What are the different types of floor tiles?
To choose the right floor tiles, you must first know the different types of tiles that exist.
Porcelain stoneware tiles stand out for their multiple advantages. This material, robust and aesthetic, offers great durability and resists time well. It also lends itself well to decorative purposes, thanks to its beautiful finish and varied aesthetic. In short, porcelain stoneware combines aesthetics and resistance, which makes it suitable for multiple uses. To easily find your new floor covering, simply make your selection from the best tiles from the Novoceram brand.
THE terracotta floor tiles is a great classic, easy to install. Thanks to its manufacturing process, all tiles are identical. On the other hand, it is necessary to carry out a water and oil repellent treatment to extend its lifespan. Terracotta tiles are available today in a wide range of colors.
A little forgotten in recent years, cement tiles come back into fashion. Resistant to the passage of time and easy to maintain, cement tiles are available in many colors.
THE natural stone tiles seduced by its resistance and longevity. It can be installed indoors or outdoors because it is weather resistant but cannot withstand abrasive products.
What standards define floor tiling?
Laying tiles on the floor is not so simple because you need to know certain standards to make the right choice.
THE UPEC ranking determines 4 criteria using letters and numbers.
- U stands for Wear when walking and trampling and therefore corresponds to resistance to passage;
- P for Punching, i.e. resistance to shocks, falling objects and the weight of furniture;
- E for E is resistance to humidity;
- C stands for Chemical Agents and Stains and determines stain resistance.
It is the room where the tiled floor will be placed which will have to be taken into account. For example, for a kitchen or a bathroom, the letters E and C of the UPEC classification must be taken into consideration because they give an indication of resistance to humidity and stains. For places of life and passage, it is rather the letters U and P which are important.
Ranging from 1 to 5, the European PEI standard indicates the wear resistance of floor tiles. The higher the rating, the more resistant the tiles are. If 1 is sufficient for a bathroom, floor tiles rated 3 or 4 should be chosen for a room with frequent traffic. The rating of 5 is more intended for public places with really busy traffic such as shopping centers or airports.
Finally, the MOHS standard provides an indication of scratch resistance. Tile tiles are rated from 1 to 10. The higher the number, the less prone to scratches the floor is.
What aspect does the tiled floor look like?
The choice of tiles depends on the room in which it will be installed but also on its aesthetics. Indeed, the soil plays a major role in the interior decoration of a room. In the past, tiling was considered a bit too classic, but this is no longer the case today. Tiles are increasingly being chosen as floor coverings.
The tiles come in different aspects such as concrete imitation for a sober and contemporary look, wood imitation for a natural look, stone imitation for an authentic look or even the metal look for industrial style interiors or marble look tiles for modern decoration.
But tiling on the floor is not limited to these imitations of floor coverings since it can also have the appearance of wallpaper or cement tiles. The aesthetic choice is a question of taste but also of style. It is better to opt for tiles which blends easily with walls.
To choose the right floor tiles, you need to know the different types of tiles because some are more suitable for outdoor use or damp rooms. You must also pay attention to standards to find the tiles that best resist traffic or humidity. Finally, we must not neglect the aesthetic side.