4 Reasons to Consider Tile for Your Next Flooring Project

Tour any new commercial project and it is likely you’ll be walking on tile. Tile is one of the hottest commercial flooring choices right now, and there’s a good reason why it is trending in popularity.  Here are four reasons to consider tile for your next project.

Flexibility

Tile floors deliver crisp, cool, distinctive finishes to virtually any design from contemporary to rustic. You can choose from a variety of types, each with unique aesthetic and performance characteristics. Options include:

• Ceramic – Clay-based and kiln-fired, ceramic tile is glazed for protection and long-lasting seal. While not as dense as porcelain tile, ceramic tile has a higher absorption rate and is less resistant to chipping or damage. Ceramic tile also is not frost proof.
• Porcelain – Porcelain is a type of ceramic tile but its unique composition makes it more impervious to water penetration. Because it is fired at a higher temperature and under greater pressure, it is denser, finer and smoother than traditional ceramic tile. It also withstands colder temperatures.
• Stone – Architects and designers since the beginning of civilization have used natural stone for their most important works. Travertine and limestone are examples of sedimentary stone. Granite is an example of an igneous stone. Slate and marble are examples of metamorphic stone. There is an alternative called manufactured stone.
• Terrazzo Tile – Marble chips mixed with epoxy which gives the look of a poured terrazzo, at a lower cost. Terrazzo tile is ideal for smaller or more complex spaces.

Long-Lasting Durability

Flooring products that stand the test of time are in high demand, and none is more durable than ceramic tile. The National Association of Homebuilders says the average life expectancy of ceramic tile is 75 to 100 years. Natural stone floors can last even longer, it says, in excess of 100 years.

“Durability is much of the reason why we are seeing a lot of interest from our customers in ceramic tile installations,” says Marcos A. Lopez, project manager in Intertech’s San Antonio office. Among the recent tile projects he has worked on are the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Science and Engineering Building, North Central Baptist Hospital emergency room renovation, USAA Real Estate’s Colonnade building and the UTSA Science and Engineering Building.

“Tile floors can handle heavy traffic and have a usable lifespan that far exceeds most other flooring options,” says Lopez, a 20-year flooring veteran who has led Interech’s ceramic tile division for six years.

Easy to Maintain

No company wants to spend excessive amounts of cleaning and maintenance. And they don’t have to with ceramic tile. Because of its protective layer of glazing, ceramic tile is water-resistant and impervious to dirt. A simple sweeping, mopping or vacuuming will keep your tile floor free of dust and debris.

Good for the Environment

It turns out those hard surfaces help make for a cleaner environment, too. Allergens like dust, pollen and dirt can’t penetrate tile – and are easily eliminated with a simple mopping. That is a bonus for indoor air quality and a healthy environment for employees and visitors.

Things to Consider When Choosing Tile

First, allow ample time for a tile floor installation. “The installation process is much different than that of carpet or LVT,” says Lopez.  “It is time consuming to do it correctly. You have to let everything dry completely, and there are different processes depending on whether it is thin-set or mud set.”

Second, make sure your floor is installed by tile experts. “It is tricky to install, so few people want to do ceramic installation,” says Lopez. “We’ve been doing this so long that we have a proven group of installers we’ve worked with for more than a decade, and that can of experience is invaluable to our customers. We also offer certified installers, for jobs requesting those.”

If you are considering tile for your next project, experience the Intertech advantage. No one can match our experience and expertise in tile flooring. Learn more.