Small Bathroom Ideas
Choosing Tile for Your Bathroom
Choosing just the right tile for your bathroom requires several decisions on your part. You will want the tile to match the color of your bathroom wall, and to be durable and help make your bathroom look larger and cozy.
The bathroom is one of the rooms in the house that a person wants a warm comfortable feeling. So what you decide to do to it will make a very big difference. Tile comes in many different types from ceramic to porcelain and stone. You can get tiles in various colors, sizes, and textures.
Tile is a versatile accent that will allow people to add decorative accents to your bathroom. Depending on the type of tile that you purchase, tile will last a lifetime. Some tiles are better for floors, and some types of tiles are better for the wall. Both types however, should be able to withstand moisture as well as resist staining.
Neutral color tiles will allow you to use different colors of paint, some matching bathroom furniture, and a few throw rugs. Bold colors will give the bathroom a more cultured look, bringing out the neutral colors to give the bathroom an appealing look.
Bathroom tiles are available in many shapes, as well as sizes; the sizes can be from 1 inch to 24 inches, and are available in octagons, hexagons, rectangles, and diamonds. The size of the tiles is an important consideration. Smaller tiles or mosaic tiles will allow you to put much more decorative patterns on the floors or the bathroom wall. Larger tiles are much easier to install and take less time. Tiles have a rating that accounts for the amount of moisture that it can absorb. COF refers to the smoothness of the tile and is rated from 0 to .6, and refers to the non-slip surfaces. Another rating that you will want to check when you purchase your new tiles is the PEI rating; this rating uses grades from 1 to 5. Grade 1 is best for applying to the bathroom walls. Grade 2 is for light bathroom traffic. Grade 3 is rated for light to moderate traffic on the floors. Grade 4 tiles are used for moderate to heavy traffic, and of course, Grade 5 is for heavy bathroom traffic.
Many types of bathroom tiles can be cleaned with plain soap and water, however in some cases you may need to use a stronger cleaner. Check with the tile sales person or read the manufactures recommended cleaning specifications to find out what products is best for the particular type of tile you are planning on purchasing.
Other types of tile are the stone tile, which include marble, limestone, granite, or slate. You can purchase polished stone that will have a mirror-like finish, which is favored for walls and low traffic bathrooms. Honed stone is much more durable for heavy traffic areas, and is much less likely to show any damage. Marble gives the appearance of elegance, and is suitable for moderate traffic, and interior walls. Slate tiles resist fading, abrasions, and chemical use, and yet it has its own natural beauty. Sandstone and limestone tiles seem to be more brittle and would be more beneficial for the bathroom wall.
