How to Choose and Maintain Kitchen Floor Tiles
3 min readDue to HGTV and motivated millennials, kitchen floor renovations have seen an exponential surge. Since this room sees plenty of action and spillage, choose tiles with excellent water-resistance features to maximize family fun in this space.
Ceramic tile is an affordable solution to match any decor scheme, featuring modern printing technology which creates intricate patterns resembling natural stones like marble and travertine, wood grain patterns or even simple monotone styles.
Size
Size matters when it comes to creating the ideal kitchen look, and there is an array of tile sizes available that can complement both your design and cooking needs.
Smaller tiles may make a kitchen appear smaller, while larger tiles could accentuate it and expand it. Speak to an expert to help determine the ideal tile size.
12-inch square tiles are an increasingly popular and fast-selling choice, often considered more sophisticated than the more common ceramic and porcelain options, due to their linen-look texture. This size makes an excellent addition to both floors and walls in larger spaces.
Builders love this size as it provides maximum efficiency with minimal waste while remaining easy to work with when laid in a stack bond pattern. Perfect for bathrooms and main floors alike, ceramic parquet or herringbone tile layout can add the finishing touch.
Style
Style of kitchen floor tile can have an enormous impact on its overall appearance. Darker hues create an intimate feel while lighter ones open up space visually. Textured tiles add gripping underfoot which is essential for prolonged standing sessions in a kitchen environment.
Natural materials like wood and marble provide a luxurious aesthetic, but require more care in maintenance than durable tile options such as porcelain or ceramic that mimic natural stones. To get this same effect with less effort, consider porcelain or ceramic tile that looks similar to natural stones.
2024 will see an increasing popularity of buff sandstone-look tiles as they accentuate modern country and rustic styles beautifully. Their soft tumbling effect provides both texture and grip underfoot, matching various paint colors perfectly.
Durability
Tile is an attractive, hard and resilient choice that stands up well in environments exposed to spills, moisture or heat. It also stands up well under heavy foot traffic and cleaning solutions of different sorts.
Tile can create a nonslip surface suitable for children and pets alike, providing a safe place for playtime. To protect against dropped dishes or glasses that might lead to falls from gloss tiles, place mats or area rugs below them as an additional measure.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles provide an affordable option for creating the look of wood or marble without their inherent fragility, while offering greater durability than natural materials such as wood and marble. Textured porcelain tiles may even help make them less slippery!
Maintenance
Tile floors are durable, yet require regular care for optimal performance. Depending on the type of tile and environment, this may include regular cleaning, sanitization and periodic resealing to keep moisture at bay and protect grout joints. Caulking any areas exposed to water may help avoid expensive subfloor damage while keeping moisture at bay in grout joints.
Maintaining clean tiles helps extend their longevity. A doormat can be an effective way of trapping excess dirt before it hits the floor; and regular vacuuming or dust mopping sessions should also be scheduled to keep things tidy.
Though tile resists most stains, it is still best to quickly wipe up spills to limit any staining that may occur and become difficult to remove once set. For a natural appearance with reduced maintenance needs, consider porcelain and ceramic tiles designed to resemble wood or marble for classic appearance with less effort required.