Seven reasons why you should upgrade your floors with porcelain tiles

Choosing the right flooring is essential, and porcelain tiles offer a winning combination of durability and style for any home. Whether you’re renovating or building, understanding the advantages of these tiles is crucial. This robust material can handle high traffic while offering an array of design options. Discover why porcelain tiles are a top choice for functional yet beautiful floors in our comprehensive guide.

What to consider

• These floor tiles offer a compelling combination of durability, easy maintenance, and diverse design options suitable for various home environments.

• Innovative designs such as wood, marble, and concrete effects provide the aesthetic appeal of natural materials with the added benefits of cost-effectiveness and compatibility with underfloor heating systems.

• They are versatile and safe, available in anti-slip varieties, and can be seamlessly installed over underfloor heating systems to elevate comfort and luxury in the modern home.

The appeal of porcelain floor tiles

Brompton Porcelain Borough Tiles

Porcelain isn't just another tile option. It offers the perfect blend of durability, low maintenance, and versatile design, making this material an ideal choice for your home’s flooring.

From high traffic areas to quiet corners, these tiles can transform any space with their exceptional durability and style versatility.

Exceptional durability

Composed of fine clays and natural elements, these floor tiles are fired at high temperatures to create a dense and durable material that can withstand heavy use. They offer enhanced scratch resistance, especially with matt finishes, making them a perfect fit for areas with high foot traffic and those seeking a matt finish.

Imagine walking into your living room and not worrying about those accidental drops or scratches. Picture your children playing around without the fear of damaging the floor. That’s what the exceptional durability of porcelain floor tiles brings to your home - peace of mind.

Low maintenance

Cleaning can often feel like a chore, especially when it comes to flooring. But these floor tiles are incredibly simple to clean. They typically only require a quick mop with water for most spills, and are robust enough to be steam cleaned.

A regular cleaning routine usually involves using a brush and mopping with a mild detergent. For sealed tiles, neutral cleaners should be used to preserve the sealer. This practical and low-maintenance feature makes porcelain floor tiles an ideal flooring option for high-traffic areas, guaranteeing beauty and durability with minimal effort.

Versatile design options

Whether you’re a fan of minimalistic white tilesor drawn to intricate patterns, there are styles to suit every taste. Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques, porcelain floor tiles can closely mimic the look of natural wood or the polished, reflective surface of marble, achieving a premium style with added durability and moisture resistance.

So, you can enjoy a rustic, wood-like ambiance in your living room or the elegance of marble in your bathroom. You can even experiment with different lighting conditions to alter the tile’s appearance throughout the day. With a diverse range of colours, sizes, and thicknesses, these floor tiles cater to various design preferences and project requirements. Don’t hesitate to explore tile samples to find the perfect match for your space.

Types of porcelain floor tiles

Bologna Porcelain Tiles

Once you start looking at porcelain floor tile collections, you’ll discover an array of styles, colours, and materials to suit any space. Some options include:

• The seamless elegance of marble effect tiles

• The rustic charm of wood effect tiles

• The sleek and modern look of concrete effect tiles

• The timeless beauty of stone effect tiles

The latest collections offer an extensive range of choices that can transform your home.

Shalstone Porcelain Chiaro Tiles

Wood effect tiles

Wood effect tiles are a stunning innovation. They ingeniously merge the aesthetic appeal of natural wood with the resilience of porcelain, making them an ideal choice for high-traffic zones such as kitchens, hallways, and living areas.

These floor tiles, made using high-definition technology, provide a realistic replica of wood with variations between planks and don’t require sealing post-installation. You could even lay them in different patterns, such as herringbone, to achieve a fashionable look. And the best part? They are compatible with underfloor heating systems, proving that style, practicality, and comfort can indeed go hand in hand.

Marble effect tiles

For those who dream of the luxurious appearance of natural marble in their homes, marble effect tiles with a premium finish are absolutely perfect. These exquisite floor tiles deliver the elegance of genuine marble, but at a more affordable price.

Imagine stepping into your bathroom, feeling the cool, sleek surface of marble effect tiles under your feet, and relishing the opulence they bring. Yet, you’ve managed to achieve this with a porcelain floor tile and without breaking the bank.

Concrete effect tiles

Concrete effect tiles are a popular choice for modern homes, offering the industrial aesthetic of concrete without the extensive maintenance. Unlike real concrete, these tiles sidestep the need for regular sealing, are easier to clean, and maintain.

You can have the sleek, industrial feel of concrete in your living room, without worrying about the maintenance it usually calls for. That’s the beauty of concrete effect tiles - they provide a durable and modern aesthetic, while keeping your life hassle-free.

Choosing the right tile size

Picking the right porcelain floor tile size is a key decision when it comes to your flooring. Larger tiles can enhance the perception of space within a room, creating a more seamless look. On the other hand, smaller tiles can offer more intricate designs and patterns. They are also recommended as the largest possible tile size for your budget to minimise grout lines and improve room aesthetics.

But that’s not all. The size of the room, the layout pattern, and even manufacturing tolerances can influence your choice. So as you consider which porcelain tile design suits you, remember that the right tile size can make all the difference in creating your dream space.

Tiles for every room

Porcelain floor tiles adapt to a wide range of applications, from floors to walls, and even in swimming pools, making them versatile for different rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens, conservatories, hallways and living rooms.

Consider the bathroom, a space often exposed to high humidity and wet floors. Traditional wood may fail here, but have you considered wood effect versions? They thrive! These tiles don't shrink or swell in humid conditions, making them an ideal choice for bathroom floors.

And it’s not just about bathrooms. These tiles are a stylish, yet practical, solution for living spaces too. Given their easy cleaning and maintenance, patterned styles are widely used in homes inspired by Mediterranean culture. So, whether it’s the kitchen, the living room, or the hallway, they can transform your space, one tile at a time.

Piazza Porcelain Geo Pearl Tiles

Installation tips

Installing tiles may seem daunting but, with the right tools and guidelines, it can be a smooth process. Before you begin, ensure the substrate is:

• level

• solid

• clean

• dry

• free from dust, grease, or loose material.

Cutting these tiles requires specific tools like electric diamond wheel cutters with diamond blades due to the tiles’ strength. As for adhesion, cement-based adhesive is preferable, and ‘back buttering’ the tile can ensure a strong bond. Don’t forget to allow for a 10% wastage allowance to account for cuts and minor imperfections.

With these installation tips, you’re well on your way to a successful DIY tile installation project. If not, why not contact your local expert tiler to do all the hard work for you?

Enhancing safety with anti-slip versions

Safety is paramount when choosing floor tiles, especially for wet areas like pools and bathrooms. This is where anti-slip versions come in. Engineered with textured surfaces that provide better grip and traction, these tiles ensure safety without compromising on style.

Maintaining safety with anti-slip floor tiles does not mean compromising on style, as they are available in various designs and colours. So, whether it’s your bathroom, pool, or any outdoor area, with anti-slip floor tiles, you can enjoy peace of mind without sacrificing your design vision.

Combining floor tiles with underfloor heating

Underfloor heating is no longer a luxury but a comfort many homeowners seek. And guess what? Porcelain floor tiles are compatible with all forms of underfloor heating, whether electric or water-based, without the risk of temperature-induced cracking.

They possess the following benefits:

• Excellent thermal conductivity, heating up quickly and retaining heat efficiently alongside underfloor heating systems

• Adding underfloor heating to porcelain tiles introduces an extra element of luxury, enhancing the comfort and appeal of the flooring

• With porcelain floor tiles, you can enjoy both warmth and style underfoot

Upgrading your home with style and durability

We’ve looked into porcelain floor tiles, exploring their exceptional durability, low maintenance, and versatile design options. We’ve shown you the unique characteristics of wood effect, marble effect, and concrete effect tiles. We’ve shared tips on choosing the right tile size and installing these tiles. We’ve discussed enhancing safety with anti-slip tiles and the compatibility of porcelain tiles with underfloor heating systems. So, it’s clear - upgrading your home with these floor tiles is more than just a decision; it’s a lifestyle change that brings comfort, style, and practicality into your living spaces.