Looking for the pros and cons of tile flooring? We’ve got you covered. Tiles have been a standard choice of flooring style for kitchens and bathrooms for a long time.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t be used in any room, and their sleek appearance and classic elegance make them a common option. Many people love tiles for their durability and resistance, ease of maintenance, and affordability.
They’re highly versatile and are anti-static and great for those with allergies and sensitive systems. With so many different ways to tile a floor, you’ve probably seen many different configurations of them!
But tiles also have their downsides! They’re hard, cold, slippery, and make any space louder.
They also do require some proper maintenance due to the ground used to bind them, and they don’t resist shock due to their sleekness.
If you’ve been considering a purchase of tiled flooring, you’ll want to examine both sides of these arguments and how to handle the ups and downs. Here are the pros and cons of tile flooring!
13 Pros And Cons Of Tile Flooring You Need To Know
Pros Of Tile Flooring
1. It’s durable
Tiles are highly durable and don’t crack easily, which is a good thing in areas with high foot traffic. They are typically well-protected against various forms of permanent damage.
Some tile materials will come with a rating that determines their overall hardness, so you can pick and choose what durability is sufficient for your home.
There are also many different steps in tile installation that help to make them even more resilient. Proper installation allows them to last for two decades before showing signs of wear, with even longer lifespans when given regular maintenance.
2. It’s easy to maintain and clean
Most tiles are easy to clean, requiring little overall maintenance. Dirt, stains, liquids, and other debris can be easily wiped off.
This is because those unwanted substances easily sit on top of the tiles, ready to be swept, wiped, or vacuumed away. For more stubborn stains, virtually any commercial or simple homemade cleaner does the trick without causing damage.
Tiles made from more porous materials often have some form of coating or protective layer that prevents them from harboring bacteria. The glaze is even easier to clean, with a shiny surface that you can wipe speedily.
3. It’s resistant to extreme weather
Temperature and climate can have a notable effect on different parts of a building. The last thing you want is for your tiles to become damaged or difficult to walk on during more extreme weather conditions.
Most tiles are resistant to corrosion and rot from moisture, so they can survive storms and floods relatively well. (That also means that they play nice in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms, where water may spill often!)
As previously mentioned, most porous tiles will have a sealant that circumvents any susceptibility to moisture, too. Tile floors are also capable of resisting the effects of high humidity.
Many types of tiles also can’t freeze, allowing them to withstand frost without becoming more fragile.
4. There are many different options
Tiles are extremely diverse! There are numerous different materials to choose from, all of which have their own set of pros and cons.
These can create dramatically different appearances to suit various types of aesthetics. In addition to their various materials, tiles can have different designs, colors, textures, and sizes.
It’s impressive just how much you can do with tiles design-wise. For those who want to get creative with their flooring, tiles are a stylish dream to work with!
5. It’s hypoallergenic
Tile flooring is hypoallergenic. They don’t easily collect debris that could pose a problem thanks to their slick, hard surfaces.
They don’t absorb moisture that could lead to mold issues, either. In addition, the cleaning of tiles doesn’t require any harsh chemicals.
So if you have a sensitivity to certain fumes, you won’t face any problems maintaining your tile flooring.
6. It’s anti-static
Tile floors don’t collect static. You won’t face any issues with things getting stuck or your skin becoming electrified from shuffling on it too much!
Of course, adding carpets or rugs will undo this effect, but for bare tile, you’ll be free from static effects.
7. It’s affordable but valuable
All types of flooring have their high- and low-end variations. But tiles are undoubtedly among the most affordable materials to cover a floor with.
Most will cost anywhere from $5 to $10 for each square foot, which is a great deal! Despite being so affordable, tile flooring is also a big selling point in a home.
Those who plan to sell a tiled building will be glad to know that this can increase the structure’s value! This is especially true if the tiles were installed well and appear aesthetically pleasing.
Cons Of Tile Flooring
1. It’s hard
Tile flooring is hard, which is part of what makes it so durable and resistant to various potential sources of damage. But that also means that it can be uncomfortable.
If you have a bad back or knees, for example, walking on a tile floor can cause pain. In addition, those who want to do high-impact things on their tile flooring will have to contend with its hardness.
Jumping, dancing, and exercising on tile flooring can make your bones ache from the shock of the surface. You can circumvent this by using exercise mats and similar items.
2. It’s not shock resistant
When you drop something heavy on a tile floor, you run the risk of damaging both the tile and the item dropped.
Cracks and dents may appear in both the tiles and the items, and glass, ceramics, and other fragile materials are likely to shatter completely. Naturally, being careful is important no matter the material of your flooring.
But accidents happen and you can’t just aim for perfection. That’s why the mutual destruction that may occur due to tiles can be a cause for concern.
3. It’s cold
Tile flooring doesn’t hold heat very well. In hot climates, this can be a godsend.
But if you dislike the cold or live somewhere cool, that could be a problem. In the winter, they may be especially cold, despite their resistance to frost, and can be uncomfortable as a result.
You can circumvent cold tiles by using insulation on your floor beneath the tiles. Unfortunately, some may find this to be a rather expensive solution for something like this.
Throwing a carpet or rug over tile flooring in cold months can be a good alternative to that cost.
4. It’s slippery
Given their slick, easy-to-clean surface, it makes sense that tile flooring can also be quite slippery. Wearing slipper socks or shoes indoors can pose a hazard to those with balance issues or who just lose their footing by tripping.
There’s also the problem of spillage. If you spill water on tiles, it’ll be hard to see where the liquid is so you can clean it up effectively.
That just worsens the risk of slipping! Since tiles don’t absorb liquids that are applied to them, you’ll have to make sure they’re fully dry before you can walk on them safely.
5. Grout lines have to be maintained
Tiles are joined together by grout lines, which are the thin, grayish parts between each one. These grout lines can easily catch stains and debris and need to be cleaned regularly.
They’re made from cement and are therefore porous, unlike the tiles themselves! While tiles resist mold and mildew, grout can experience a buildup of that over time.
This is especially true in high-traffic parts of a building. Homemade and commercial cleaners can both deal with the issue, but it can be a hassle!
Grout lines can also start to crumble over time, requiring additive maintenance. If regularly resealed, you can avoid most major problems – but once again, some may find that to be too much of a hassle.
6. It has bad acoustics
Tiles are hard surfaces that reflect sound easily. This means that every noise in a room with tile flooring will reverberate a lot.
For some, this isn’t much of an issue. But for others, the loudness of every single sound in a tiled room can be a deal-breaker.
Poor acoustics in a room can cause sensory issues in those with certain disabilities. It also disrupts and decreases sound clarity while increasing the “noise pollution” from external sources.
That’s why hard surfaces in a space have to be tempered by a soft material in order to reduce this effect.
Final Thoughts
Tile flooring has its fair share of upsides and downsides.
- It’s super easy to clean thanks to its sleek, shiny surface, but that makes it slippery and cold.
- It’s non-porous, so it has poor acoustics and can’t resist shock, but that hardness gives it durability and resistance to mildew.
- It’s a mixed bag, and it’s easy to see why people can like or dislike this kind of flooring!
If you plan to get tile flooring, it’s a good idea to make sure your tiles are sealed and protected so they properly keep out moisture.
Poor-quality tiles without a good finish will defeat the purpose of durability entirely! And if the cold is going to be a problem for you, consider springing for an investment of insulated floors!