Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Choosing The Right Porcelain Floor Tile

Home improvement is one of the most popular trends among homeowners across the globe. Homeowners who are keen on remodeling their floors currently have a wide range of tiles at their discretion, ranging from ceramic, natural stone, glass to vinyl, mosaic, and laminate tiles. However, if you have been thinking of a unique way to spice up life in your indoors or outdoors, investing in a porcelain floor can be a wise move. Porcelain tiles have become extremely popular over the years but their true value can only be realized if you install this type of floor. This guide will help you find out how to make the best pick from the rich variety available.

Before rushing to find out how to choose the right porcelain tiles, it is important to understand what they can offer for your home. To begin with, these tiles are extremely easy to maintain since they are both stain and moisture resistant. This means they will maintain the beautiful hue on your floor for as long as you have it. In addition, their strength and unique ability to withstand extremely hot and cold temperatures is astounding making porcelain floor tiles ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Needless to say, their irresistible looks are hard to find among other types of tiles.

The home improvement market has countless types of porcelain tiles for you to choose from. However, this doesn't mean that making the right buy is going to be any easier. To get rid of the inevitable selection headache, here are some of the considerations you have to make:

1. Size
There are several things you have to weigh when buying tiles (no pun intended), but size is one of the few you just can't ignore. To make sure you end up with the correct size, start by measuring the total floor area of the space you intend to tile. This will give you an idea of the smaller sizes to purchase.

2. Price
Before starting on any remodeling project, it is advisable to develop and stick to a budget. A porcelain tile could cost anything from $1.75 - $4/tile or slightly more. However, you can save on this price by looking out for the countless offers at leading online stores.

3. Décor
Porcelain tiles come in two major types: glazed porcelain and full-body porcelain. Depending on the décor you are working around, that will determine which type of porcelain to get. Full-bodied or unglazed tiles have a consistent look while glazed porcelain tiles have a surface coating that reflects different colors.

4. Location
Are you planning to install porcelain tiles in an area that's constantly exposed to moisture such as a laundry room or patio? If so, then you must go for the much more resistant finishes such as the variegated or stone cleft finish. Just keep in mind the intention of the room you are installing the tiles in.

When buying porcelain tiles, it is important to carefully analyze a sample. You do not want to order tiles that only look brilliant on the computer but uninspiring on the floor. This is why top retailers will always let you have a look at the porcelain floor tile you have ordered before confirming the purchase. You really want to deal with reputable dealers that are willing to allow you to sample the floor. These kinds of sellers want to make sure their customers are totally happy with their purchase and not regret it, so be sure to find an understanding retailer, and you should have no problem installing your porcelain tiles.