Whether you are renovating or building a new home, a key consideration is the material you select for your main floor.
Modern homes often have an open-plan layout with interconnected spaces, such as the living room and kitchen. To align with the demands of busy lifestyles and growing families, homes are designed as social spaces, with kitchens being the central hub of the home.
So how do we go about choosing the ideal flooring which aligns with modern-day living? Let's talk about it.
Material Types
There are many material types on the market available for home flooring, including natural stone, hardwood, carpet, concrete, cork, laminate, vinyl and tile. While each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, the most versatile would have to be tile.
MAIN FLOOR TILES: Terrazzo Dove
Tile vs Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors have been around for centuries, and many people choose it for its authenticity. However, pure hardwood flooring is a costly floor option to source and install, and requires a fair bit of maintenance to keep it in good condition due to it being a natural material. It also may not be suitable for wet areas such as your bathroom and laundry, as moisture can warp and damage the wood.
Additionally, when hardwood such as timber is exposed to heat and high temperatures, it expands. This contributes to warping and damage of the wood, which is a risk in Australia's hot summer climate.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are a harder material in nature, and because they are mounted onto mortar with grout, they are incredibly durable and long-lasting. They are water-resistant, able withstand high temperatures, durable and easy to clean and maintain.
Modern tiles are available in a wide variety of colours, designs, textures and finishes—so the possible looks you can achieve using tile are endless. Nowadays, there are wood-look tiles available which replicate the look and feel of real wood, so you can create the aesthetic of hardwood floors, but without the upkeep involved.
MAIN FLOOR TILES: Millelegni Scottish Oak
Advantages of Tiled Flooring
Tile flooring has been popular for decades, and for good reason. Let's delve into the reasons why people opt for tile for their choice of flooring material.
HIGHLY DURABLE
Tile is an extremely resilient and durable material, resistant to staining and damage. They are a good choice for high-traffic areas such as your kitchen or living room, due to their ability to withstand wear and tear.
Water-resistant
As both porcelain and ceramic tiles are glazed, they have a protective layer which is more resistant to water, dirt and stains. Tiles are absorb little to no moisture, which is why almost all modern bathrooms and laundry rooms are tiled.
Low maintenance
Once your tiles are installed, they require very little maintenance. Look after them by giving them a vacuum and mop every week, and they will stay looking good for many years to come. As tiles are non-porous, they are generally easy to wipe clean and don't require any vigorous scrubbing or harsh chemicals to keep clean.
To read more, have a look at our guide to tile cleaning and maintenance.
More sustainable
Tiles do not have the same environmental impact that the sourcing of hardwood floors has. Although tiles are made from natural materials such as clay, they often incorporate recycled materials and offcuts to create. There is very minimal wastage involved in the process of tile production.
MAIN FLOOR TILES: Nolita Bianco Satinato
Tiles are available in a diverse range of styles
Tiles are available in many different shapes, colours, patterns, textures and styles. The design opportunities are endless, and tiles can be utilised effectively to create the desired aesthetic in your home.
Here are some of the flooring tile types available here at Myaree Ceramics:
STONE-LOOK
Stone-look tiles are neutral and timeless and provide the perfect canvas for any design choice you wish to make with your home interior. Our range of stone-look tiles are made from porcelain and available glazed, unglazed, rectified or non-rectified. They also come in a range of finishes and textures.
Stone-look tiles are far more lightweight, more affordable per square meter, and easier to install in comparison to natural stone tiles.
MAIN FLOOR TILES: Enzo Moon
WOOD-LOOK
If you have your heart set on wood but are concerned about the cost and maintenance required, a fantastic alternative would be wood-look tiles. Modern wood-look tiles are made with grain and colour variation to replicate the look of real wood— so much so, that they are virtually impossible to differentiate from the real thing. You can also use wood-look tiles in your wet areas, and even bring them outside to your patio and pool area.
MAIN FLOOR TILES: Millelegni Scottish Oak
Concrete-look
Our range of concrete-look tiles is perfect for an industrial or modern style home which are increasingly popular in recent years. Our concrete-look tiles are made from porcelain, so are far more affordable and lightweight than traditional concrete. Unlike traditional concrete, our concrete look tiles have a low porosity making them resistant to moisture and staining.
TERRAZZO-LOOK
A classic tile design stemming from Italian interiors, terrazzo has had a recent resurgence in popularity. Terrazzo tiles are available in a variety of colours, from classic neutrals to pastels, to rich pops of colour. The beauty of terrazzo is that every tile is unique, depending on the aggregate combination.
At Myaree Ceramics, we stock terrazzo-look tiles made from glazed porcelain or ceramic. The printing technology of today allows for a glaze to be perfectly applied over occasional pieces of 'aggregate' before it is sealed with a matte or gloss finish.
Traditional concrete terrazzo is expensive, porous, and relies on a specific installation. Our range of terrazzo look tiles give you the same effect as terrazzo but are incredibly durable, easy to clean and much more affordable than traditional concrete terrazzo.
MAIN FLOOR TILES: Frammenta Bianco
The endless possibilities of tile
The magic of tile truly lies in its versatility and variety of choice. Modern tiles can replicate the look and feel of almost any natural material, and are both more affordable and easier to maintain. These are crucial factors to consider when you are wanting to tile a large open plan space, which carries through multiple rooms in your home.
At Myaree Ceramics, we have a wide range of beautiful unique tiles which we have lovingly selected from all over the world. Whether you want something neutral and classic or are really wanting to make a statement, we will certainly have a tile option suitable for you.
To commence the process, you can book an appointment with a design consultant via our website. If you have any questions regarding the types of floor tiles available here at Myaree Ceramics, give our friendly team a call on (08) 9330 3611.
