The right tile to fit your purpose

• Floor and wall tiles
  Floor tiles have higher mechanical strength than wall tiles. Therefore, wall tiles should not be used for the floor, though floor tiles may be used on walls.

---

Residential setting

• Interior:

  • Kitchen
    Tiles in the kitchen are subjected to grease, food particles and water. Choose low maintenance tiles with higher chemical and slip resistance as they only require regular cleaning with household detergents. Counter tops can be tiled for hot pots to sit on. Work tops and food preparation areas should be protected with tiles of high mechanical strength to ensure easy maintenance.

  • Living and dining
    Besides being the more public areas of your home accessible to guests, these are also the main areas where the family spends time together, either at mealtimes or in recreation. A combination of contrasting colours and surfaces can set the decor slant of the room. Non-slip tiles are recommended in such high traffic areas, especially if they are frequently used by children and the elderly. Smaller tiles are also another options as they require more joints, providing relatively more slip resistance and thus making the tiles less slippery. Use low maintenance tiles on the dining room floor to make it easy to clean.

  • Bathroom
    This area is exposed to the most water in the house. As it is often wet, choose non-slip tiles with low water absorption properties and high chemical resistance to bath foams, soap, shampoo, chemical cleaners and disinfectants to ensure low maintenance. Remember that creative colour combinations of tiles (on the walls and floor) and sanitary fittings can change the visual impression of the bathroom, making it dark and narrow or bright and wide.

  • Bedroom
    As this is the place for retiring after a long, hard day, choose tiles with a pleasing colour combination to create a comfortable and relaxing environment. The bedroom is subjected to less foot traffic, so a wider choice of tiles can be applied.

• Exterior
  Exterior tiles should be more durable with low water absorption as they are continually exposed to the elements.

  • Car porch and driveway
    Tiles add warmth to the reception area of the house. Tiles are suitable for this area as they are durable and can withstand the effects of water, detergents (from washing the car), oil (engine oil and petrol) and dirt (mud and gravel, etc.) from vehicles parked here. Non-slip, high mechanical strength tiles are recommended for these areas. Smaller-sized tiles with more grout lines provide additional slip resistance and would be very suitable here.
    

  • Pool & garden
    Outdoor recreational games and outdoor entertaining or dining can be enhanced with outdoor tiling. The garden can be improved with easy maintenance tiles which blend with the environment. Always use tiles with low water absorption and high slip resistance for the pool area.

---

Commercial and Public Areas

Tiles for these area should be:-

• Durable and non-slip
  Floors in public areas such as railway stations, subways and walkways, must be more durable as they are subjected to a high volume of foot traffic daily. These public areas require hardy strong tiles. Public areas which are exposed to water should be covered with tiles with high slip resistance.

• Easy to maintain and look clean
  Tiles also project a sense of cleanliness as they not only look clean but also promote easy maintenance. Tiled floors and walls do not generally react to chemical substances. Therefore, they are suitable for walls and floors in food processing areas and for floors in industries that require dust-free environments such as in the manufacturing of electronic components.