pros and cons of ceramic/porcelain kitchen floor tiles

tpt

no need to steam clean unless they are very textured. polished can be slippery especially if they get wet and can be a !!!!!! to keep 'looking' clean - any light across them shows every smear.

good quality ceramics or porcelain will last a lifetime if laid properly. Large tiles are in fashion at the moment as are light colours. dont go for a very flat colour or again its tough to keep the appearance of cleanliness

mildred1978

My parents had ceramic tiles. My dad dropped a normal dinner plate around 6 inches from the tiles and 4 tiles smashed. The plate was unharmed. :huh:

katejo

Leif wrote: »

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.



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.

Don't you find that white matt ceramic tiles get dirty very quickly? That is what I am trying to avoid.

Leif

katejo wrote: »

Don't you find that white matt ceramic tiles get dirty very quickly? That is what I am trying to avoid.

I don't have children or pets, so there is no obvious excessive source of dirt. Yes they do show the dirt, so I take care to leave my shoes in the porch, but it really does take no time at all to sweep the floor, followed by a once over with a damp sponge on the end of a stick contraption. I clean them once a week, but I'm no stickler for squeaky clean.

A colleague used pale grey matt porcelain tiles, and they look nice, and do not show the dirt as much. Personally I would avoid dark colours, but that is just me. Beige or pale/mid grey would be nice.

Someone said white is in fashion, which I guess means in 5 years time white will be out of fashion, and on a par with avocado bath suites.

caringa

We have ceramic tiles over underfloor heating and they are great - BUT - Not so good when you fall on them as I did last week and broke my arm!!

QTPie

If you have the money, then have underfloor (or undertlile) heating fitted. Even for a kitchen, if you and your family pad around in bare feet.

We have gorgeous limestone tiles fitted in our kitchen (look fab and don't know dirt easily because of their natural pattern). Our house is warm, but the tiled floor gets cold in Winter (especially breakfast time). Friends had ceramic tiles in their kitchen and had tile heating put under - makes a huge difference.

QT

abankerbutnotafatcat

I'm just about to get ceramic tiles fitted in our kitchen. Our one concern was that they would be cold especially as they're going in a Victorian semi-basement. We are now going for underfloor heating and it isn't actually expensive. The one we looked at in Wickes will probably work out £100-200 + any fitting costs (it is diy-able) for an average sized room plus c£60 if you want a thermostat rather than just on/off and it is guaranteed for 10 years (which was another worry). Remember, when you work out the sqmeterage of your room you only count the bits you stand i.e. you discount all the the bits of the floor covered by kitchen units and appliances.

katejo

caringa wrote: »

We have ceramic tiles over underfloor heating and they are great - BUT - Not so good when you fall on them as I did last week and broke my arm!!

Oh dear! Are your tiles glossy ones?

katejo

Leif wrote: »

I don't have children or pets, so there is no obvious excessive source of dirt. Yes they do show the dirt, so I take care to leave my shoes in the porch, but it really does take no time at all to sweep the floor, followed by a once over with a damp sponge on the end of a stick contraption. I clean them once a week, but I'm no stickler for squeaky clean.

A colleague used pale grey matt porcelain tiles, and they look nice, and do not show the dirt as much. Personally I would avoid dark colours, but that is just me. Beige or pale/mid grey would be nice.

Someone said white is in fashion, which I guess means in 5 years time white will be out of fashion, and on a par with avocado bath suites.

I am mainly looking at beige or pale grey. No children or pets here but the floor still looks grubby.

caringa

katejo wrote: »

Oh dear! Are your tiles glossy ones?

No they're not - Other half left a box in the way which I tripped over. :mad: That reminds me, must check that he hasnt upped the life insurance on me!!! Anyway the last laugh is on me as he is now having to do all the housework etc.! :rotfl: