Before you go too far down the path of choosing tile designs, it’s important to narrow down the right tile material for your project so it can perform the way you need it to. Some types of tile are better for certain environments and applications and others. 

Some considerations that would affect your tile decision are whether your tile is for commercial or residential levels of traffic, if it will be used indoors or outdoors, if slip resistance is important, if it will be in an area prone to moisture, if you’re applying it to wall or floor, and if scratch resistance is important or not. 

Let’s break down the main types of tile material and each ones’ application and maintenance.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles

This is the most abundant type of tile you’ll find. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are made of clay that have been permanently changed by heat and often have a decorative glaze. There are endless designs out there from bold prints and textured surfaces to stone and wood imitations.  New ceramic and porcelain tile designs are constantly being released as trends change. 

Application and maintenance:

Ceramic tiles are used mostly for walls or floors in interior applications; suitable for light to moderate traffic. Ceramics are generally the most affordable type of tile and have a medium density, slightly more prone to scratches than porcelain.

Porcelain is a “super ceramic” meaning it was fired at a higher temperature with special ingredients, creating a tile with under 0.5% water absorption. Since porcelain tile is highly water resistant, very dense and stain resistant, it is versatile for virtually any use because of its durability. Porcelain is an excellent choice for regular residential use but is also suitable for heavily trafficked areas such as commercial spaces (some exceptions may apply).

Natural stone

Natural stone tiles are the second biggest category of tiles. They are a natural product, mined from a mountain quarry then cut down into tile sizes or mosaics. There are many different types of stone – the most popular being marble tile, limestone, travertine tile, and slate. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. There’s a reason why there are so many porcelain and ceramic marble-imitation tiles out there. 

Since stone comes from a natural source, it does not change much over time; stone sold today will likely look the same as stone tiles sold 10 years from now. As a result, stone tiles are a timeless choice that hold value better than ceramic or porcelain tiles. 

Natural stone is more expensive both to purchase and install, but is a worthwhile investment for a luxury high end finish in a home that you love. 10 years later, it can be refreshed with a sealer to look as beautiful as it did on day one.

Application and maintenance:

Stone comes with natural variations within the speckling, veins and even colour so most installers will do a dry lay of the tile to make sure it looks good before setting. Stone tile also needs to be cut with a water saw so these two factors generally slow down the process and increase installation time. 

Stone can be used in a variety of applications from showers, to kitchens, to floors and walls and exteriors, as long as they are protected with the right kind of sealer and maintained regularly. In some instances, stone is hands down the best choice such as exterior decks, which should use an exterior grade slate. 

Mosaics

Mosaics aren’t so much a type of tile as it is a format. The word mosaics may make you think about hand-broken glass or tiny colourful square tiles in an old world, European setting. But these days, mosaics have modernized to include all sorts of sizes, shapes and patterns. 

Mosaic tiles are small tiles that come on a mesh backing in a variety of materials from porcelain/ceramic and stone to glass, cement and stainless steel. The mesh holds the tiles in a specific pattern. It outsources the labour from having to create all those intricate patterns yourself.

Application and maintenance:

Mosaics can be used for kitchen backsplashes, showers, walls, floors or really any application to add an eye-catching feature and texture.

Glass mosaic tiles are very popular and are generally only used for walls. Glass gives a feeling of depth that other tiles won’t and is stain resistant, making it a very low maintenance surface. Backsplashes and shower walls are a common application, just be sure to use a super sharp blade to cut to avoid chipping. 

Stainless steel mosaics are shiny, metallic tiles that usually cover a porcelain. It is typically selected for kitchens to match stainless steel appliances but require a non-sanded grout and care during installation to avoid scratching. 

Porcelain/ceramic and natural stone mosaics follow the same application recommendations mentioned above, they’re simply cut into smaller pieces when in mosaic form. Natural stone is great for shower bases where the tile requires some grip and needs to be under 4 inches for drainage. 

Natural ledgestone

Natural ledgestone is a term used to describe a stacked stone look that traditionally took a long time for a skilled stonemason to build. Now ledgestone panels are available in various styles to achieve the same beautiful natural ambiance that stone adds to a space.

Ledgestone is made of real natural stones that are usually in thin and thick pieces or splitface.  Splitface means the stone has been split against the grain to mimic a natural rough texture and expose the stone’s beautiful natural stratification, or sediment layers. 

Application and maintenance:

We carry a wide range of ledgestone suitable for interior accent walls, fireplaces, cover columns, backsplashes or in some cases, exteriors. 

Bolder Panels 

Bolder Stone Panels are real stone slabs cut to approximately 4 millimetres and backed with either Aluminum Polymer, or Fiberglass. The panels come in 4×8 feet or 5×8 feet sheets. These real stone panels can be installed on entire walls giving your room a luxurious, grout free look. 

The lightweight nature of the product allows the panels to be installed quickly and more efficiently than ever before. They are much lighter and cheaper than full slab installs. Each panel is only around 120-150 pounds, compared to 600-800 pounds.

Application and maintenance:

The panels are exclusively for use on walls. These thin natural stone panels look great in showers, built-in shower shelves, kitchen backsplashes, accent walls, and fireplaces. They can even be installed in elevators. When using it for a fireplace, it requires a certain amount of clearance to ensure the backing doesn’t melt. 

Another note is that because the slab is so thin, it needs to be handled with care and installed carefully with something large and flat to support it in place. Due to its thinness, edges cannot be beveled the same way a thick stone slab can. 

So there you have it – a complete guide on tile material types and where they are best used. The options are plentiful so if you’re having a hard time deciding, book an appointment with one of our Tile Enthusiasts and we’ll be happy to guide you into the right direction. We are committed to helping you find the best solution for your project and budget.