Before tiles were widely used in other parts of a home, they were typically used exclusively in the bathroom and the kitchen.
Though they are more or less made from the same material, they are not exactly the same since both serve different functions and suit different needs.
Understanding the difference between the two can help you in choosing the right tile for your needs.
Kitchen Tile
The kitchen is one area where the foot traffic is exceptionally high when compared to other rooms, particularly a bathroom.
So, your choice of tiles should be able to withstand wear and tear which means they should be long-lasting.
Kitchens are also often always exposed to stains, spills, oil residue and other kitchen mess.
When you are selecting tiles for your flooring, it is important to chose ones that will not only withstand the wear and tear of everyday living but also look good over time.
A high resistance rating on your tile makes it last longer by preventing scratches with a thickness of about 1/8-inch or greater.
For such durability, you might consider using porcelain or ceramic instead of natural stone as they have a higher resistance.
When choosing tiles, remember that they should be easy to clean as well as resist stains comfortably.
In terms of walls, choose tiles with high glaze like a mirror tile or accent tile work well with the aesthetic of the room.
This gives you a creative opportunity to do like you with the design and style.
Bathroom Tile
Contrary to the kitchen tiles, bathroom tiles should be slip-resistant and water-resistant first and foremost.
They are often wet and using the wrong tiles creates a potential slip hazard, especially if you have kids.
Consequently, the tile you choose should have an excellent anti-slip rating.
It also helps you if the tiles are smaller as the grout lines will create extra grip underfoot.
Choose the Best Tile
There are quite many tiles catering to your every need, varying in hardness, price, colour, slip resistance and many more.
Here are some of the most common tiles:
- Vinyl: Low cost, easy to install and highly practical
- Ceramic: Low maintenance, highly resistant to scratch but challenging to install
- Glass: Better aesthetic appeal, but extra care needs to be taken to prevent slips
- Stone: Beautiful, but high maintenance and expensive
- Plastic laminated: Easy to install and maintain, but water can get inside the fibreboard core.
- Metal: High aesthetic value, sleek, modern and also easy to maintain
Bathroom
There cannot be anything but tiles for the bathroom owing to its practicality.
Bathroom tiles are usually small to accommodate the cramped space, otherwise you would be left with a large tile in the middle with the rest cut off to fit the rest of the bathroom.
Kitchen
The kithen prone to spills and stains; hence a tiled floor makes sense than a carpet.
But the tiles you choose should be able to withstand the foot traffic while also being easy to maintain, stain-resistant, and hard-wearing.
Considering the above, ceramic with its porous nature could a nightmare to maintain even though they look beautiful.
On the other hand, vinyl and stone tiles hide stains, withstands heavy foot traffic and last a long time.
Glass tiles work the best as a backsplash since they require no maintenance and also brings light and an illusion of space to the room.
Conclusion
There is not much difference between the kitchen tiles and bathroom tiles in terms of what they’re made from, but the distinction is between the intended use.
A kitchen needs a tile that doesn’t stain or slip with the spills and oil residue. But a bathroom tile should be first and foremost, slip-resistant and also impervious to water.
But this doesn’t mean you cannot interchange the tiles; if it works for you and provides necessary traction, you can use your kitchen tile in your bathroom too.
Talk to us any time to get advice from experienced tilers on the Gold Coast.
