It is the most popular floor covering in the construction industry. It is available in various colors, materials and qualities to meet every decorative desire. He is the tile. A floor and wall covering that is a great success for its resistance and the simplicity of its maintenance. To better understand its particularities, here is a short guide.
The bathroom is the perfect place to receive tiling. Being damp and often wet, it will be more comfortable thanks to this coating. But as the risk of falling is high precisely because of the humidity, it is advisable to opt only for textured tiles or better yet, non-slip models. The joints can also become allies to prevent slipping, especially when it comes to small format tiles. In this room, the ideal is to use porcelain stoneware tiles. This material, made up of silica and clay fired at a high temperature, is very resistant to shocks and wear. In addition, it is easy to maintain and does not fear the detergents intended for its cleaning. In terms of price, bathroom tiles are worth between 20 and 120 euros per m². You can also let yourself be tempted by the mosaic which is very aesthetic, but which is expensive (between 40 and 600 euros per m²).
Like the bathroom, the kitchen is a wet room that can perfectly accommodate tiling. This material will be used as much on part of the walls, as on the floor and even at the level of the work plan. Here again, ceramic tiles such as porcelain stoneware are ideal. The latter has the advantage of not being afraid of humid environments, has low porosity, is ultra-strong and comes in different formats adapted to each need. Another possibility:natural stone tiling which has the advantage of being versatile and adapts to all areas of the house. It can be used without problem for intensive use in the kitchen. The prices of these materials are very variable and can range from 4 to 80 euros per m².
Unlike the kitchen or the bathroom, the living rooms do not require any particular type of tiling. Indeed, technical constraints, in particular those related to humidity, do not exist. You can therefore give free rein to your imagination to obtain a modern or more traditional interior, in any case, which will be in your image.
In any case, it is not really recommended to move towards too fanciful choices which could quickly go out of fashion or which would make it difficult for a possible resale of the house. The ideal is to use sure values such as earthenware, natural stone or travertine appreciated for their aesthetics. In places with high traffic, focus your choice on terracotta or cement tiles which are warm and robust. These will cost you between 3 and 100 euros per m². If you dream of a wood finish, choose the imitation parquet models which cost between 10 and 50 euros per m².
Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to provide consumers with huge choices of outdoor tiles. In the range of ceramic tiles, full-body porcelain stoneware, glazed porcelain stoneware or glazed stoneware win all the votes, because they are very resistant. You can also let yourself be seduced by the granite that does not fear the test of time. On the other hand, avoid marble which will give way at the slightest variation in temperature. Note that it is very important to refer to the standards when choosing the tiles. With regard to scratch resistance, trust models whose MOHS scale is between 7 and 8 or 9 and 10. In the case of slip resistance, you have to be vigilant. The R standard indicates this resistance to slipping with shod feet. If it is a question of a sheltered terrace, an R9 tiling will be sufficient. An R10 is recommended for those who have no shelter. In wet areas, it is better to adopt an R11, 12 or 13 model. The last two are particularly indicated for the surroundings of a swimming pool.
Appreciated as a floor covering, tiling also invests the walls. Its role will be to protect the partition so that it is not invaded by humidity. It is always better to bet on small and light tiles. Porcelain stoneware is again a very classic choice even if there are other very beautiful materials such as earthenware. Aesthetic and light, it will add charm to the rooms of your home. However, be careful, because it is relatively fragile. As for the installation of this coating, count between 5 and 40 euros per m².
