The Difference between Floor Tiles and Wall Tiles

Tiles are one of the main attractive features of any modern-day house. However, people often get confused between floor tiles and wall tiles. There is a common notion that size is the only parameter separating these two types of tiles. Many people also believe that ceramic tiles are ideal for walls, whereas porcelain tiles are best for floors. These statements are myths since the difference between floor tiles and wall tiles depend on factors other than appearance and dimensions.

With modern innovations and technological developments, the difference between wall tiles and floor tiles has narrowed slightly. However, they are distinct details that can help an expert to differentiate between the two.

Differentiating Factors between Wall Tiles and Floor Tiles

1. Appearance

There are different shapes, colours, sizes, and designs for both wall and floor tiles. In general, the first and foremost way to differentiate between the two kinds is that one is thinner and smaller than the other.

Wall tiles are normally smaller and lightweight than floor tiles which are thicker than larger. This is done by Tiles distributors in vadapalani to make the installation seamless and provide specific aesthetics to a home. In modern-day interior designing, an average of 18×18 inch ceramic or porcelain tiles is not preferred for walls since they appear outdated and very bright, overpowering the rest of the decor in the process.

2. The Slipperiness Factor

There is a COF or Coefficient Of Friction rating for every tile to provide information about their slipperiness. A higher COF will signify high levels of friction and hence tiles with such ratings have very little slipperiness, making them safer and seamless to walk on. Naturally, these tiles are generally used as floor tiles. On the contrary, tiles with lower COF are more slippery and are used as wall tiles since friction is not a considerable factor for walls, as advised by Tiles dealers in Vadapalani.

3. Hardness

Another important factor that experts used to determine the difference between wall tiles and floor tiles is the PEI or Porcelain Enamel Institute rating. This factor is important to signify the rigidity and hardness of tiles. The PEI rating technically separates tiles into five variations to signify the amount of wear and tear they can counter without cracking. These variations are termed as classes, and there are 6 classes in total ranging from class 0 to class 5. The classes are grouped in the increasing order of the tile's strength and hardness. Therefore high-class tiles are used as floor tiles, whereas low-class tiles are used as wall tiles. Hence, it is always advisable to ask the Tiles Shop in Vadapalani about PEI ratings before buying any tile.

4. Durability

Floor tiles are usually thicker than wall tiles. Therefore, it signifies that wall tiles are more prone to cracks under pressure than floor tiles. However, although Wall Tiles in vadapalani are lighter and less dense than floor tiles, they can be kept intact for years under proper maintenance and care. Sometimes people also consider floor tiles as wall tiles to avoid this maintenance path, but floor tiles will always look best when used for flooring and not on walls. This is the reason why maintenance and proper care is an absolute necessity for thin wall tiles.

5. Resistance against Moisture and Heat

Both porcelain and ceramic wall tiles are equally durable against heat and moisture. The reason behind this is that water and hot materials don't come in contact with the walls very often compared to the floors. This is also why Floor Tiles in vadapalani are way thicker than wall tiles and have very high heat resistance.

6. Lifespan

A well maintained and good quality tile can provide service for more than 50 years. Generally, both floor tiles and wall tiles have an equal lifespan. However, wall tiles are thinner than floor tiles; they can break easily if installed on floors. There are also instances where thick floor tiles can crack when very heavy items fall on them.

7. Installation

The installation method for both wall and floor tiles are also almost similar. People who are willing to do the process themselves can start with a cement underpayment. The next step is to apply a thin-set adhesive with a notched trowel on the wall and subfloor to install wall and floor tiles. After the tiles dry, the following step will be filling the joints with grout and sealing the surface after the material gets hard.

However, it is important to notice that the wall and floor grout have a small difference. Generally, the amount of sand in floor grout is larger to reduce shrinkage in joints and cracks. This kind of grout can also be used in wall tiles for wider joints. Therefore the best way is to hire professionals from the Tiles store in Vadapalani to do the job.

8. Cost

The cost of tiles depends mainly on the quality, size, material, design, and shape. Nowadays, the price of porcelain floor tiles and porcelain wall tiles are almost the same. This is also present in the case of ceramic and other kinds of tiles. However, large, glazed tiles or having trendy designs will be costlier than smaller tiles with normal colours, as seen in Tiles Showroom in Vadapalani.

Therefore these are the main differences between floor tiles and wall tiles. Modern technological advancements have already narrowed the gap between these two varieties leading to confusion among normal buyers. Hence, it is important to buy floor and wall tiles after judging all the relevant factors or taking help from experts for the Best designer and super quality tiles in vadapalani.