Bathroom Tile Design - Material Types For Bathroom Tile Designs
Good bathroom tile design should create a floor surface that is
attractive, water resistant and safe to walk on. Bathroom tile
designs using ceramic tile, rubber flooring or vinyl and
linoleum floors are all examples of bathroom tile design
material choices that should be available nearly anywhere.
These types of tiles are easy to clean, water resistant and safe
to walk on. If you are going to use natural stone or terra-cotta
ceramic tiles on your floors to create a more sophisticated
effect, make sure you buy the kind with a non-slip finish.
As you consider which bathroom tile designs to select, each type
of tile will have unique properties that may or may not provide
characteristics that are good for your bathroom. Here are
different material types for bathroom tile design along with
advantages or disadvantages of each:
1. Laminate and Vinyl Bathroom Tile Design - these types of tile
in bathroom tile designs can be found in a variety of colors,
patterns and textures. Some tiles even imitate wood, stone and
ceramic. It is not very expensive, is water resistant, easy to
install and clean and it is durable.
2. Ceramic Bathroom Tile Design - ceramic tile can range from
fairly cheap to expensive and it is the classic choice. Tile is
made of clay, shale or porcelain and is formed and fired at very
high temperatures until it hardens. The higher the temperature
and the more times the tile is fired, the harder and less porous
the tile. If you are using a white or cream ceramic tile for
your bathroom, using a different color grout like "blue" will
give your bathroom a dramatic look. Grout is the material used
to fill the spaces between the tiles. Make sure you apply
sealers to grout lines in areas of heavy wear like countertops.
Sealers will also preserve grout colors.
3. Stone Bathroom Tile Designs (marble, granite, brick, slate,
onyx, travertine and limestone) - this tile can be beautiful,
very strong, durable in high-traffic areas, it will last a long
time, is low maintainance and easy to clean. However, it is
expensive, it's a cold material, can be slippery and absorbs
stains easily.
4. Linoleum Bathroom Tile Design - this tile is made of
renewable and natural materials like linseed oil, ground cork,
limestone, jute and wood flour. This type of bathroom floor is
making a comeback with new marbled and graphic designs, and it
is more durable and easier to clean than vinyl tile.
5. Mosaic Bathroom Tile - this wonderful tile was an ancient
craft that today can be made of tile, stone, porcelain and
colored glass, creating stunning floor patterns. These tiles are
small (1 or 2 inches square) and often expensive. What you can
do is to add a small section of this type of tile for visual
interest to your floor or countertop.
6. Concrete Bathroom Tile Designs - durable, low maintenance,
perfect for wet areas and stunning. You can find this type of
tile in beautiful textures such as shiny, rough, slick and
sandpaper and in various colors and sizes.
7. Hardwood - you can build your bathroom floor using solid
wood, parquet flooring or engineered woods (several layers of
wood laminated and high-tech materials that are similar to
plywood). Hardwoods are wear-resistant, attractive, comfortable
to walk on, easy to clean and refinish, not very cold in winter,
but they are more vulnerable to moisture when used in a
bathroom.
If you want to use a bathroom tile design that includes rugs in
your bathroom, make sure you buy the kind that has rubber
backing, or add rubber backing strips to the rugs. Be careful
with rugs that can slip and slide on a tiled floor or natural
stone floor which creates a safety hazard. Rugs can also harbor
dust mites and allergens which is a problem for people with
allergies.
Whether you'll be remodeling an old bathroom or creating a brand
new one, being active in the design stage helps ensure that your
bathroom turns out just like you want. The bathroom tile designs
and styles, colors, patterns and sizes you choose can help you
have a bathroom that is comfortable, attractive and functional
and a room that you will enjoy every day.
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