When considering updating your home, there are many possibilities for areas you can modernize and improve in order to increase your home’s value, or simply make it more comfortable for you and your family. Options you may be considering could range from replacing old flooring, to completely renovating a kitchen or bathroom, or even updating the outdoor living space you have. With so many options, it may come as a surprise that one material could be utilized in every possible area: tile. Although tile is only one category of product, there are many different types of eleganza tiles that can be made specialized for specific areas, be it interior or exterior, flooring or wall coverings, counter tops or back splashes, getting the right look and material may take some shopping around, but this will hopefully help you get started on what to look for.
Types of Tile Materials
There are numerous different kinds of tile on the market today and one of the most common ways to sort them out is by the material they are made of. Tiles can be made with ceramic, porcelain, terra cotta, glass, or even metal and each has its pros and cons. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are some of the most common types of tile on the market coming in all imaginable colors, designs and textures, while terra cotta is more limited in color variety. These types of tile can be used for just about any area and can be expected to last 50 years or more when properly cared for. Their care tends to be very easy as well, even for floors which tend to put the most ware on materials, involving simply clearing off dirt and dust regularly and occasionally washing or mopping. Glass and metal tiles are often more expensive and are typically used for decorative accents. They often come attached to mesh backing to aid in the installation of the, often very small, tiles.
Types of Tile Shapes
Some may be disinterested in tile under the assumption that it is just a bunch of squares or rectangles that don’t really allow character to be added to a room, but the reality is that, while these are indeed the most common formats that tile is offered in, there are many other shapes available. There are diamonds, triangles, hexagons, and octagons among the more basic shapes. For more elaborate designs there are arabesque, lantern, or fish scale shaped tiles, but for the extremely ambitious individuals, there is always the possibility of simply cutting the plain square or rectangular tiles into whatever shapes are desired.
Closing Thoughts
With home maintenance becoming a major expense to many owners, having a durable material like tile installed in your home gives you one less possible problem to worry about in the future and makes it a worthwhile investment to consider. With carpet only lasting up to 7 years and wood flooring typically can be expected to last 25 years, ceramic tiles can be expected to last around 50 years. This makes it a product you can expect to last in your home and leave you with one less thing to worry about.
