Your choices in this flooring category are endless in colour, texture, patterns and sizes. Tile works well in areas that are prone to water such as entry ways, kitchens, bathrooms & shower stalls, laundry rooms, and mud rooms and can be used in other living areas of your home as well. Tile is used on floors, walls, backsplashes, shower stalls and sometimes on counters.

There are 3 types of man-made tiles: Porcelain (glazed/unglazed), Ceramic (glazed/unglazed) and Glass:

Porcelain: This is the hardest/densest tile available. Choose a through body coloured porcelain tile (the colour is the same throughout) thereby making small chips less noticeable. (Some tiles may have only a ceramic glaze fired over the body; if chipped, the white, tan, or red-clay base is exposed.) Porcelain tiles are stain resistant due to it is non-porous nature. Trending these days are wood grain porcelain tiles that look like wood flooring but offer moisture resistance in areas of your home that need this quality. Porcelain tile is more expensive then glazed/unglazed ceramic tile. Some porcelain tile is rated for use outdoors.

Ceramic Glazed: This type of tile has a coating of glass applied to its surface making it smooth and preventing it from scratches. This protects the tile from water. Available in glossy or matte finishes. However, chip a ceramic tile and you find a different colour underneath the top glaze. Chip a porcelain tile and the colour keeps on going–the chip is nearly invisible. Ceramic tile is less expensive then porcelain.

Ceramic Unglazed: This type of tile is very hard/dense and is often used for outdoor applications. These tiles do not offer stain protection like glazed tiles, and require sealing to resist staining. Very slip resistant.

Glass: This is a popular and stunning choice, but you must be careful where you install it. Most glass tile applications are for backsplashes, showers, walls and accents. Most are not recommended for floor traffic. Installation of glass tile is not recommended for a DYI, as it requires a special skill set. Glass tiles tend to be more pricey than other tile options.

Consider installing in floor heating systems with your tile floor. It is energy efficient and can be controlled using a variety of thermostat options. You’ll love this feature on those cold snowy days.