Types & Colors of Floor Tiles

Stone

• Cut from granite, marble, limestone, slate or bluestone, stone tiles are attractive and durable tiles, but they are expensive to purchase and install and may require reinforced subflooring due to weight. Stone tiles come in all the subtle shades of natural stone, from grays and blues to warm golds and browns with streaks of pinks, reds, purples and greens. Marble may be pale and veined and will need careful sealing and cleaning to prevent etching from harsh chemicals. Limestone tiles often show fossil patterns and, although a soft stone, can be sealed for protection and used indoors and out. Slate, granite and bluestone are hard wearing and are easier to clean when ground to a smooth-top finish before installing.

Ceramic

• Ceramic tiles may be porcelain or cruder clay, glazed or unglazed. Historic clay tiles were manufactured using the en-caustic method of layering in patterns throughout the tile as it is formed with different clays. Contemporary tiles tend to be thinner than vintage tile, but some are still made by hand; fine, decorative tile may be hand painted and hand glazed. When used for flooring, most clay tile is glazed to protect it from staining and wear. Porcelain is finer clay, fired at a high temperature and highly glazed. It is extremely hard, durable and long-lasting and is used extensively in bathrooms, tiled entries and kitchens. Terracotta is tile cut from red and yellow clays and usually comes from Mexico, the American Southwest desert or the Mediterranean. Terracotta tile is left undyed and glazed with clear finishes to display its natural color or blend of colors.

Rubber and Linoleum

• Actually made from synthetics, rubber tile comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses that are inexpensive and practical for certain areas of a home. They are ideal for rooms that get wet, like kitchens, garages, bathrooms and laundry rooms, and are a cushion in children's playrooms. The tiles can mark but, when properly sealed and cleaned, are durable and can be wiped down easily. Linoleum is a natural product made from linseed oil, and so it is a "green" flooring that is relatively inexpensive and low maintenance. Linoleum comes patterned and colored in designs, faux stone and other styles and is particularly suited to entries, kitchens and finished basements.

Cork

• Cork tile provides natural insulation and soundproofing and is an inexpensive alternative to pricier stone and clay tiles. It works best indoors where it inhibits mold and bacteria and resists moisture. Cork can be imprinted with patterns and comes in many colors, from natural light and dark browns to dyed colors. It does have to be sealed, but a coat of acrylic varnish will make it low maintenance. Reapplying the varnish when the tiles get dull will keep cork looking new. In a kitchen, cork tile won't instantly shatter anything breakable that is dropped on it the way stone and clay tile tend to do.