Kitchen Tiles: Make Your Kitchen Easy-to-Clean

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Kitchen tiles serve more than just aesthetic purposes. By choosing the right tiles, you can simplify your daily tasks, like cleaning grease off your kitchen wall.

Choosing suitable kitchen tiles is one of the most important aspects that every future homeowner must take into consideration. Most individuals, however, take this decision for granted.

Many homeowners overlook this topic despite the fact that choosing the wrong kitchen tiles can have a negative impact on your home’s environment and the quality of your cooking. As a consequence, and most importantly, you will waste a ton of budget on home renovation.

In this article, we’re going to give you a 101 on kitchen tiles, from choosing the right kitchen tiles to picking the right vendors or manufacturers of kitchen tiles.

Why do you need Kitchen Tiles?

Easily maintained

It’s okay to experiment with new recipes and have fun while you’re in the kitchen. However, as a result of all that time spent in the kitchen, not only are you left with delicious food, but with a consequence as well. Walls may be covered with splatters of wet ingredients, which may stain them over time. The right tiles can eliminate this worry since some tiles are resistant to moisture and most kitchen mishaps. 

Long Lasting

Walls are best repainted about once a year since paint degrades over time, especially in your kitchen where fumes and smoke accumulate. Tiles are ideal if you want a durable surface that requires little upkeep. Although there is an up-front expense for laying tiles, they last for decades. 

Aesthetics

Kitchen tile backsplashes may be found in a wide variety of types, patterns, and textures, so it’s easy to choose one that complements your existing decor. If you prefer a more subtle style, grey subway tiles are a timeless classic for a reason. In terms of design options for kitchen tiles, the possibilities are practically unlimited.

A better alternative to paint and wallpaper

As time goes on and your priorities shift, it’s only natural that you’d want to update your home’s furnishings to reflect your evolving sense of design. There is a widespread belief that painting a wall is simple. In fact, wall painting and wallpapering are labor-intensive and time-consuming both to apply and to maintain. On the other hand, kitchen tiles require less maintenance given their long-lasting nature. It can also be customized to a great extent. There is a wide variety of porcelain and ceramic tiles to choose from. 

The 5 key aspects to keep in mind when choosing kitchen tiles

Price

In order to make the best choice, think about your finances and how much you can spend. Based on your budget and needs, determine a price range.

Endurance

Because of the intense activity in kitchens, kitchen tiles’ endurance is an extremely important factor every homeowner should be aware of. Thus, it is important to consider what and how often your kitchen is used. 

Maintenance

There is a greater tendency for kitchens to get messy than other places in your house. Food ingredients and liquids will cause stains and spills in the kitchen, requiring more time and effort to clean. Spill absorbent materials shouldn’t be used as tiles because they might cause a variety of health and hygiene problems in addition to looking unappealing if stained.

Design, Material and Texture

Kitchen tile is considered to be a piece of hard-wearing material and will have varying characteristics according to its composition. From ceramic to glass and porcelain floor tiles, choose what’s right for you. Kitchen tiles with a distinctive texture and design will give your kitchen practical dimension and non-slip properties.

Underlayment

This method is the cornerstone of tiling. Before laying down tiles, your installer will level the floor using underlayment to provide a level surface. Sheet-type underlayment, liquid or semi-liquid solutions, and kitchen tile membranes with flexible sheets are your alternatives for underlayment.

7 Common Types of Kitchen Tiles in Malaysia

Homogeneous Tiles

Homogeneous tiles are extremely adaptable, for example, they can be used both on the walls of a bathroom or on a kitchen backsplash. Compared to other common tile options such as ceramic tiles, the absorption rate for homogeneous tiles is significantly lower. Because of this, they are water-resistant, making them an excellent choice for humid environments, such as kitchens.  They are also very long-lasting because their non-porous nature keeps them from being easily impacted by shifts in temperature and the amount of humidity in the environment.

Ceramic Tiles

Natural clay, sand, and water are the main ingredients in ceramic tile. The mixture is then shaped into square and rectangular tiles and fired in a furnace to dry out the components. Except for the kitchen, the family room and bedroom are just two more common places to find ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles, typically intended for interior usage, may be put on walls because they are lightweight. They might have a glossy or matte surface. Today, ceramic tile is the most common type of tile used in kitchens, and it is the least expensive option.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles are also one of the common types of tiles used in a kitchen. Like ceramic tiles, porcelain is fabricated using clay, sand, and water. Porcelain tiles, however, are made from denser clay than ceramic ones. Porcelain tiles are roasted at very high temperatures for extended periods to eliminate practically all dampness. As a result of the heavier clay and longer drying period, porcelain tiles are significantly tougher and more enduring than ceramic tiles.  There is a wide range of porcelain tile options in terms of colour, pattern, and finish. They may reflect any light directed at them and can be found in various finishes, from glossy to matte.

Travertine tiles

Because of its marble-like texture and varied tonal range, travertine tile stands out among other types of limestone flooring. It can be filled and honed, carved, or finished for a different look.  The one drawback of travertine tiles is that they require regular sweeping and prompt cleaning of spills to prevent scratches and preserve their appearance.

Granite tiles

Granite tile is highly durable; with the right application by sealers and regular maintenance, it may survive for decades. This stone is impervious to heat and scratching and can hardly be broken at all. Water will not penetrate granite tile. Granite is particularly resistant to water and moisture, so if the pavers and tiles are correctly sealed, they can effectively prevent damage to the ground and health problems. 

Because granite tile comes in various colours, styles, and patterns, it may enhance the aesthetic appeal of any building, whether a residence or a business, increasing its worth. When granite is polished, it brings out a reflecting sheen, deepens the tone, and brings out the hues.

Marble tiles

Marble tile has a well-deserved reputation for heat insulation. It is a good way to maintain a pleasant kitchen temperature in Malaysian weather.  Marble’s durability is exceptional for a natural material. Over the course of hundreds of years, its purity and longevity have earned it a sterling reputation. While synthetic flooring choices are just as highly durable, many homeowners prefer marble due to its beautiful natural finish. 

Quartzite tiles

Tiles made from natural stone like quartzite are not only attractive but also practical. Although not identical to marble, it has many of the latter’s characteristics and can be made to appear that way. Quartzite tiles have tremendous durability, one of its most remarkable features. 

Quartzite, even in its less-than-perfect state, is an exceptionally hard rock. It’s thicker than marble and much more robust, so it may be used in places that require tougher tile. In contrast to natural stones, quartzite tile has a more fascinating surface texture. Quartzite, in contrast to sandstone, has a polished, marble-like finish. Its lack of roughness in construction is fundamental to its smooth demeanour.

3 Common Mistakes When Buying Kitchen Tiles

Disregarding or Forgetting to get a sample

If you want to examine the tile’s genuine polish, texture, and pigment, getting a sample is your best bet. To ensure you obtain the appropriate appearance, you should obtain free tile samples directly from the vendors and take them with you when purchasing a kitchen tile.

Choosing the Wrong Size

There is a broad variety of kitchen tiles available, so make sure you think about the look and functionality before buying. The skilled people of specialists should be consulted for better selection.

Not Looking at the Quality

In the long run, purchasing low-quality tiles due to their low cost will almost certainly result in higher costs for repairs, replacements, and re-laying.

Summing up

In conclusion, it’s worth considering kitchen tiles as one of your options if you are  looking for renovations or remodeling. Look at it from a fresh perspective and see how you can make it more appealing and functional. The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in your home. Use kitchen tiles to personalize it and make it as functional as possible. Adding unique tiles to your kitchen can enhance its beauty, as well as that of your entire home.