade three tiles, and is a god choice for residential houses, eg. for use in bathroom and general room floors, and counter-tops.
• Tile grade five: It is the top quality. It is tough, strong and durable. It is mostly suitable for high traffic areas such as supermarket floors, office floors, and home areas that receive a lot of traffic.

Tile Installation

Noteworthy, if a tile is installed recklessly, it will break down no matter how suitable its grade is. In the same vein, note that dimensional instability can also cause a break down. In most cases, many builders usually use cement to lay out tiles. But this is usually not a highly recommended method of installation. Why? Note that as the wet cement dries up, it contracts and creates air spaces between the tiles and the cement. Eventually, the tiles end up breaking. For instance, if you tap on a cement-installed tile and a hollow sound is produced, the tile is highly likely to break when a larger amount of pressure is applied. Choose an expert in tile installation to avoid unwarranted breaks.