People looking at tile sample

Tile, so many choices... so many designs

to find the right tile for your project, let our floor experts guide you

Tile is one of the most durable flooring materials available, it's a great choice for rooms
that see a lot of wear or moisture. It resists stains and scratches and is easy to clean.
Does tile suit your room and lifestyle?
Nufloors helpful tile videos
Before you buy
What to expect

Choosing tile.

Your choices in this flooring category are endless in colour, texture, patterns and sizes. Tile works well in areas that are prone to water such as entry ways, kitchens, bathrooms & shower stalls, laundry rooms, and mud rooms and can be used in other living areas of your home as well. Tile is used on floors, walls, backsplashes, shower stalls and sometimes on counters.

There are 3 types of man-made tiles: Porcelain (glazed/unglazed), Ceramic (glazed/unglazed) and Glass:

Porcelain: This is the hardest/densest tile available. Choose a through body coloured porcelain tile (the colour is the same throughout) thereby making small chips less noticeable. (Some tiles may have only a ceramic glaze fired over the body; if chipped, the white, tan, or red-clay base is exposed.) Porcelain tiles are stain resistant due to it is non-porous nature. Trending these days are wood grain porcelain tiles that look like wood flooring but offer moisture resistance in areas of your home that need this quality. Porcelain tile is more expensive then glazed/unglazed ceramic tile. Some porcelain tile is rated for use outdoors.

Ceramic Glazed:  This type of tile has a coating of glass applied to its surface making it smooth and preventing it from scratches. This protects the tile from water. Available in glossy or matte finishes. However, chip a ceramic tile and you find a different colour underneath the top glaze. Chip a porcelain tile and the colour keeps on going–the chip is nearly invisible. Ceramic tile is less expensive then porcelain.

Ceramic Unglazed:  This type of tile is very hard/dense and is often used for outdoor applications. These tiles do not offer stain protection like glazed tiles, and require sealing to resist staining. Very slip resistant.

Glass: This is a popular and stunning choice, but you must be careful where you install it. Most glass tile applications are for backsplashes, showers, walls and accents. Most are not recommended for floor traffic.  Installation of glass tile is not recommended for a DYI, as it requires a special skill set. Glass tiles tend to be more pricey than other tile options.

Consider installing in floor heating systems with your tile floor. It is energy efficient and can be controlled using a variety of thermostat options. You’ll love this feature on those cold snowy days.

Choosing tile.

Your choices in this flooring category are endless in colour, texture, patterns and sizes. Tile works well in areas that are prone to water such as entry ways, kitchens, bathrooms & shower stalls, laundry rooms, and mud rooms and can be used in other living areas of your home as well. Tile is used on floors, walls, backsplashes, shower stalls and sometimes on counters.

There are 3 types of man-made tiles: Porcelain (glazed/unglazed), Ceramic (glazed/unglazed) and Glass:

Porcelain: This is the hardest/densest tile available. Choose a through body coloured porcelain tile (the colour is the same throughout) thereby making small chips less noticeable. (Some tiles may have only a ceramic glaze fired over the body; if chipped, the white, tan, or red-clay base is exposed.) Porcelain tiles are stain resistant due to it is non-porous nature. Trending these days are wood grain porcelain tiles that look like wood flooring but offer moisture resistance in areas of your home that need this quality. Porcelain tile is more expensive then glazed/unglazed ceramic tile. Some porcelain tile is rated for use outdoors.

Ceramic Glazed:  This type of tile has a coating of glass applied to its surface making it smooth and preventing it from scratches. This protects the tile from water. Available in glossy or matte finishes. However, chip a ceramic tile and you find a different colour underneath the top glaze. Chip a porcelain tile and the colour keeps on going–the chip is nearly invisible. Ceramic tile is less expensive then porcelain.

Ceramic Unglazed:  This type of tile is very hard/dense and is often used for outdoor applications. These tiles do not offer stain protection like glazed tiles, and require sealing to resist staining. Very slip resistant.

Glass: This is a popular and stunning choice, but you must be careful where you install it. Most glass tile applications are for backsplashes, showers, walls and accents. Most are not recommended for floor traffic.  Installation of glass tile is not recommended for a DYI, as it requires a special skill set. Glass tiles tend to be more pricey than other tile options.

Consider installing in floor heating systems with your tile floor. It is energy efficient and can be controlled using a variety of thermostat options. You’ll love this feature on those cold snowy days.

Benefits of tile.

Resistant to stains and moisture.

A great choice for kitchens and bathrooms, which are traditionally the “wet” areas in our homes.

Durable for high foot traffic areas.

Pet friendly flooring option.

Tile floors are one of the easiest flooring categories to maintain.

Things to think about
when buying tile.

Using larger sized tiles in a small room requires less grout lines and visually makes the space seem larger.

If choosing a small tile size, remember the grout lines as this could make the floor look busy.

A matte finish will offer more resistance to slipping, while high gloss tiles can be a little slippery.

There are many wood plank tile choices today, which offers the look of hardwood with the efficiency of tile.

Consider installing an in-floor heating system when your tile flooring is being installed. In-floor heating is considered a premium heating method and it will add to the resale value of your home.

Tile is sold by the square foot and not by individual tile.

Grout can attract stains and can be tricky to keep clean because it is porous.  

Tile floors are one of the longest lasting flooring products on the market today. Unlike carpet, vinyl, or laminate flooring which have to be replaced periodically, properly installed tile will last a lifetime.

Keep extra tiles in storage – you may need them in the event you have to replace a tile due to a chip or crack.

A proper subfloor is required so there is no movement when installing tile on wood substrates.  Otherwise, movement of a subfloor will cause cracking of tile or popping of grout. This applies also to concrete slabs where a proper membrane must be used to prevent cracking of tiles with the movement of the house during different seasons.

Tile pros and cons.

For floor décor that’s creative, practical, and charming, tile is unbeatable. Amazing colours, shapes, textures, and sizes give you options that  take decor to new levels.

PROS of tile flooring

  • Durable and long lasting without fading.
  • Easy to maintain, just wipe tiles using a damp cloth and vacuum regularly.  Damp mop as needed.
  • Installing in floor heating with tile is a wonderful option for those cold months
  • Huge variety of choices when selecting tile re colours, styles, sizes and budgets.
  • Pet friendly flooring option.
  • Can be installed in basements.

CONS of tile flooring

  • Tile floors  can be cold in winter months (but cool in summer!) Consider using in floor heating as an option when installing tile floors.
  • Removing old tile floors is a challenge which will take some time and expense. This will definitely be a messy job.
  • As tile floors are hard, it may not be the best choice for homes with small children or elderly family members.
  • Tile floors will not dampen the sound in a room. It has no insulation properties and therefore it does not soften the ambiance in a room like carpet does. However, adding an area rug/runners will help solve the issue.
  • Tile floors can get chipped or cracked if something heavy is dropped on them and the repair would likely require the skills of a professional tile installer.

The tile buying process.

Visit our showroom and our sales associates will help you select the perfect flooring for your home. Bring swatches of furniture fabrics, draperies, bedspreads, wallpaper and paint that will remain in the room. You will probably want to bring samples home with you to see how it looks in your décor.

Before you visit us, consider drawing a simple outline of the room indicating:

  • Room Exits – are there any exits to the outside?  Are there patio doors?
  • Adjoining room floors – what types of flooring will flow into this room?  What are the colours?
  • Sunlight and other lighting – how much natural light comes in during the day, from what direction?
  • Rough measurement – measure the length and width of the room – include closets.

Our sales associates may ask you:

  • Is there light or heavy traffic in this room?
  • What is the room used for?
  • Do you want a casual, formal or somewhere in between look?
  • Do you have children or pets?
  • Do you have a certain colour in mind?
  • Is there a style you’ve owned or seen that you really like?

Nufloors will provide a free in home measure/estimate. We will determine exactly how much flooring you will need to buy and will determine the layout of the flooring in the room, where the seams will be placed (if applicable), and will review pattern matches if applicable. At this time, we will determine if your sub-floor is structurally sound or if repairs / replacement will be required.

If you decide to purchase from us (and we hope that you will!) we will schedule the installation and will prepare you for what to expect on installation day, such as who removes the old flooring, who moves the furniture and electronics, etc., who handles the door trimming (if required), will it be necessary to remove the moldings? Our installers are skilled, but not in electrical or plumbing work. They may be able to help with moving appliances but will not be able to disconnect/reconnect gas, water or direct-wired appliances.

Tile care.

Basic maintenance of your tile or stone floor will ensure that it remains beautiful and trouble-free for many years. Download our Tile Floor Care Guide for tips on how to maintain your tile and clean up spills.

Tile care.

Basic maintenance of your tile or stone floor will ensure that it remains beautiful and trouble-free for many years. Download our Tile Floor Care Guide for tips on how to maintain your tile and clean up spills.

Tile brands we carry