July 12, 2016
New tile technology and design is giving homeowners more options in the kitchen. Homeowners want clean lines, a sleek look and consistent color throughout their kitchens, said Joe Sawaya from Emser Tile. Homeowners are moving away from the traditional style kitchen to more contemporary components. They want a seamless look in the floor and decorative tile walls. Thanks to advancements in flooring technology, tile can provide homeowners with exactly what they want.
Tile & Grout
A new trend in tile is that the size constantly increases. With larger format tiles, there are less grout lines, over the overall space, and this is ideal for areas that require more cleaning, especially kitchens. Traditional tile lengths of 12”x12” are being replaced by 20”x20” and even 32”x32” tile formats. Larger tile formats require additional attention especially during installation, but provide more of a seamless, monolithic look and feel. Along with the advancement in technology when it comes to tile sizes, grout has also taken a new turn. Along with homeowners preferring smaller sized grout lines to minimize cleaning, grout types have advanced to those with non-staining options. Typically, cementitious grout is installed, and then sealed. The sealer aids in helping prevent stains, but is not a repellent, and the grout can still likely stain over time. Now, options such as “Fusion” grout provide a premixed option that requires no sealing, and is stain resistant. This will save consumers a significant amount of time, effort, and money in the long run.
Design
If you are thinking about tile for the floor and tile for the wall think grays and whites. Contemporary colors and oblong sizes are very popular right now. The shift from square sized tiles to rectangular, 12×24, are a very popular selection, and installers are more than comfortable using this newer format. “This year we have seen more rectangle tile sold than square” said Sawaya.
Wood look tiles are also in style. HD technology has given homeowners the option to have tile flooring that looks exactly like real wood floors. Wood look tile is being used on both floors and walls said Sawaya. Gray wood look floors and textured wall tile designs are very popular right now as well. Wood look tile offers possibilities that true wood does not. It can be used in wet areas, can be cleaned with cleaners which natural wood cannot, and is more resistant to damage.
Porcelain vs. Ceramic
When considering flooring for the kitchen, consider that the kitchen can be a messy area. Natural stone absorb liquids, making porcelain and ceramic perfect for most homeowners. For years porcelain was considered the higher end product, but the only difference between the two is that porcelain is pressed before it is fired resulting in a denser material. Ceramic and porcelain are both very durable and make great choices for the kitchen. Wood look tile and wall tiles are offered in both ceramic and porcelain as well. It comes down to what the homeowner decides fits their kitchen best.
The contemporary kitchen is timeless. Colors like whites and grays never fade in popularity. Seamless flooring options require less maintenance and will give the kitchen a sleek and stylish feel. New tile designs and technology offers homeowners endless options for design that are easy to create. Visit local showrooms and see what they have to offer that’s new and exciting for your kitchen.