Tiling living room floor

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Should I tile my living room floor? 0



    This is a question we have come across time and time again. From our experience we have found that people like the idea of having tiles on their living room floor but they worry about certain factors such as the coldness, the look or the feel.  

    Well here are 6 reasons why you should indeed tile that living room floor!

    1. Tiles are the cleanest type of flooring you can have

      In the UK traditional flooring over the years for bathrooms and kitchens has always been carpet. After this there was a period where lino was very popular as it was cleaner than carpet, but it still wasn't the ideal solution as it also had downfalls like its weakness. It wasn't very durable so it never really lasted too many years. Apart from this the plastic feel on our feet was never the nicest. Only in the last two decades or so did we move on to tiles and wood flooring for our kitchens and bathrooms and we haven't looked back since. The cleaning of tiles and wood flooring has always been much easier then carpet. If you have carpet all throughout your living room take a close look at it, there are bound to be small pieces of dirt and fluff even if it has been hoovered recently. It's the nature of carpet, there is no way around it. All tiled floors need is a sweep and a mop and they'll look as nice as the day they were laid (almost as nice)

    2. Underfloor heating exists

      This is probably the biggest worry customers have when contemplating buying ceramic, porcelain or marble tiles for their living room floor: "The coldness factor". Well the solution as the subtitle suggests has been on the market for several years now, and it works pretty well, it's called electrical underfloor heating. At Tile Ideas it's safe to say we have supplied hundreds of clients with tiles and underfloor heating for their living room or bedroom floor and 9 times out of 10 one of their questions has always been: "Will tiles be cold on my feet?". Out of all those clients not a single one of them has come back with cold feet and a sad look on their face. 

      The fact is once the underfloor heating has been connected properly and the tiles have been laid, most customers enjoy that smooth touch of the tiles combined with the cosy warmth rising through them . The beauty with modern underfloor heating is that you can decide the areas you want it in, set the temperature you want it at and set it to come on and go off whenever you want it to, very much like a water boiler. So the cold shivery chill you will get running through your body from the tiles is only in your imagination. 

    3. The running costs of underfloor heating are low

      Once people have entertained the idea of tiling their floor and putting in the heating they still have another worry which to be quite honest, is fair, this is the running cost. Most customers firmly believe that electric heating for floors will be expensive. The reality is the installation is probably the main cost. Below is a table of average running costs of electrical underfloor heating.
    We can see that the average daily cost of running it in a good sized living room and kitchen is about £1.32. We must keep in consideration that this number is an estimate made on an average usage of 16 hours a day. This frankly is over the top, the recommended usage is usually a few hours in the morning and some more in the evening. This all depends on whether you will have the use of central heating along side it, in other words if the underfloor heating is your sole method of heating the room or if you will be using central heating and you want some added warmth coming through the floor tiles. Either way, most customers who go ahead with underfloor heating do not consider an amount of £1.32 a day for 16 hours of heating a huge expense in when compatred with living costs.

    4. Tiles do not stain

      After some years of having carpets on your floor you will start to notice stains appearing. Whether it's red wine, tomato sauce or some other concoction stains have proven to be very hard to remove from carpets, it is the nature of the material and unfortunately it's just the way it is. Tiles on the other hand do not have this issue, most stains can be wiped or scrubbed off tiles even after they have dried. If basic washing up liquid won't do the job a tougher stain remover will almost definitely take care it. The same unfortunately cannot be said about carpets.

    5. Tiles are durable and last longer

      As mentioned in our 4th point, tiles do not stain. Apart from this they are strong and durable. A tiled floor is likely to look in good shape years after being laid. Even if there are breakages or cracks over time these individual tiles can always be replaced. With carpeted floors there are more negatives, in time they can look warn, shabby and tattered. The stains and dirt will eventually get ingrained in the fibers and these fibers themselves will get tired and warn out. All these factors put together will make your carpeted floor age much quicker then a tiled one.

    6. Tiles look great!

      This obviously is a question of taste but most customers believe that tiles have more choice in colour, texture and design when compared with carpets. This in turn means a customer is more likely to find a flooring suited to their taste when buying tiles. You even have a choice of materials in ceramic, porcelain and marble.  Colour is another important factor, tile colours can be so vibrant and uplifting and their designs can be so enriched in beauty and perspective. To sum it up the choice on the market for tiles far outnumber the choice for carpets.
     If this has given you something to mull over or has convinced you to tile your floors why don't you take a look through our range of floor tiles at Tile Ideas. You never know you might just see that flooring that you fall in love with.

    8 Floor Tile Ideas which are the most fashionable in 2021 0

      In the last few years the rate at which tile fashion changes has truly soared. Nowadays the colour and designs of tiles change and modernize as often as clothes do. Every year the big tile manufacturers seem to release new shapes, cuts, colours and finishes of tiles which makes it even harder for the consumer to keep up with the trends. This is why we have decided to lend a helping hand by putting together in one place the trends and fashions of where tiles seem to be heading this year.

    Here are our top 8 most popular floor Tile Ideas for 2021.  

    1. The multi-coloured heavy marble veined look

    Riyadh Jade has definitely been the out and out hit of the year so far. As we know trends have been going towards large porcelain tiles for a while and lately towards the extra-large sizes such as 80x80cm and 75x75cm but this classic 60x60cm gloss porcelain tile has really been the star of the show this year. Its classic marble look with a gorgeous blend of browns and greys and its smooth polished surface have really made this tile stay ahead of the pack. A brand new tile on the UK market but one that has come storming in.

     

    2. The gold, grey, white thin Carrara marble look.

    The second on our most popular floor tiles list has to be the exquisite Oikos Gold. A never seen before style of marble veining has seen this tile truly explode in the past year, it is likely to carry on in this trend this year also. The faint and thin gold and grey veins have been compared to art many times by designers. It is definitely going to be a trend-setter in the coming years.  Another proof that fashions are moving towards polished porcelain tiles for large spaces.

     

    3. The multi-face explosive marble effect

     

    Crash beige is a new generation multi-face ink-jet print super polished porcelain tile. Because this tile has been produced with the use of ink-jet technologies it has more than 24 different designs (faces) which means it only starts repeating after 24 tiles. This produces an authentic true marble look. The super-polish and rectified edges add to making this one of the most exciting marble effect tiles on the market. 

     

    4. Linear fossilized marble effect

     

    Linear fossilized marble effect is a new branch of the popular marble effect. It also has veins as it were but they are more regular and less random which produces a more original mabre look. Usually dark lines on a light background, laid in opposite directions these tiles remind us of simpler times when tiles were more conservative and had a more classic look. 

    5. The anti-slip slate effect

    Slate has always been an attractive material, the uneven textured surface with its volcanic looking waves has always been a sought out look. The problem with really slate has also always existed, its weakness and its need to be sealed. Porcelain tiles with a slate look have been on the market also for a few years but using the latest technologies and machinery slate effect tiles today can mix many different colours and tones in an extremely natural looking way that slate look tiles can end up looking more like slate than slate does. The added the anti-slip qualities make these tiles perfect for any project including wet areas like bathrooms or wetrooms or even external areas which will face all weather conditions.

     

    6. Extra large size porcelain tiles

    Tiles are getting larger and larger. In 2021 the 75x75cm, 80x80cm and 60x120cm size tiles are making an impact. If you have the large areas necessary to use these tiles they are excellent at producing a grand, seamless look with a small grout joint. Ideal for living room floors, large kitchens and bathrooms, and if they are anti-slip for outdoor areas also.

     

     

    7. Aged look anti-slip tiles

      It wasn't so long ago that patios and garden areas were only tiled in concrete slabs. They were heavy, chunky, hard to work with, limited on design variety and weren't especially pleasing to the eye. In the last five years or so frost-proof non-slip porcelain tiles have almost completely replaced these old fashioned large and awkward concrete slabs. The main issues with tiling the floor of your external are is that, it can get slippery and it can freeze. This new style of tiling addresses both of those issues. Our top selling non-slip tile Astun Gris is frost proof, durable and strong as its porcelain. It has an anti-slip rating of R11 which is almost the highest a tile can have and with its deep terracotta colouring it adds a real touch of class while producing a warm Mediterranean ambiance. Another advantage of this tile is that because it is glazed it prevents moss and general dirt staining and sticking to it, which makes it very easy to clean when compared with concrete floors.

     

     

    8. The vein-cut travertine look

     

      Another popular tile choice for consumers in 2020 is the vein-cut travertine marble look. Designed to emulate the travertine stone when cut through its layers, these tiles replicate an image of marble layers and swirls forming around eachother, almost like how the stone itself was formed thousands of years ago. It is a great way to inject a natural feel to your living space. Although travertine is traditionally a sandy colour, with new generation techniques we are able to have these authentic looking tiles in many different colours and shades like the Aydin tile, emulating the Aydin marble.

    • Kerem Kilicay
    How to choose the right tiler?

    How to choose the right tiler? 0

    You have decided to tile your kitchen, bathroom, hallway or conservatory, you have allocated the money, all you need now is the right tiler. This is an important choice because it's vital you don't mess up here with the wrong tiler. It could ruin your dreams of injecting that lovely new look into your home which you've been waiting years for. So before you book a tiler in there are some things you should consider.

    Are they actually a tiler?

    Make sure you’re looking for an expert who specialises in tiling, i.e. not a plumber or a kitchen fitter, as this is the best way to ensure a really good job is done. Is he a jack of all jobs and a master of none?

     

    Does their price include everything?

    Make sure their quotation includes everything you’ll need. Does it include all their materials? Does it include preparing the ‘site’ and removing existing tiles, if needed? Will they take all the rubbish away afterwards? 

    In the case of the tiler including the materials in the price you should make sure that you're not getting ripped off. Sometimes tilers can add in expenses which weren't actually used on your job to make a bit of extra cash. You just need to keep an eye out, or even better; supply the tiler with the material yourself.


    Are they able to supply the tiles?

    Although this may not be the main reason to choose a tiler, finding one who can source and supply your tiles at discounted rates for you is a definite plus! That way, they can also take delivery or collect them, giving you one less thing to worry about.

     

    Are they recommended?

    Nothing beats a word-of-mouth testimonial, so ask your friends and colleagues who’ve had tiling work done recently. If they were satisfied with the job, then they’ll be happy to recommend the people who did it. If you don’t know anyone who’s had tiling done recently, ask the company to see examples of their work, and testimonials/references they’ve received.

     

    Can you contact them easily?

    If you do contact the company, how quickly does someone reply to you with what you need? Do you have an address and phone number for them, as well as their email details or a contact form? Ideally if they have a website you could see photos of their past jobs and experience.

    Other things to look for

    Do they have insurance?

    If you'd like to know more about us or see our beautiful range of tiles visit us as www.tileideas.co.uk or email us at sales@tileideas.co.uk

    To gloss or not to gloss, that is the question 0

    The pros and cons of glossy or matt, bathroom and kitchen tiles

      When considering a new bathroom or kitchen design, you sometimes have to sit for a while and think about colour schemes, styles and often a tricky complication is the type of tile. We often find our clients are confused as to whether to go for glossy or matt tiles. This uncertainty is probably because not many people are aware of the advantages of the types of finishes. So, we have put together this post to help people understand the pros and cons of glossy and matt finishes.

    Gloss Tiles: 

      Glossy tiles are better suited for smaller bathrooms or kitchens and clean freaks. The reflective and smooth design of gloss tiles makes the room appear bigger than it actually is, and are very easy to clean with a simple wipe. You will also find as light reflects off the tiles, the room appears to be a lot brighter, especially when white.

      Looking at the downside of gloss tiles, when they are not cleaned regularly and properly or left wet, the wet spots and soap smears can be visible. So, in order to get them looking their best, you must clean them on a regular basis and ensure you don’t leave any marks.

    Matt Tiles:

      Matt Tiles will be good choice for bigger bathrooms and especially if you would like to create a modern look. A matt tile won’t need as much maintenance to keep it’s “new” look, and they don’t need cleaning as often as gloss tiles do. You will also find that when they are cleaned, you won’t need to worry about smear and soap marks on the tiles. Matt tiles also give off a “natural” look, so your bathroom will look really appealing and authentic.

     

      However, when it comes down to scratches, scuffs and stains, matt tiles are very vulnerable. Many people also find, when matt tiles do need cleaning, it is much harder work than gloss tiles are, but then there is the argument that they don’t need cleaning half as much as gloss tiles do.

     To sum up, it seems as though both gloss and matt tiles have their upsides and their downsides. It really is down to your personal preferences, if you have a smaller bathroom and don’t mind cleaning regularly, gloss tiles are probably the best option for you. Then again, if you have a larger bathroom and want to go for a modern look, matt tiles are the way to go. Whatever tile you choose for your bathroom, it won’t make a huge difference as long as you keep them well maintained. For more advice, why not give our friendly customer service team a call on 01842 811944 or email them at sales@tileideas.co.uk

    • Kerem Kilicay