A porcelain or ceramic tile floor is a great addition to areas of your home that see a lot of traffic. Tile floors are durable and easy to clean. Follow these steps to install a tile floor in your home.
Porcelain and ceramic tile flooring is beautiful, durable and easy to clean—especially in the high traffic areas in your house. For a long-term installation, you’ll need to prepare a solid base underlayment.
Ceramic or Porcelain
Porcelain Tile versus Ceramic Tile - What are the Differences
By Mark J. Donovan
Ceramic and Porcelain tile can add a sense of elegance to a room or outdoor space that is unmatched by few other accent touches. As a result, it is no wonder more and more homeowners are becoming do it yourself tile installers. The question is frequently asked by these pre do-it-yourself tile installers is: “What is the difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile?” Well the answers pretty simple. Porcelain tile is effectively Ceramic tile. It is just made of a more refined material.
All ceramic tiles are made up of clay and quartz ferrous sand materials, along with water. Once the tiles are formed they are fired to high temperatures and in some cases their surfaces are glazed. The only difference between Porcelain tile and regular ceramic tile is that the clay used in porcelain tile is more highly refined and purified. Consequently, porcelain tiles are denser than a standard ceramic tile.
The MoH hardness factor is another factor to consider when selecting tile. The scale goes from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest hardness level (e.g. diamond). Most sand/dirt brought into a home has a hardness factor between 3 and 7. Consequently it is best to select a ceramic floor that has at least a MoH factor of 7.
As a result, porcelain tiles are more rugged making them ideal for harsher applications such as flooring. Also, because of their higher density, porcelain tiles are less likely to absorb moisture (0.5%) which makes them more durable and more resistant to staining. Porcelain tiles are frequently found in floor applications, outdoor areas, and in cold weather climates where freezing can occur. With their low absorption capability they are less likely to crack in cold weather climates.
Porcelain tile costs a little more than the traditional, more porous, standard clay tile; however prices in general have been coming down in recent years for ceramic tile.
Ceramic tile comes in either glazed or unglazed surfaces. The glazed surfaces are like glass and are best used on walls as they are too slippery for floor applications. Glazed ceramic tiles are also a little more susceptible to cracking.
Ceramic tile is constructed using red, brown or white clay. Most porcelain tile, however, is constructed using white clay.
When selecting any ceramic tile it is important to look at the PEI factor. This is the scratch resistance factor. A PEI of 1 is ideal for walls. A PEI of 2 is best for bathrooms and kitchens. A PEI of 3 is appropriate for all residential applications, and PEIs of 4 and 5 are applicable for commercial and heavy commercial applications, respectively.
Modern & Minimalist living room
As with the previous flooring concept, the black and white striped throw rug provides a striking contrast to the white of the floor and walls.
Instead of using a solid black or white tile the intermix of white and black is a good look. Also the stripes are much more attractive than the standard black and white checker board.
(via Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kenneth Laurent House in Illinois Up For Auction | Freshome)
Nice carpet color application in the dining area of the house.
Decorative Floor - Is It Easy to Install and Maintain?
By Peter B Yard
Hardwood floor medallions symbolize elegance and uniqueness in one package. Before, they could only be seen in elite houses. Fortunately, the trend now is different. Thanks to technology and modernized tools because the cost decreased. Most people could afford them already. This is very beneficial for those who are interested to have a floor make-over. Or even to those who plan to sell their house as they would add to the resale value. Or to those who simply want to expresses their individuality.The wood has the characteristic of elasticity and flexibility. This made wood an excellent material for flooring. Wood floorings come in different dimension, design and styles. Hardwood floor medallions are usually the center and main focal point inside the house. Yet, you can opt to place them anywhere you want as long as they only occupy at least 1/3 of the total width of your room. Another function would be enhancement of hardwood flooring in addition to plank flooring, hardwood parquets or even marble floors.
Hardwood floor medallions are manufactured in various types. Thus the installation systems differ too. The good thing about manufacturers is that upon sending, the templates and installation guides are included. Exception to this, however, includes patterns and designs exceeding forty-eight inch-diameter. For this case, a sing arm method is recommended for installation. Generally, the installation process involved is cutting the floor first to the required shape and size. The medallions are pasted-down into the opening. The floor can either be new, existing, prefinished or unfinished. For circular designs, installation is done after all the floor covers have been put into place. Just put marks on where to fasten them. On the other hand, the medallions are usually laid first for geometrical and straight cuts.
The maintenance is just as easy with other floors. The basic types of cleaning and maintaining the appearance of the floor include vacuuming, sweeping and mopping. To eliminate or reduce dust and grime, secure that foot mats are located where family members and visitors can wipe their feet before entering you house. Secure the area where there is a possibility of liquid spills just like in kitchen or sink area. Also, say no to oil-based soaps as well as with too much grit and foot traffic might. This will scratch the floor as with tile floors. Lastly, to avoid damage or even rot the floor, do the mopping weekly and never every day.
Installing and maintaining hardwood floor medallions is very easy but it will require discipline and patience. It is all worth it as you do your first step on your elegant floor cover.
(via The ‘Grand Dame’ of ASKarchitects in Piraeus, Greece)
The herringbone pattern directs your eye to other parts of the room.
