When building or renovating a bathroom, safety should be a top priority. With this in mind, choosing the right bathroom tiles is crucial. Although tiles are often chosen for their design, they’re important for creating a secure space. Choosing the right ones can reduce the risks in wet areas like the bathroom. In addition to safety, tile must be strong enough to handle moisture and chemicals over time.
In this guide, we’ll explore the common materials of tiles and things to consider when choosing them. We’ll also guide on how you can install these tiles to provide safety in the bathroom. Finally, we’ll explore ways to take care of the tiles. By understanding this, you’ll get to provide safety in your house.
What is the purpose of bathroom tiles?
The purpose of bathroom tiles is to maintain safety in the bathroom. Ensuring bathroom safety is important because anything can happen inside. The bathroom is the most dangerous place in every building. It has many potential risks that may harm people of all ages. While this may be true, using the right flooring tiles for the bathroom prevents accidents and keeps everyone safe.
Aside from safety purposes, using tiles in the bathroom helps create a beautiful and comfortable space. For instance, porcelain tiles give a luxurious touch to the bathroom. At the same time, they provide insulation to make the bathroom temperature stable. By choosing the right ones, homeowners can have a beautiful bathroom while maintaining safety.
Types of tiles for your bathroom
Choosing the right tiles enhances the style and functionality of a bathroom. For this reason, bathroom tiles come in different material options. Each of these tiles has a unique appearance and serves a different function. These options allow us to create a space that reflects our taste. In the meantime, opting for the right material contributes to ensuring safety in the bathroom.
The ideal tile will not only enhance the look of the bathroom. These tiles are strong and easy to maintain. Therefore, here are the common tiles for the bathroom.
Ceramic tiles
Ceramic bathroom tiles come from a mixture of clays and other natural materials. These materials include sand, quartz, and water. The characteristics of ceramic tiles are that they’re generally thin and have glossy surfaces from the glazing. These make them ideal for wet areas in the building. On that occasion, ceramic tiles are perfect for walls, especially in the bathroom and kitchen.
Porcelain tiles
Although porcelain tiles have the same materials as ceramic tiles, they have different characteristics. Porcelain tiles are made from dense natural clay and fired at an extremely high temperature. The firing process removes almost 100% of the moisture. However, the process created heavy tiles that were also durable. As a result, they’re perfect for flooring in heavy-traffic areas, including the bathroom.
Natural stone tiles
Natural stones have been used in interior design for a very long time. To illustrate, Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid are famous buildings made from stone. Natural stones are an ideal material for bathroom tiles. What makes these materials more interesting is that they have many options. These include marble, granite, limestone, and slate. These tiles offer strong floorings and heat insulation.
Cement tiles
Cement tiles are handmade tiles from a mixture of cement, sand, stone powder, and natural pigment. In contrast with other tiles, cement tiles don’t go through a burning process. They’re cured at room temperature and then get coloured on top. Although they have slight imperfections, cement tiles are perfect for your bathroom..
Factors to consider when choosing bathroom tiles
Selecting tiles for your bathroom needs careful consideration of several factors that impact functionality and style. These factors help to ensure the tiles stay for a long time. At the same time, these help improve the look of the bathroom. By focusing on these aspects, we can find the perfect tile that meets the overall need. Below are the factors in choosing tiles for a bathroom:
- Slip resistance: When choosing bathroom tiles for flooring, pick ones that are not slippery. This is very important because the bathroom floor often gets wet. To avoid accidents due to wet floors, use materials like porcelain or natural stones for tiles. Those materials are perfect for flooring because they have textures on their surfaces.
- Water absorption: Bathrooms are humid, so moisture resistance is important when selecting a tile. In some cases, water can soak into the porous material. As a result, mould and mildew grow inside the tiles. For maximum protection, choose tile material that does not absorb water easily.
- Strength: Durability is not just about how long tiles last. It affects how the tiles perform over time. Bathrooms have high foot traffic. At the same time, there is also high exposure to liquids, including chemicals. Over time, the floors may lose their performance and cause potential hazards.
- Surface texture: Tile texture counts as a factor for ensuring safety in choosing bathroom tiles. On one hand, smooth tiles can become slippery when wet. On the other hand, rough bathroom tiles give a better grip.
How to install tiles in your bathroom for safety
When installing tiles for your bathroom, it’s important to focus on preparation to ensure readiness and safety. The preparation includes gathering the tools and materials for the work. Before starting, make sure the surface is clean and dry. To install the tiles, place them in the desired area and secure them with mortar. In this case, using high-quality mortar prevents moisture from reaching the floor. Using a tile spacer helps to ensure even spacing and alignment.
To ensure maximum safety, choose non-slip grout and adhesive for wet areas. These items prevent moisture from seeping between the tiles. As a result, mould and mildew won’t grow there. At the same time, waterproof tile adhesive helps tiles stay in place. Once the tiles are installed, apply a sealant to protect them from water damage.
A thing we must remember is that hiring a professional is always okay. This is because they have experience in this kind of work. Most importantly, they ensure that the bathroom tiles are properly installed. However, take your time to work carefully when installing tiles alone. Avoid mistakes like applying too little adhesive or forgetting to apply sealant. These minor mistakes can lead to bigger problems. As a result, the floor can lose or be damaged over time.
Maintaining bathroom tiles
Maintaining bathroom tiles is important to ensure they’re safe and looking good for a long time. The bathroom floor and walls are exposed to moisture. However, this can cause problems like slipping, mould, and damage. By regularly checking the tiles, we can prevent accidents and keep the tiles in good shape.
- Regular cleaning and sealing: One of the easiest ways to maintain the tiles in your bathroom is by cleaning them regularly. Avoid using regular soap because it can create a slippery surface. Thus, a mild tile cleaner prevents any buildup that could make the floor dangerous. After cleaning the tiles, re-grout and seal them to give extra protection to the floor.
- Checking for cracks or damage: Cracked tiles can be dangerous because they can create tripping hazards. To avoid this, regularly check the tiles to see if there are any signs of damage. After that, fix the damaged part quickly.
To wrap up, taking care of bathroom tiles is a small effort that can make a big difference. In other words, this effort prevents potential hazards and keeps the bathroom in shape. Most importantly, this helps people save more money. In other words, it keeps the bathroom safe and clean.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ensuring the safety of bathroom tiles starts with choosing the right materials. These tiles not only enhance the visual appeal of the bathroom but also provide safety. By following the tips for tile selection, installation, and maintenance, we can create a bathroom that is both beautiful and safe. With a little effort, we can ensure the bathroom remains safe for a long time.
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