All you need to know about tiles
THE TILE ASSOCIATION
The Tile Association
represents tile Manufacturers, Tile Fixers, Distributors, Retailers, Agents,
Shippers and Support Companies such as adhesive and accessories manufacturers.
The Tile
Association checks out any tile retailer, fixer or tile fixing company wishing
to join their ranks. It checks their experience, abilities, track record and
financial health.
Why choose Tiles?
Ceramic tiles have
been valued for their beauty and durability for centuries. In the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Greece
and Rome tiles were used as a functional material and as decoration in the
houses of the most important citizens as well as in public buildings such as
baths and temples. The fact that often
when these buildings are excavated the tiled floors are still intact is a
testament to the durability of ceramic tiles.
Ceramic tiles,
particularly floor tiles, are once again at the very height of fashion. People are choosing ceramic tiles for many
reasons. To start with hard flooring is
now more popular than carpet and ceramic is the most durable of domestic hard
flooring. A tiled floor should last a
lifetime
Ceramic tiles are
very safe, they are non flammable and do not conduct electricity. They are hygienic; they don’t attract or
absorb dirt and they are very easy to clean.
They are also healthy and ideal for those with asthma or allergies as
they don’t harbour dust, pollen, dust mites or cancer causing benzene from car fumes.
Ceramic tiles are
very comfortable under foot. They have
thermal insulation and soundproofing qualities.
They are not cold; they actually absorb and retain heat like mini
storage heaters. They are also odour
free and unlike fabrics and carpets they do not absorb odours.
But above all
ceramic tiles are attractive. There is
nothing that quite transforms a room like tiles; and tiles will also add value
to your home.
Don’t worry about
the cost. Tiles are no more expensive than many other wall and floor coverings. As tiles last for such a long time looking
almost exactly as they did when new; taken over their design life they are far
cheaper than wallpaper, wood or carpet.
Where to use Tiles?
Tiles can be used
almost anywhere. With modern adhesives tile can be laid on the majority of
suspended timber floors, on partition walls and on recently applied plaster or
concrete but please consult a competent fixer before doing so. The Tile Association can put you in touch
with a TTA registered contractor in your area.
How to use tiles to enhance your home
Bathrooms
Tiles can be used in
a bathroom to contrast or match your bathroom suite. Large format, light coloured tiles make small
rooms look bigger. Tiled floors are by
far the most hygienic option for busy bathrooms so that splashes and spills can
just be mopped up. Many floor tiles are
available with a slip resistant surface for safety and undertile heating can be
installed for extra comfort.
Mosaics are
wonderful for, wet rooms, where the bathroom is the shower enclosure and the
water runs into a drain in the floor. Mosaics
mould themselves to the shape of walls and floors and create an illusion of
space as you can’t tell where one begins and the other ends. Glass or ceramic mosaics in blues and greens look
wonderful teamed with metallic borders or listellos (thin strips of ceramic,
metal or glass that form a horizontal line or border often between one colour
of tile and another).
Tiles are wonderful
for shower areas but if you are having a powerful shower installed you will
need to ensure that the whole area is made waterproof. Specialist “tanking” systems are available
but you should get advice from a TTA retailer or fixer.
Kitchens
Tiles are ideal for
kitchen floors as they are easy to clean and hard wearing. Slops and spills can just be wiped away with
a cloth or mop. If you want a modern,
crisp, minimalist look then large format pale coloured floor tiles can be
teamed with plain wall tiles. If you are
more of a traditionalist you may prefer the rich warm tones of terracotta or
quarry tiles teamed with small glazed wall tiles with the occasional relief
motif of fruit or flowers.
Dining and living rooms
Tiling your kitchen
floor and then through into the dining room with the same tile creates an illusion
of space. Floor tiles can be used in a
dining or living room with bright coloured rugs to ring the changes.
If you have a fire
tile round it to emphasise it as a feature.
If you have a wood burning stove set into a chimney breast tile in the
alcove with high gloss tiles. It will
reflect the fire into the room.
Conservatories
Conservatories look
wonderful with a ceramic floor and muddy footprints from the garden can just be
whipped away. If you use the same floor
tile in the conservatory and then through onto the patio (if they are frost
resistant); with a few carefully placed
pot plants inside and out you won’t be able to tell where the house ends and
the garden begins.
Halls and porches
If you watch any of
the television programmes about selling and buying houses you’ll know how
important first impressions are. There
is nothing quite as impressive as a beautiful tiled floor in your hallway
and/or porch. You can choose from very
modern porcelain floor tiles or traditional Victorian tiles. If your house already has an old tiled floor
The Tile Association has members who can help and advise with restoration and
maintenance.
Types of tile:
There are several
different types of tile available and they vary in their technical
properties. It is essential that you
select the correct tile for your situation.
If in doubt consult a TTA member.
Glazed ceramic are
the obvious choice for walls in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry areas. Glazed
wall tiles are available plain and decorated. Fashionable plain wall tiles are
large and white or cream often with a slight surface dimpling. The patterns are motifs cut into the tile,
not necessarily in the middle, or borders with geometric patters. Glazed tiles
are beautiful on conservatory floors and in reception rooms, they are so easy
to keep clean, but these are not be
suitable for outdoor use or heavy traffic floor areas.
Glazed floor tiles
are also very large and mostly in natural stone colours.
Unglazed ceramic
floor tiles are more suited to commercial and industrial settings but can be
used in laundry and utility rooms. They are
available with a non-slip profile and are wear, stain and frost resistant.
Porcelain tiles are
wonderful because they are extremely attractive and very hardwearing. They can be wall or floor tiles but the
majority are floor tiles; in fact the most fashionable floor tiles on the
market at the n moment are porcelain.
They often have an anti-slip surface and sometimes they are glazed. Many
are frost resistant and can be used inside or out; but check with your TTA
supplier to be sure. If you are fixing
the tiles yourself be careful as you need special adhesive for porcelain tiles.
Quarry tiles are the
traditional farmhouse floor tile and give that lovely rustic feel. They look perfect in both old and new
properties and create a warm cosy environment.
They are made from natural clay, some are frost resistant and can be
used for floors internally or externally.
Their natural clay surface gives good slip resistant and they are
extremely hard wearing. They are very
easy to clean and are almost maintenance free.
Terracotta tiles are
also made from natural clay but because of the temperatures they are fired at
they vary in water absorbency. Generally terracotta tiles are not suitable for
exterior use in this country. Most
terracotta tiles need sealing prior to and after laying. They will also need sealing at regular
intervals to prevent them from staining.
Mosaics are
wonderful. They are so attractive and
look good in both small areas and large rooms.
They are very useful for walls that have lots of electric sockets or
changes in height. Mosaics are small
pieces of ceramic tile or glass and look as though they would be really
difficult to fix; but they are usually sold in sheets on a mesh backing for
ease of fixing. All you have to do when
you come to an electric socket or switch is cut the backing.
Natural stone products,
Limestone, Marble, Granite and Slate have been popular for the last 15
years. It is their natural colour
variation that creates such an individual effect in any room. These products
vary enormously in wearability. Some are
extremely hard and others quite soft; some may need sealing and they can vary a
great deal in thickness. Your TTA Member
can advise on suitability.
Things you need to know when choosing tiles
Tile standards:
Tiles made to
Standards are categorised by their water absorption levels and by their method
of production. Tiles in categories A1 or
B1 are the least absorbent, and A111 or B111 are the most absorbent.
Not all tiles are
made to a Standard, check with your TTA showroom if the tiles you are
interested in have been made to a British, European or International standard.
Porosity – Water
absorption is very important if you want to use the tiles outside. Porous tiles will absorb water and when the
water freezes it will expand cracking the tile.
You’ve probably seen garden pots do this in hard winters. Because our climate is so damp and subject to
occasional hard frosts tiles need to be frost resistant to be safe for use
outside. Such tiles are often described
as vitrified or fully vitrified.
Scratch hardness and
abrasion resistance– the tile’s resistance to abrasion. This is important for floor tiles that are
used in busy areas not normally in the home.
However if people are likely to be walking straight on to a tiled floor
from the outside when they may have grit on their shoes so tiles of a high
grade of abrasion resistance will be necessary.
TTA retailers will be able to tell you the abrasion resistance of their
floor tiles.
Slip resistance
–There are many floor tiles available with highly slip resistant surfaces. You can feel that just by touching them but
to be safe you should ask for the Slip rating.
Something new
There are many new products on the market –
look out for:
Floor tile adhesives
and grout that allow you to use your floor within 4 hours
Antibacterial
protection in tile grout and bath sealants – particularly good for preventing
black mould around showers.
Undertile heating –
pure luxury and not expensive – frees up valuable wall space in kitchens and
bathrooms.
Coloured grouts –
team with your tiles to create a truly individual effect
Tanking systems for
showers and wet room – you can be as messy as you like – shower curtain - what
shower curtain – just waterproof the whole area.
Tiles that change
colour as you walk past them
Snail
showers that you just slide into. Made
by fixing mosaic to pre-formed tile backer board. No shower curtain, no glass
screen, no fuss.
Tiles
that change colour depending on where you are stood. OK so it doesn’t show in a photo but they do
change colour – honest.
Glass
tiles with light behind them.
Special
adhesives for tiling to timber.
Cleaning and
maintenance
With proper care and
attention, correctly installed, good quality ceramic tiles should give many
years trouble-free service. Under normal
circumstances tiles require little maintenance and are easily kept clean by wiping
or mopping with warm water to which a neutral or nearly neutral detergent
(neither too acid nor too alkali) has been added. The cleaning solution should be allowed to
remain on the surface for 5 to 10 minutes after which it should be removed by
rinsing thoroughly with clean water.
The most important
point to remember is that it is the rinsing process which removes the
dirt. Inadequate rinsing can lead to a
build up of deposits, which will gather dirt making your tiles dull and can
make floor tiles slippery.
Grit is the biggest
enemy of any floor material and a mat adjacent to external doors is strongly
recommended. Some terracotta, natural
stone and slate tiles may need re-sealing.
Consult your TTA member.
Choosing
the right accessories
Adhesives and grouts
Like ceramic tile
production, the technology producing adhesives and grouts has moved forward at
great paces. There are adhesives and
grouts for every tile application.
Consult your TTA member for details of adhesives and grouts that will be
suitable for your project.
Tiling Accessories
There are ranges of
additional products, which can be used in conjunction with your project:
- undertile heating systems which are
relatively easy to install and give that added bit of luxury
- tanking and waterproofing systems
- tile fixing trims
- tile sealcoats and waxes
- tile fixing tools such as trowels,
cutters and grouting sponges.
Your local TTA
member will be able to offer assistance in the choice of the correct product
for you.
Choosing
the right contractor
The Tile Association
recommends that all tile fixing work is carried out in accordance with the
British Standard code of practice for wall and floor tiling, BS5385. When choosing a contractor get at least two
quotations and remember that the cheapest is not necessarily the best.
Tile Association
members are very proud of their logo and will not let anyone use it unless they
are competent. Tiling contractor members
of the Tile Association have been carefully checked for their technical
ability. Word of mouth is also an
excellent form of introduction.
THE TILE ASSOCIATION
The Tile Association
represents all aspects of the tile industry.
When you buy tiles or tiling services look for the TTA logo. If you choose a TTA member you can buy with
confidence. For more information contact
The Tile Association on 020 8663 0946 or go to www.tiles.org.uk
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