True, most shops sell tiles as floor tiles or wall tiles. Does that mean that you can use them for only one application? You’d do well to find out about the difference between wall and floor tiles so that you can make your next project a success.
What Is The Difference?
The difference may come from their technical difference or simply the visual difference. Manufacturers produce some tiles to be suitable for walls only because of their technical specifications. What’s the difference? Ceramic tiles that are produced to be used on walls are often produced with a lighter and softer body compared to ceramic floor tiles. These are advantages as these tiles don’t put too much weight pressure on walls and they are also easy to work with especially in a bathroom where much cutting and hole drilling need to be done.
We have many examples of great ceramic wall tiles at TFO. In fact, the best selling tile at TFO in terms of the volume sold are gloss white rectified wall tiles. Because of its clean pure white colour, it’s extremely versatile and can suit almost any existing colour you may already have in your room. We also sell many types of smaller size ceramic wall tiles in many colour variations. If you have a DIY project and are new to tiling, we recommend that you use 200x200mm ceramic wall tiles as they are easy to handle and cut compared to larger size tiles.
The difference between them are becoming vaguer because of the increasing popularity of porcelain tiles. That is because porcelain tiles have a much denser body enabling you to use them both for walls and floors. In fact, many customers who shop at TFO often buy the same tiles for their bathroom walls and floors. This actually works really well, creating a seamless, modern and luxurious look in the bathroom.
What Is Difference Between Wall And Floor Porcelain Tiles?
Some manufacturers label porcelain tiles as a ‘wall tile’ or a ‘floor tile’. Why? It may just be that they look better or are more practical there. For example, in a bathroom application, as mentioned above, many decide to use the same type of tiles. But they often buy a 300x300mm size for the floor and a 300x600mm size for the walls. Why? Because the 300x300mm size is easier to work with to make a fall that would help water to drain properly. On the other hand, many prefer the 300x600mm size tiles for the walls because laying wall tiles is usually straight forward and larger format tiles make the bathroom look bigger. In this case, the difference is just the size.
There are other types of porcelain tiles that manufacturers have designed specifically with flooring use in mind such as some porcelain tiles that they produce with an anti-slip surface. But in reality, you can use any ceramic or porcelain floor tiles as wall tiles. On the other hand, if they have labelled the tile as a ‘wall tile’, it’s generally not suitable for flooring. Having said that, if the tile is porcelain, there is a good chance that you can use it for flooring too. Just double check with the sales person.
As you can see, there is not a great deal of difference between them any more. You can lay most porcelain tiles both on walls and floors these days. But that means it opens up a huge opportunity for everyone to use their imagination and be creative. You can perhaps use some coarse outdoor floor tiles on internal walls to add a rustic feel to the room. Or you might like to use timber look tiles in your bathroom from the floor to the ceiling. Even, you can also use large format porcelain floor tiles on internal walls to create a feature wall.
Where To Buy Quality Wall & Floor Tiles
TFO is the best place in Sydney to shop for the latest and the greatest wall and floor tiles. TFO sells about 35,000 square metres of tiles every single week, making it the biggest single tile outlet in Sydney. Because we don’t have a maze of middlemen, we save and we directly pass the savings on to you. Our experienced yet friendly staff can not only help you understand the difference between wall and floor tiles but also help you to draw out your imagination, helping you to create a space you love. Some of TFO’s staff are experienced interior designers and colour consultants who can give you professional advice. Make sure to seek their guidance and make an informed decision.
Come today and visit TFO. Our showroom is at 107 Warren Road, which is on the Cumberland Highway in Smithfield, Sydney. You can also buy wall and floor tiles now on our online tile store.
