What to Watch Out for with Ceramic Tiles
September 23rd, 2010
Question: I?ve heard a lot of good things about ceramic tiles that I began to wonder if there?s something that I need to watch out for about them. It?s not that I am trying to avoid buying them, because I do believe that they?re really strong and beautiful. However, if I know their potential downsides, I can make sure that they don?t happen, and I can make my ceramic tiles last a lot longer.
Answer: It seems like you?re a very responsible home owner. I seldom receive letters from people who want to know the different things that they have to be careful of when it comes to their floors.
You were right with your assumptions. I definitely recommend the use of ceramic tiles in their homes, especially in areas where there is high traffic. In fact, I prefer using ceramics for patios, for the simple reason that they tend to survive even the harshest elements. Moreover, there are definitely a lot of designs that you can choose from, so you can always pick the one that perhaps matches the theme of your home or your interior decorations.
However, as you said, there are potential downsides, and there are a number of them. The first thing that you have to keep in mind is that it?s not very easy to install. You can attribute it to their heaviness or to certain requirements that you have to meet before you can actually set them up. For example, if you?re planning to use ceramic tiles on your second floor, you have to ensure that the subfloor is strong enough to support their weight.
That?s why it?s highly recommended that if you?re planning to have ceramic floors installed, you need to work with a professional. You can just look for freelance or hire someone from a company?it doesn?t really matter. You need their expertise, experience, and floor knowledge to get a job done right.
You should also be very careful of heavy objects. Though ceramic tiles could be one of the hardest floors that you?re going to meet, they are still susceptible to breaking and chipping. This usually happens when you drop a heavy object right into the floor. The impact will destroy its strength, causing them to become damaged. The good thing is that since they are tiles, you can easily remove the damaged one and replace it with something new.
If you?re living in an area where winter can be very cold, you will have better luck with carpets and cork floors than ceramic tiles. This is because they feel a lot colder to the feet, which will only add more chills to you. Nevertheless, they will do just well come spring and even autumn.
Lastly, avoid experiencing an accident with ceramic floors. They don?t have cushions; they are not soft. If you?re going to fall, you?re definitely going to fall really hard, to the point of injuring yourself. Better make sure that there will be no spills or better walk slowly.
