pros and cons of ceramic/porcelain kitchen floor tiles

katejo

I am now choosing re. the above. The ones I am considering are either beige or grey themed. I currently have vinyl on my kitchen floor which is mainly white, shows every dirty mark possible and won't come clean at all.

Have you had the above fitted and found any pros or cons re. cleaning and the texture underfoot? I know that there is a risk of breaking things if you drop them.

Thanks

cyclonebri1

Of course there is more risk of breaking both pots and plates and the tiles too, but the benefits outweigh the snags.

They will last indefinately, be much more easily cleaned and be more hygienic if steam cleaned.

katejo

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Of course there is more risk of breaking both pots and plates and the tiles too, but the benefits outweigh the snags.

They will last indefinately, be much more easily cleaned and be more hygienic if steam cleaned.

Do you use a particular appliance for steam cleaning? I have just been using mops and hot water/detergent but have never found a really effective one.

grizzly1911

Are you laying them or are you paying to get them done?

I have been told that porcelain are much harder to cut and drill than ceramic and that you need relatively expensive cutters and more skill.

Innys

I don't agree that steam cleaning is really necessary.

Just remember to mop as you have been doing at least once every couple of weeks, or more frequently if you're a messy cook.

Also, once you have laid the tiles, remember to seal the grout as soon as you are sure it has set. If you don't, and you happen to spill grease/oil/butter on it, you'll have to a job to clean the grout.

katejo

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Are you laying them or are you paying to get them done?

I have been told that porcelain are much harder to cut and drill than ceramic and that you need relatively expensive cutters and more skill.

Don't worry! I'm not doing it. It's being done as part of the installation of a new kitchen.

iamcornholio

There's no ifs, buts or may-dos

Just fit the floor covering that you like and then clean it as required

You risk breaking anything dropped unless you fit sponge to the floor

olly300

katejo wrote: »

Have you had the above fitted and found any pros or cons re. cleaning and the texture underfoot? I know that there is a risk of breaking things if you drop them.

Make sure you choose tiles that you won't slip on. Some tiles are more slippery than others.

Other than that just clean your floor regularly with a mop and very hot soapy water.

I do all mine once a week as some grey tiles show dust. I noticed when I was staying somewhere else with beige tiles is while they don't show dust/dirt as much if they are dirty, if you walk around in socks/bare feet you get dirty socks/feet.

Also as with wall tiles make sure you have a few spares, and if you get the tiles from a tile retailer make sure you keep a record of what exactly you have brought. That way you can easily get a broken tile replaced.

One trick is to put unused spare tiles behind the kickboards of one of your units. Though if you sell your property and they are still there make sure you tell the new owner.

Leif

I like polished tiles, but whenever I went into Topps tiles, and walked on the polished tiles area, I struggled to stay upright. So I chose matt porcelain tiles, for safety's sake. I was told that white grout is a bad idea, hard to clean, but I have off white grout, and it is fine. The grout in my porch was white, and after 20 years or more it looked fine. I have white tiles, which helps make the kitchen look light and airy, and works well with white walls and ceiling. They say tiles can be cold underfoot, but mine seem fine. I suspect the house is fairly warm anyway, and the concrete floors seem not to get too cold.

There are some tiny chips in a few tiles from when I dropped some cutlery, but they are almost invisible. They are very easy to clean, just sweep, then a quick once over with a mop. I can understand why people have tiles throughout the house, much easier to clean than carpet, albeit not so cosy, or soft.

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Are you laying them or are you paying to get them done?

I have been told that porcelain are much harder to cut and drill than ceramic and that you need relatively expensive cutters and more skill.

Mine was done professionally, a good job too. I am about to tile my porch, and I have practiced on some spare porcelain tiles using a £45 cutter from B&Q. I was able to get very neat clean cuts easily. Apparently drilling porcelain tiles is not easy, and required expensive drill bits. Ceramic is easier to drill.

namecheck

Polished tiles look great, but Leif is right that they can be slippery.

I know someone who has polished granite tiles in the kitchen. They look fantastic - but they're a bit of a nightmare to keep clean, and you have to be quite "careful" how you walk!

cyclonebri1

katejo wrote: »

Do you use a particular appliance for steam cleaning? I have just been using mops and hot water/detergent but have never found a really effective one.

We use a steam mop, not expensive. My missus is a stickler as we have grandkids and babies around, I don't disagree with her,;)