Take On Tile at FergusonHome.com

Tile is one of the more versatile tricks of the home improvement trade. A durable tile floor provides value to the home and visual interest to the occupant, whether the project is shower and bath surrounds to accent walls and colorful backsplash protection. From porcelain to glass, adding tile brings in color and character. A tile floor or wall can help to keep rooms cool in the hot summer, and a backsplash behind the kitchen sink or bathtub can help prevent water or moisture damage to the walls.

Most tile can be planned as a Do-it-Yourself, weekend project, or it can be professionally installed by a contractor. Either way, the most difficult part of the process is choosing from thousands of colors, patterns, shapes, sizes, and textures of tile to find the perfect match for your home decor. Having an idea of what to look for can narrow down the selection before you shop.

Tile Appearance vs. Tile Material

The appearance of tile won’t always match the material it is made of. Some ceramic tile looks exactly like planks of wood, in a variety of colors and grain patterns. It can be textured and appear porous, like stone or concrete, but it is likely still sealed and protected tile. Tile can be purchased as a durable marble, with a smooth, clear finish, and the wispy veins of color. Tile can take on the look and feel of other materials, from wood to metal, but it is likely still constructed of some form of sealed porcelain. ceramic, or stone. If you’re looking for a specific material, make certain that the product information

Field Tile vs. Tile Mosaics

Decorative tiles are available as either field tiles or mosaics. With field tiles, individual tiles are purchased in lots or boxes large enough to take care of the entire project, based on the size of the tiles themselves. They are usually found in basic shapes, such as rectangles or the narrower subway tile, squares, or hexagons. Field tiles can be mixed, matched, and arranged into any design or pattern layout chosen at the time of installation. They leave a lot of room for creativity and personalization.

Mosaic tiles are sold as a preassembled, repeating pattern, mounted to a netting or canvas to maintain the design. All necessary tile sizes and shapes are shipped and arrive ready to glue onto the wall and grout into place. Mosaic tiles are generally smaller in size and include a variety of tile textures and materials, from brick and pebbles, to tile and glass.

Tile Trim

For many projects, a tile accent won’t look quite complete without the smooth, defined edge of tile trim. Trim provides the finishing touch that makes the seamless transition between tiled wall, floor, or counter top and the surrounding surfaces. It can be decorated in a contrasting, complementary design, or the trim can be the exact same color and texture as the other tiles.

Trim comes in different shapes, such as bull-nosed, rounded edges to graduate back to a painted wall, or quarter rounds to offer a simple bridge that hides the grouting from view. Cove bases allow the tile floor to roll up against the wall and visually relax the corner edge between the floor and the wall. Rail tile trims provide either an upper edge along a wall, or a rounded corner edge for a counter top. There’s a huge variety of trim types available to match perfectly to your project.

Where Should You Use Tile

Because every household is unique, there’s no limit on where tile can be used to decorate and protect a home. Different rooms and uses will have specific requirements that should be planned for to make sure you get the most out of your purchase.

Floor tile will need to be larger and thicker to withstand the regular wear and tear of daily traffic and the weight of furniture.
Wall tile can be large plated tiles or small pebbles, as long as it is lightweight enough to stay anchored in the mortar when it is installed.
Shower tile is durable to tolerate regular use as well as specifically sealed against water and moisture. (Installing tile in wet areas may require different installation methods and additional materials.)
Backsplash tiles are usually smaller in size and uniquely shaped to be dynamic and interesting at first glance. Look for preassembled mosaics that take the guesswork out of designing the perfect layout and provide a trendy backsplash for your counter tops, kitchen, or bath areas in half the time.
Outdoor tiles are strong enough to stand up to the demands of the backyard elements and weather.

Before You Buy

It’s important to know the exact measurements of the floor or wall area that will be tiled. Plan to buy more than needed to cover emergencies, like a broken corner or edging. Tile grout should also be purchased in lots large enough for the entire area at once, rather than risk running out of the same color or type before the project is completed. While grout is sold by the gallon, most brands will make note of how much it will cover in square footage.

Both the tile and the grout amounts are measured in the square footage, which can be worked out with a measuring tape and some basic math. Measure for width and length over the floor or wall, and any additional surfaces that will need tiled in, such as stair steps. Multiply the length of each area by the corresponding width, edge to edge. Add the results of each area together to get the square footage of the entire project.

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