Masters Home Improvement

Contemporary tiles can make a big impact to any room, whether you prefer contemporary porcelain, stylish ceramics or modern mosaics.

With virtually unlimited choice in colours, textures, styles and sizes, floor tiles add an opulence and individuality throughout the house.

With 90 per cent of Masters Home Improvement tiles sourced from Europe – mainly Italy and Spain – here are the essential options to consider…

Ceramic

Made from unglazed clay, these tiles range in size from tiny mosaics to oversized slabs.

Ceramic tiles are slippery when wet so it’s important to make sure you purchase a non-slip variety to use as floor tiles.  They come in a wide variety of colours, designs and textures.

Ceramic tiles are often used where an indoor area flows to an outdoor zone.

Porcelain

Porcelain tiles are fired in a kiln to produce a versatile and strong product. 

Glazed porcelain tiles have a polished finished with the colour bonded to the surface. 

Vitrified porcelain tiles are unglazed so their colour runs right through the tile. This can be an advantage if the tile should be chipped as the imperfection will not show.

A quality porcelain tile will maintain its finish over time and is harder than natural stone.

These days, porcelain tiles can be manufactured to look like any surface from wood and marble to leather, making them a very flexible product.

Natural stone

Basalt, marble, limestone, slate, granite, marble … there are so many options available in natural stone.

These are quarried, cut and finished to highlight their natural hue, and can be textured from highly polished to a rough, natural feel.

All natural stone is porous and needs to be sealed to make it water resistant. Over time, the appearance changes slightly as it gains a patina.




Size matters

The best-selling size for tiles in Australia is 30cm x 60cm. 

However, larger tiles, particularly on floors, have been popping up in the style stakes. They require less grout and the larger format helps to open up any space.

They’re also easier to clean – and that’s an added incentive in a busy bathroom.

It’s possible to purchase tiles up to 1000mm x 1000mm, and in some cases, even larger.

Grout

Not that long ago, grout was only available in white. These days a full range of colours are available to make matching grout and tile even easier.

All grout darkens over time so it’s best to go with off-white rather than brilliant white, but generally the darker the better.

Trends

One of the big trends at the moment is to tile the floor and walls of a room in tiles of the same size and colour.  This can make a room feel larger as it blurs the boundaries.

Another popular look is to tile the floor of the bathroom and then carry it up one wall as a dramatic feature.  This is an easy way to create a strong focal point without breaking the budget.

For more ideas and inspiration, and to see the latest product ranges, visit your local Masters Home Improvement store.