Glamour and a
splash of fashion.
Tile is one of the most durable flooring materials available.
Your choices in this flooring category are endless in
colours, textures, patterns and sizes.
The choice is yours.
Browse our tile types and get to know the benefits and considerations of each.
Porcelain tile is the hardest, densest tile available. Available glazed or unglazed.
Ideal Rooms
Entryways, kitchens, mudrooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms.
Benefits
Through-body colour – Choose a porcelain tile with a through-body colour making small chips less noticeable.
Stain-resistant – As porcelain tiles are non-porous, this means they hold up well against stains.
Considerations
Price – Porcelain tile is more expensive than glazed/unglazed ceramic tile.
Outdoor use – Some porcelain tile is rated for use outdoors.
Colour variation – colour within styles can vary from tile to tile. Whether you are looking to embrace this aesthetic or you’re wanting colour continuity, it is important to ask about colour variations in the product you select.
Ceramic glazed tile has a coating of glass applied to its surface making it smooth and preventing it from scratches. Available in glossy or matte finishes.
Ideal Rooms
Entryways, kitchens, mudrooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms.
Benefits
Price – Ceramic tile is less expensive than porcelain.
Considerations
If you chip a ceramic tile – You will have to find a different colour underneath the top glaze.
Ceramic unglazed tile is very hard and dense.
Ideal Rooms
Entryways, mudrooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms and outdoor spaces.
Benefits
Price – Ceramic tile is less expensive than porcelain
Slip-resistant – Unglazed ceramic tiles are very slip-resistant, making it perfect for spaces that are prone to water.
Considerations
Chip colour – Chip a ceramic tile and you find a different colour underneath the top glaze.
Stains – These tiles do not offer stain protection like glazed tiles, and require sealing to resist staining
Glass tiles are a popular and stunning choice for any home.
Ideal Rooms
Kitchen (backsplashes), bathrooms (shower) and accent walls in any room. Not recommended for floor traffic.
Benefits
Beauty – Glass tile is extremely eye-catching and makes for the perfect feature in any room.
Bathroom usage – Glass tiles are perfect for bathrooms. Shower walls, backsplashes and full tile walls. It’s not recommended for floor traffic.
Considerations
Install – Installation of glass tile is not recommended for DIY, as it requires a special skill set.
Price – Glass tiles tend to be more pricey than other tile options.
Not for the floor – As glass tile is more expensive and delicate, it is not recommended for floor traffic.
Tips to think about.
Pre-Work
Depending on the existing floor covering, there this could be an additional expense if removal of your old flooring is required. Also depending on the condition of your sub-floor, additional work may be needed.
Grout Lines
Using larger sized tiles in a small room requires fewer grout lines and visually makes space seem larger. If choosing a small tile size, remember the grout lines as this could make the floor look busy.
In-floor Heating
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.
Chipping
Tile floors can get chipped or cracked if something heavy is dropped on them. The repair would likely require the skills of a professional tile installer. Always keep an extra box of your tiles for this purpose.
Temperature
Tile flooring can be cold in the winter months (consider in-floor heating) and it feels cold to touch in the summer.
Sound Dampening
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 as carpet does. However, adding an area rug/runners will help solve the issue.
Installed by us.
You’ll receive your full Nufloors pre-installation guide that will outline everything you need to know regarding installation.
Paint
If you are planning to paint, wallpaper, or do any other remodeling in the room, try to do this before your flooring is installed. Keep extra paint to allow for post-installation touchups.
Move Furniture
Who is moving the furniture? Plan this in advance. Ensure to remove all fragile items from the room.
Remove your existing Floor
Make sure you know who is removing your existing flooring. Speak with [store_name] about this.
Check door clearances
Measure door clearances before you have your new flooring installed. If the new flooring is thicker than your existing floor, your door bottoms may rub. Plan in advance to have someone shave or saw each door so it does not drag.
Frequently asked questions.
What’s the flooring buying process?
Visit us.
Come in and see the tile for yourself. Our team of sales associates will help you select the perfect flooring for your home. Be sure to bring furniture swatches of fabric, bedspreads, wallpaper and paint that will be in the room.
Free In-home estimate.
Nufloors provides a free in-home measurement and estimate. This is when we determine how much flooring you’ll need. We will review the room transitions and which direction the flooring will be installed.
What will sales associates ask me?
- 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
How is tile sold?
Tile is sold by square foot compared to individual tiles.
Is tile slippery?
Some tile is more slippery than others. A matte finish will offer more resistance to slipping, while high gloss tiles are a bit more slippery.
Is a subfloor needed?
A proper subfloor is required so there is no movement when installing tile on wood substrates. Otherwise, the 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.
What if a tile gets cracked and must be replaced?
Hopefully, you have a few tiles from the original installation for just this moment as well as a note on the grout colour. Then, the grout surrounding the broken tile, the tile, and the adhesive beneath the broken tile all must be removed. A new tile is set, and re-grouted. There are tools designed to enable this work or you may wish to hire a professional to do this for you.
In a kitchen setting, if dishes are dropped on a tile floor, will they likely break?
While tile flooring is a classic choice for kitchens, it is a hard surface and likely dishes dropped will break or potentially cause damage to your tile. Recommendation is to use a carpet runner near your kitchen work area, this may help in such an event. Keep in mind the luxury vinyl option as this flooring is softer than tile.
Do you provide infloor heating options if I order tile flooring from you?
Yes, we offer supply and install of electric heat option to tile installations
What is the difference between floor and wall tile?
Floor tile is thick and sturdy enough to hold up against foot traffic, while wall tile is thin and light for easier installation.
For more information on the difference between the different types of tile, please visit our blog, Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: 6 Differences You Need to Know Before You Buy.
