TILE | BEFORE YOU BUY
Choosing the right ceramic or porcelain tile for your home is about finding the right combination of style, performance and practicality for your lifestyle. The best tile for your project will depend on where it will be installed, how the space will be used, and how much traffic, moisture and wear the tile will be exposed to.
Ceramic and porcelain tile offer tremendous design flexibility, with an extensive selection of colours, patterns, textures, finishes and sizes, as well as coordinating trims, borders and decorative tiles. From classic and timeless to modern and contemporary, tile can create anything from a subtle backdrop to a dramatic design feature.
Consider Where the Tile Will Be Installed
Not all tile is intended for every application. A tile selected for a kitchen backsplash may have very different requirements than one being used on a busy entryway floor, bathroom floor or shower wall.
Before choosing your tile, consider:
Floor or wall: Some products are designed specifically for walls, while others are suitable for floors and higher-traffic areas.
Moisture: Bathrooms, showers and other wet areas require appropriate tile and installation systems.
Traffic: Busy entryways, kitchens and commercial spaces may require a more durable product than a lightly used room.
Slip resistance: For floors that may become wet, selecting an appropriate surface for the application is an important consideration.
Maintenance: Think about how much cleaning and maintenance you want to do and choose a surface that suits your lifestyle.
Our knowledgeable team can help you understand the characteristics of different products and determine what is appropriate for your particular application.
Think About Size and Layout
Tile size can have a big impact on the appearance of your finished space. Large-format tile can create a clean, streamlined look with fewer grout lines, while smaller tiles and mosaics can add detail and visual interest.
The size and shape of the room, cabinetry, fixtures and other finishes should all be considered when planning your layout. Grout colour and joint size are also important design choices—they can either blend with the tile for a more seamless appearance or contrast with it to emphasize the tile pattern.
Look Beyond the Tile
A successful tile installation involves more than choosing a beautiful tile. The substrate, waterproofing, setting materials, grout, trims and drainage all need to be appropriate for the application.
In many of our projects, including bathroom and kitchen installations, we use Schluter®-Systems products for applications such as uncoupling membranes, floor heating, trims and drains. We also work with Wedi® and Schluter® waterproofing systems for appropriate wet-area applications.
Proper preparation and installation are especially important in showers, bathrooms, heated floors and other areas where moisture or movement can affect the finished installation.
Don't Forget the Details
The finishing details can make a significant difference in the overall look of your project. Depending on your design, you may need coordinating trim, edging, decorative tile, mosaics, niches, drains or transitions.
It is also a good idea to consider how your tile will coordinate with your flooring, cabinets, countertops, paint colours, fixtures and hardware. Seeing samples together can make it much easier to visualize the finished space.
Bring Us Your Ideas
Whether you're looking for porcelain, ceramic, metal, mosaic or glass tile, we have a wide selection to explore. Bring us your ideas, inspiration photos, plans or samples, and we'll help you narrow down the options.
When you visit our showroom, you can see our ceramic and porcelain tile products in person and work with our knowledgeable sales team to coordinate everything you'll need for your project. Whether you're selecting tile for a floor, kitchen backsplash, bathroom shower, feature wall or other application, we can help you consider the practical requirements as well as the design.
From selecting the tile and coordinating the details to choosing the appropriate installation products, Okanagan Hardwood Flooring + Tile is here to help you bring your project together.
