From wood,
stone, geometrics, chevrons, and more, you'll find a virtually unlimited number
of tile designs, shapes, and sizes when you walk into the tile stores. Keep in mind, though, they also all have
different characteristics that make some better for specific installations than
others, and the right or wrong one can impact your remodeling project. Here are
some tips on choosing the right one.
If you're
installing in a room with heavy foot traffic, the best choice would be
porcelain. This ceramic type has clay in
its composition and sand and glass, making it more serious, denser, and able to
withstand wear. Porcelain's clay is also completely nonporous, so it's
waterproof whether or not it's glazed and also acceptable for outdoor use.
Porcelain also comes in a wide
assortment of colors and patterns and can be made to look like anything,
including wood, stone, fabric, and leather.
This large-format tile is often preferred for stone because it has fewer
seams, giving it a more continuous look like quarried marble, granite, or other
rock. It also has through-body color so that chips won't be noticeable.