Ceramic floor tiles have been gaining a lot of popularity lately. Not for nothing, because ceramic tiles offer many advantages over other floor coverings such as wood, PVC or carpet. They are maintenance-friendly, can be used in any room in the house and the various versions are completely up-to-date. A ceramic tile floor is hygienic, particularly durable and can be easily combined with underfloor heating. But what exactly does it cost to purchase a ceramic floor?
The price of a ceramic floor depends on a number of factors. First of all, of course, the price of the tiles. You should also consider for yourself whether you want to lay the tiles yourself or have it done by an experienced professional . In the latter case, you have to deal with labor costs. In addition, you will need materials for laying, such as glue and grout. Furthermore, it is certainly worth considering underfloor heating . The purchase price is not that bad and underfloor heating offers many advantages over heating with radiators.
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Types of ceramic tiles
Before looking at the price of ceramic tiles, it is important to investigate what type of tiles it is. Because ceramic tiles are actually a collective name for all types of tiles that have been fired in an oven. You can roughly divide the ceramic tiles into the following types:
Terracotta tiles
These are baked clay tiles without additives and without a glaze layer. The tiles have a reddish-brown, sand-coloured or grey-blue color and are also called screeds or farmer's flagstones. You see the tiles a lot in old farms where they were often used because it is a cheap material. The tiles are not glazed and porous. They therefore need an impregnation agent to make them less sensitive to stains.
faience tiles
Faience tiles are terracotta tiles with a waterproof glaze. Because these tiles are scratch-sensitive, they are really only suitable for the wall.
cement tiles
Cement tiles consist of cement, sand and water and are provided with a top layer of marble powder and color pigment. The cement acts as a binding agent for the curing of the tiles. The tiles are not fired in the oven and therefore actually fall outside the category of ceramic tiles. The tiles often have different brightly colored motifs. The tiles are porous, scratch and stain sensitive. They must therefore always be provided with a stain stop after installation.
Quality ceramic tiles
During the production of ceramic tiles, a slight deviation in size, flatness and color may occur. Therefore, the quality of ceramic tiles is divided into gradations.
1st choice tiles: no deviations
2nd choice tiles: slight deviations in size, flatness and/or color
3rd choice tiles: larger deviations in size, flatness and/or color
When you choose tiles with a 2nd and 3rd choice, you buy these tiles with discounts that can go up considerably. But if you are not satisfied with color differences or tiles that do not match well, it is better to choose 1st choice tiles. When purchasing, note that the 2nd and 3rd choice are also sold under the denominator first trade choice or commercial choice.
Technical features also betray quality
It is also good to ask about the technical properties of the ceramic tiles, because these generally reveal something about the quality of the ceramic floor tile. Feel free to inquire with the seller about the wear class, the resistance to stains or the absorption value of the tile. Naturally, the tiles carry a CE mark. This means that the products have been tested in accordance with the European standards applicable to ceramic tiles.
wear class
Ceramic tiles are classified in 5 groups according to European standard standards, which say something about the wear resistance of the tiles. Ceramic tiles with a wear class 1 are really only intended for areas where people mainly walk on shoes with soft soles or bare feet and where there is no sand or other abrasive objects, for example bathrooms and bedrooms. Class 5 is suitable for very intensive use of the space and where a lot of scratchy dirt is added (for example entrances or public buildings). When you choose a ceramic tile with a wear class 4 or 5, you can be sure that you are getting a scratch-resistant and wear-resistant floor.
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Water absorption and stain resistance
Water absorption indicates the degree of porosity. Tiles with a very low absorption value are impermeable to most liquids. The resistance to chemicals and the acid resistance are also important. With regard to the resistance to stains, ceramic tiles are classified into 5 classes. The higher the class, the easier it is to remove a stain from a tile. All ceramic tiles in our range comply with class 5. So if your dog has had an accident or a glass of wine has fallen over, it is very easy to clean with warm water.
Mechanical resistance
The mechanical resistance says something about how well the tiles can withstand pressure and bending. How much bending can the tile tolerate before breaking?
Resistance to temperature variations
Of course, it is important with ceramic terrace tiles that the tiles are frost-resistant. But it is also important that the tiles can tolerate rapid temperature differences. A thermal shock can cause damage such as loosening or cracking of the tiles.
Slip resistance
In some cases it may be important to look at the slip resistance. The floor should not be too slippery, but also not too rough. One of the methods to test this is expressed in an R value. Keep in mind that tiles with a high anti-slip value are usually a lot more difficult to clean. Important to consider when considering bathroom tiles.
Underfloor heating
Ceramic tiles can feel cold without underfloor heating, so it is wise to include the purchase of underfloor heating in the cost of your floor. Underfloor heating has even more advantages than just no more cold feet. It ensures an even heating of the entire room and is invisible. You no longer have disturbing radiators. There is better humidity and less dust circulation. You can also quickly save on heating costs with underfloor heating.
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