Do you know the right tiles for your house?
When Evelyn Kobugabe was building her house, she chose smooth ceramic tiles for her outside shade. She says the tiles were attractive with a beautiful colour that blended well with her walls. She did not know smooth tiles were not good for the exterior. She later regretted when her children repeatedly slipped and fell on the tiles.
Just like Kobugabe, several people choose tiles without putting important factors into consideration.
Jackeline Biira of Spaces Interior designs, says, before buying tiles, it is important to consider the texture.
She says their texture of tiles is important because different rooms have different purposes with some being frequented most while others are not. “The tile you use for your living room should be different from the ones in the kitchen or the bathroom. Places with more activities should not be tiled with smooth surfaced tiles. Also, exteriors should have durable tiles because they will be subjected to harsh element of nature,” she advises.
Biira says the bathroom, kitchen and exterior floor, should have rough surfaced tiles, which will able to contain water and remain durable. She adds that non-slippery tiles will help prevent accidents. She says one should also look at neutrality. When your make your floor with plain colours that can easily be matched with the interior, the floor will blend well with the wall paintings.
“Avoid multiple coloured tiles that might clash with the rest of the interior designs,” Biira adds.
However, most people do not consider the factors mentioned above. Ivan Mbabazi, a whole sale trader for Tiles at Namaganda plaza, says constructors choose tiles mostly depending on prices. He notes that most buyers opt for tiles that are Ugandan made because of affordability.
“Tiles vary in make; there are those that are made in spain, India, Uganda, China and Kenya. Spain has quality tiles and they are durable but expensive, most people opt for tiles that are made in Uganda,” he observes.
Mbabazi says those who are planning to tile their houses should always consult on the type of tiles so as to be sure which type of tiles to place in specific places. Below are the different types of tiles and where they should be placed.
Ceramic tiles
Mbabazi says ceramic tiles complement almost all furnishings and decor. He adds that they have a long service life and are both scratch and fade resistant. “These types of tiles are good for the interior because they look attractive, you can use them for your living rooms, bed rooms and other rooms that have not so much traffic,” he says.
Natural stone tiles
These include slate, sandstone, granite and natural marble such as travertine. Mbabazi says they do not fade and are good for exteriors because they are not affected by weather.
However, he says it is important that these tiles are sealed to prevent staining. “Natural stone tiles work well outdoors due to their durability and resistance to rain and the sun, provided they are sealed to prevent staining,” he says.
Porcelain tiles
Asaad Kabugho Tamale, of Fox Wood Interiors and Architects, says porcelain tiles are manufactured from ceramic material. However, the tiles are fired at higher temperatures than ceramic. He adds that porcelain tiles are available glazed or unglazed. “These tiles are resistant to moisture, deep abrasion and frost,” he notes.
Mosaic tiles
Kabugho says mosaic tiles are tiny tiles which come in a variety of materials including glass, metal and natural stone. He observes that these create decor magic and are a great way of bringing colour and texture to any wall in your home.
“These tiny tiles also have the ability of withstanding hot and cold temperatures, which makes them ideal for areas where extreme temperatures may be present such as the bathroom and kitchen,” he says.
PVP Tiles
Mbabazi says these tiles are in plastic form and are best suitable for conference halls, offices and also areas without so much traffic.
“If you are constructing a residential home, I wouldn’t advise you to use PVP tiles, these tiles are good in places without so much traffic like offices,” he explains. He says these tiles are mostly in plastic form and may get easily damaged if placed in places with too much traffic.
How to choose quality tiles
Mbabazi advises the buyer to check the grade of the tile before buying. He explains that bad tiles have irregular shapes, which can make it impossible to fix the tiles well. “Inspect a sample tile or two and look out for irregular glaze, any inconsistency in the thickness and any colour defects,” he says, adding that some tiles may have irregular colours or faded colours and this calls for vigilance on the side of buyers.
He advises buyers to examine the tile label and manufacturers’ information on the tile for the durability classification.
The tile’s scratch resistance is indicated as the PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating, an international standard that measures the degree to which a tile’s surface will withstand wear.
How to maintain tiles
Asad Kabugo of Ox Wood interiors, says a home owner can choose to seal their outside tiles so as to prevent them from being affected by weather conditions.
He adds that it is also important to wash the tiles with detergent and clean water regularly. He explains that this can help maintain the regular shine.
“You can only maintain that regular shine on the tiles only if you always make it a point to clean them well, rinsing with hot water is also another way of maintaining your tiles well,” he observes.
He advises home owners to avoid dragging heavy and furniture metals on the tiles.
“Dragging heavy metals on the tiles or heavy furniture might crack or dislocate the tiles,” he says.
Kabugo says a crack in a tile floor can be fixed. He says a paint store can match the colour of your tile with a tile filler.
He explains that one can dab this tile filler into the crack with a cotton swab and the crack will barely be visible. However, he observes that this only works for tiles that are not damaged. He says for a tile that is too damaged, it requires to be replaced with a new one.
Cleaning stained tiles
Jackeline Biira of Spaces Interior designs says most stains may be removed by washing with detergent and warm water.
However, for stains that remain after use of water and detergent, Biira recommends use of ice cubes, diluted bleach or hydrogen peroxide and rinsing with warm water. “If your tiles have been stained by ink for instance, you can soak a clean cloth with diluted bleach and lay it over the stain, let the cloth stay in place until the stain disappears,” she says.
Biira advises against use of steel wool and sand paper to clean tiles. She says they may lead to permanent scratches on the tiles.
However, she notes that if your tiles have minor scratches, baking soda might help remove it.
“You can prepare a thick paste of baking soda with water and apply generous amounts of the paste on the scratched area for 10 to 15 minutes”. However, she notes that this only works for small scratches.
