Ceramic/stone kitchen floor tiles....good idea?

baby_frogmella

Hi

I've just moved into my new build home and the kitchen floor has a vinyl floor covering which i really don't like I'm thinking of getting the floor tiled, possibly stone tiles or ceramic 'stone effect' tiles if such a thing exists. Never had tiles before on kitchen floor, how easy are they to clean/maintain? Does the white grout between tiles get stained easily? If i decide to go ahead, would it be best if i purchased the tiles online and then got a a local tiler to fit them? Can anyone recommend any online places which also offer samples?

Thanks

arnie&caseysma!

I had black slate tiles on the kitchen floor in my last house. One thing you will have to think of is the floor underneath strong enough to support the tiles as this could cause a little extra work, especially if it is a big area (mine was concrete so it was fine).
Also, depending on the colour of the tile would depend on the colour of the grout. You don't have to use white grout as it comes in so many different colours! I had grey with mine and the only thing that stained it was the red wine that the dog managed to pull out of the wine rack when we were out and smash it on the floor. Gradually that faded and isn't noticeable anymore.
They are very practical but I would suggest textured tiles so that when the floor is wet no-one does themselves damage by slipping on them.

roses

If you get stone, it will be really really cold!! I have slate effect. Looks really good, always tricks the builders that come over that they are real tiles and it is lovely and warm to walk on!

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9278715&fh_view_size=6&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB&fh_search=green+brown+slate&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1232837321527&isSearch=true

Steve_the_fitter

As arnie says really. tiles can only be layed on concrete floor or tongue and grove floor boards( if no movement in them) if you havent got either of these you will need to lay some ply. The thickness depending on what they its going over. The manufacters say no less that 15mm but I would be happy to lay tiles on 9mm ply if the floor it was layed onto had no bounce and there were plenty of screws attaching it.( every 300mm)
as for grout dont use white. I think grey normally goes with most tiles but use a off white is you have to as white will stain far to easily

mcspanna

I had vinyl in last kitchen and ceramic tiles in current kitchen I'd definitely second the textured tiles to avoid slippiness! - one thing we hadn't expected (although I suppose it's obvious!) is that we have broken so much crockery because things don't bounce on ceramic tiles!!! We have grey grout (black tiles) and haven't noticed any significant discolouring.

The tiles in the kitchen were here when we moved in...can anyone tell me how long it takes for tiles to go off/set (sorry not sure of lingo) before you can walk on them as we are currently looking at having bathroom walls and floor tiled and we only have one bathroom in the house...

Thanks and hope it's not too OT!

asp746

i've just had my kitchen tiled with ceramics. I assumed it would cost a fortune but was pleasantly suprised and they look absolutely fantastic - they're a very dark greyish blue colour with texture and i've had the same ones around the worksurfaces but in cream. I bought the tiles one month and then got the fella out the next month.

one of the best jobs i've ever had done

cuffie

Stone tiles are porous - they will need to be sealed.

Just the grouting can be sealed if you go for the ceramic.

Consider underfloor heating.

I prefer the cream tiles, but my friend has black - she wishes she had cream because believe it or not, the dirt shows up more on the black and where she mops it, there seems to be "rinse" marks. It really winds her up!

Look lovely. Miles better than vinyl!!
xx

faustina_2

I had black and white ceramic tiles laid on my kitchen floor nearly three years ago. The builder recommended a grey grout so it wouldn't show the dirt. They aren't textured but I can honestly say they're no more slippery than the vinyl floor in my old house - if you spill something you have to clean it up straightaway or you slip, but this is common to all floors. It is cold underfoot if you have no shoes or socks on, but it is absolutely the best place to be barefoot on a hot day - or even lie down on according to my children and dog and cats.

unlike my vinyl floor which was replaced twice in the four years I was at that house, it is robust and doesn't get ripped each time an appliance needs to be pulled out and fixed, and when it's clean it looks as lovely as it did the day it was finished (again the vinyl floor looked tired pretty soon). The tiles were the cheapest I could find at Focus - only because they were the ones I liked best. Fired earth has some good half price tiles at the moment but I honestly can't fault the focus ones.

Lotus-eater

We have a tiled floor in the kitchen. We looked for absolutely ages to pick the tiles we wanted.
Don't buy them online you must see them in real life to see and feel what they are like.
There are many different types and you (mostly) get what you pay for, a cheaper tile will be thinner, not feel so nice and break easier.

If you pay a bit more you can get porcelain tiles which are stronger than ceramic.

You can go for real stone, which as someone says needs to be sealed once a year or so, or for stone look alike ones which don't need to be sealed of course. Again you get different qualities of look alikes, not always the best money buys the most realistic tile.

Then get a local guy to fit them. Do not pick the cheapest and if possible ask if you can see some of his previous work. You are going to have them in your house for a long time.

Sirbendy

We have one too - and I won't be sad to move..heh.

It's cold. V, V cold. And it was fitted by a previous tenant, badly...the floor under them is uneven and the tiles have been "packed out" underneath with rubble, tile spacers, you name it. Real bodge job. I regrouted it with "flexible" grout...which looks good, but..never again.

What about the laminate "tile effect" stuff? We had the bathroom done out in it...looks damn nice, it's warm to the touch, waterproof, and it's cheap..? Bit of a halfway house between Vinyl and "real" tiles.