How to Choose Tile for your Home
July 7th, 2022
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Our partners McKinley Architects tell us about their process of selecting tiles.
With so many options (ceramic, porcelain, glass, and natural stone) where do you begin when starting
your search for tile for your home? We usually work from the floor up, especially in the bathroom.
Important considerations are the size and scale of the tile, durability, slip resistance, and cost. Porcelain
tile has revolutionized the industry because it is long-wearing and highly resistant to stains and water. It
artfully takes on the appearance of many natural materials such as natural stone, terracotta, wood, and
painted cement tile without the maintenance and cost.
When selecting floor tile, we always check the slip resistance rating to make sure it is suitable for wet
areas such as bathrooms or mudroom floors. The slip resistance rating is called the dynamic coefficient
of friction (DCOF) and can be found on the tile specification sheet. The minimum rating for a wet
interior floor .42. The ratings are not an exact science so once you find a suitable tile, check to see which
tile provides the best slip resistance for your application.
Grout Selection
While some may think of grout selection as an afterthought, it can be as important as choosing a tile.
Grout color can completely transform a tile, changing it from ordinary to interesting. For example, a
contrasting grout color will enhance the tile pattern, while a warm or cool color will take a white tile in
two very different directions.
In wet areas we specify epoxy grout rather than traditional cement grout because of its resistance to
stains, cracking, and shrinking. It carries a much higher price tag than cement grout but is well worth the
added expense because it is easy to clean and maintain.
Timeless Rather Than Trending
Our overall approach to any tile selection is to choose something that a client will love in 10 or 15 years
rather than something they’ll look at and think “that’s so 2022!” When it comes to selecting tile, we
suggest timeless over trending!