Information On How You Can Utilize Granite Tiles In Your Home

By Jeremy Pabloccis

Are you redecorating your kitchen or bathroom? If you are and are looking for a great way to finish your floors, walls or back splash, you need to consider using granite tiles. They are fantastic for using in a range of different applications since they are very durable. They are also available in a range of sizes, shapes and colors so they are incredibly versatile as well.

One of the first things you will need to decide is what materials you want to use for your kitchen or bathroom. The area that you will be using the tiles on will help to dictate whether you want to use marble, granite, ceramic or porcelain tiles. You may find that different materials also have different finishes which can change the look and durability of the tile itself. Durability is an important consideration since you do not want to be replacing chipped or broken tiles. Learning about the properties of different tiles is important to ensure you make the right choice for the area you are tiling.

Granite tiles are a popular choice for floors. They are used not only in kitchens and bathrooms but also in entry and hallways. There are a few reasons why they tend to be a lot more popular than marble tiles. Granite tiles are hard and durable. Marble tiles are often soft and may chip or crack over time. They are also less porous than many types of marble. This contributes to how durable and hard wearing they can be.

You may be pleased to find out that when a granite tile chips, the damage is not as obvious as other tiles. This is because the entire tile is colored and not just the surface layer. Unlike a ceramic or porcelain tile, there is not just one layer of color. This can be great because it means you will not have to replace a damaged tile as quickly as you might otherwise need to do.

If you do want to tile with granite, you will soon find that there are a range of colors and shapes available. This is fantastic because it allows you to develop a very rich look for the area you are using the tiles in. Think about using a range of different shapes in the same color range to produce banding effects or a focal point to the floor or wall. If you speak with a kitchen or bathroom design specialist they will be able to give you some advice about how to put the different shapes together.

When it is time to purchase your tiles you should look in home improvement centers and in home decorating supply stores. There are also websites that you can use to locate tiles in a range of materials. These can often give you a good savings but you may want to look at granite tiles physically before you make your ultimate choice. You also need to remember that with natural materials, the tiles can often range in color from tile to tile. This means that the look that you will get will not be totally uniform but it will be beautiful.

If you are installing tiles they are fairly easy to do yourself. You simply prepare the sub floor that the tiles will lay on. Make sure it is level since this can cause tiles to crack. It needs to be clean so that the tile adhesive can stick properly. Then, the tiles are laid down. If you are using sheets of connected tiles, the spacing is already predetermined. Tiles need to be placed with a small gap between them. This is where grout will go to seal the floor and make it durable. Once the adhesive has dried, you simply work grout over the tiles and force it down between them. The tiles are wiped clean and when the grout has dried, the tiled area is finished. You may need to cut around furniture or electrical outlets and wall switches. This can be done with special tile cutting tools that you can purchase or rent.

As you can see, tiles are easy to install. It is simply a matter of choosing which you want to use. Whether that means ceramic, marble or porcelain tiles is up to you. Your preferences and the area that they are being used in should always be your first choice rather than what is popular or trendy. - 32406

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here