Tile Flooring Buying Guide

Tile options are virtually endless when you consider all combinations of size, texture and color. Simply put, there's something for everyone, for every style. Plus, tile is durable and easy to care for so it's ideal for high-traffic areas or areas where there's moisture or dirt, such as bathrooms or entries.

Tile Sizes

Floor tile is usually 1/2 inch to 3/4 inches thick, manufactured in squares measuring 4-inches-by-4 inches up to 24-inches-by-24 inches. Other shapes are available such as octagonal and hexagonal. (Wall tile is thinner and comes in squares from 3-inches-by-3 inches up to 6-inches-by-6 inches.) Mosaic tiles are 2 inches a square or smaller and can be installed individually. Mosaic tiles are also available in premounted paper or fabric mesh sheets.

Tile Ratings

Choose a tile that's rated for the area where you plan to install it. Entryways need a hard, abrasion-resistant, moisture-proof tile. Baths require a moisture-proof, nonslip material (slip-resistant tile is treated with an abrasive material for safety). Some tiles are rated for indoor or outdoor use only; others can be used in either application.

Some types of tile are actually harder than others so tile is rated by a series of standardized tests. These tests evaluate a tile's relative hardness (the Mohs scale), its ability to stand up to wear and the percentage of water absorbed.

The Porcelain Enamel Institute hardness ratings are:

Group I Light Traffic: Residential bathroom floors where bare or stockinged feet are the norm

Group II Medium Traffic: Home interiors where little abrasion occurs; don't use in kitchens or entries

Group III Medium-Heavy Traffic: Any home interior

Group IV Heavy Traffic: Homes or light-to-medium commercial areas

Group V Extra-Heavy Traffic: Use it anywhere

These ratings are important, but don't get too bogged down in analysis. They serve to help you find the right tile for your application.

Porosity

Pay close attention to the ratings test that measures porosity, which is the percentage of water absorbed. A tile's porosity is critical especially when choosing tile for kitchens and baths, since these areas need moisture-proof flooring. Porous tile shouldn't be used outdoors where cold weather produces freeze / thaw cycles. The classifications for the porosity of tile are: impervious (least absorbent), vitreous, semivitreous and nonvitreous (most absorbent).

Firing

The firing process affects the hardness of tile. Usually, the longer and hotter the firing, the harder the tile will be. The raw tile material, called bisque, is either single-fired or double-fired.

For single-fired tiles, the glaze is applied to the raw material and baked once in a kiln.

Double-fired tiles are thicker. Raw material is baked a second time after additional color or decoration is added.

Types of Tile

See below for some common (and some less common) floor tile.

Brick	Brick tiles are a good floor choice for informal or rustic decor. Available in several earth tones, brick tiles should be treated with a stain-resistant sealer. Brick is normally used in outdoor settings (such as patios) and can be arranged in interesting geometric patterns.
Cement	Cement-bodied tiles are poured into molds, then fired or dried naturally. Color may be added. Sealing is required after installation for moisture and stain resistance.
Ceramic	Ceramic tile is made from clay or other minerals. The extruded material is shaped and heat-treated (fired) in a kiln. Clay tiles are then further treated in one of two ways: Glazed color is added to the tile after firing. The glasslike surface is bonded to the tile. Glazing allows brighter colors to be used and adds stain resistance. Because of their slick, glassy surface, glazed tiles are used mostly on walls or countertops. Glazed tile offers more color choices than unglazed. Unglazed tiles are also called quarry tiles. The pigment or natural color is present during firing and is part of the tile itself. Unglazed tile needs sealing for stain resistance.
Mosaic	A combination of tiles that can be composed of ceramic, glass, metals or other elements mounted on a mesh backing for ease of installation. Mosaics take on a variety of patterns and can be cut to a desired size.
Pavers	Pavers resemble brick but are thinner. Shale-based pavers are used for patios as well as interior floors. Like quarry tile, pavers need sealing for moisture and stain-proofing.
Porcelain	The material is fired at a high temperature, making a dense tile. The density makes porcelain tile more resistant to moisture.
Quarry	Quarry tile is unglazed and requires sealing in wet areas. Clay-based quarry tile is used extensively in commercial settings. However, because it's a durable and relatively inexpensive material, it's becoming more acceptable in homes. The predominant colors are earth shades of red and orange.
Saltillo	Saltillo, or Mexican tile, is air-dried rather than kiln-dried. Drying outdoors in the sun makes this tile a little softer and less durable. The exposure to the elements also gives the tile a look that's unique. When used indoors, a sealer is required.
Terra Cotta	Terra cotta is the same material in construction and appearance as clay garden pots. These tiles are absorbent and need to be treated for indoor use.
Terrazzo	Stone or marble chips embedded in cement make up a terrazzo floor. The polished surface provides durability.