Tile Flooring Archives | My Affordable Flooring

Best Kitchen Flooring Options For Your Home

July 30, 2021 by My Affordable Flooring

Before deciding to renovate your kitchen, it’s important to consider what types of kitchen floors you’re going to use. While it’s fun to pick out cabinets, hardware, and countertops, your kitchen flooring is important, too! When you think about it, the floors are the one thing that stands out the most in a kitchen.

There are many types of kitchen floors, from budget-friendly vinyl to natural hardwood floors, there are plenty of affordable kitchen flooring options for you to choose from! It’s all about what the best kitchen flooring options for your home.

Here’s our list of kitchen flooring options to get you started:

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is timeless and classic. It’s by far the most sought-after flooring. It brings an immediate sense of elegance and unmatched beauty to not only just your kitchen but your entire home.

Due to their gorgeous, warm aesthetic, hardwood floors are an incredibly desirable flooring material, and this is no exception for homebuyers. Installing hardwood in your kitchen can skyrocket the value of your home. Other kinds of flooring products come close but they can never completely replicate their glowing natural beauty. They’re also durable and guaranteed to last for centuries.

On the downside, hardwood floors require a good bit of maintenance. They’re more difficult to clean and susceptible to scratches. These types of floors are also incredibly porous, so when they’re exposed to water or moisture over the long term, they can warp. Lastly, there’s the cost of hardwood. High-quality hardwood flooring runs from $ 4 – $12 a sq. ft., so expect this material to be a bit harsher on the wallet.

If you’re thinking of installing hardwood in your home but feel it may be out of your budget, engineered hardwood is an option rather than solid natural hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood is more water-resistant, friendlier on your wallet, and better for the planet. Plus, it looks pretty close to the real thing!

Laminate

Laminate has been a go-to in the flooring world for quite some time now. Nowadays, there are tons of laminate designs to choose from, and they’ve become the perfect cost-efficient alternative to hardwood flooring.

While laminate flooring is not an exact match to wood, with the help of modern technology, it can look pretty close to the real thing. It’s also easy to install and takes no time at all to do as a quick DIY project, since laminate floors are made to lock together, making it consumer-friendly.

Laminate flooring is very affordable and will usually cost around $2 – $5 per sq. foot. That comes in significantly cheaper than other flooring types, and especially hardwood. It’s also a good investment as laminate flooring is typically pretty durable and very easy to replace.

Some of laminate flooring’s lesser qualities can be justified by its affordability. Of all the downsides of laminate flooring, installing it in your kitchen could result in it having to be replaced sooner rather than later. This is because laminate is not very moisture-resistant, so spills or any sort of contact with water over time can be detrimental to your laminate floors. Unfortunately, the lifespan of laminate and the risk of exposure to too much moisture can make it undesirable for a lot of homebuyers, which means it wouldn’t add a lot of value to your home.

In conclusion, laminate flooring is an amazing choice for someone who just wants flooring to get the job done. It’s affordable, it looks great, and it’s easy to install. However, because of its lack of durability and how prone it is to being damaged by moisture, it isn’t the most ideal material for a kitchen.

Vinyl

Vinyl is the most popular form of residential kitchen flooring. This is primarily because it’s very low-maintenance, moisture-resistant, budget-friendly, and long-lasting. It’s also pleasant to walk on due to the ability to insulate under the material. Even better, vinyl flooring is able to look better than ever these days due to advanced technology, giving you a seemingly limitless amount of options to choose from.

That being said, vinyl flooring does have its downsides. It’s a little easier to scratch than the alternatives such as tile. It’s also vulnerable to water penetrating the top layer of the flooring (the top of vinyl is water-resistant, underneath is not), so being rough with your floors or overcleaning could produce some unfortunate results. On top of this, vinyl flooring is rather difficult to repair.

To sum it up simply, vinyl flooring is an incredibly cost-efficient option for your kitchen and it doesn’t look too bad either! On the other hand, if you have pets or you’re in general a bit rough with your floors, it may not be the right choice for your kitchen.

Tile

Tile is a great flooring option for the kitchen. It not only looks elegant and clean, but it’s also a breeze to maintain and incredibly durable. There’s a vast selection of tile options to choose from-including quarry, marble, porcelain, and ceramic. To make matters even better, modern printing technology can generate pretty much any design you can think of on your tile floor! Tile is incredibly versatile, so it’s sure to fit the ideas you may have for your kitchen.

Tile flooring has a nearly impenetrable surface that’s extremely tough and durable. Tile flooring will last for an extremely long time, is water-resistance, and cannot easily be scratched. A tile floor needs very little cleaning unless something is spilled on it, making it the perfect material for kitchens. Perhaps the best part of this is that tile flooring is also cost-efficient; making it possible to get a quality porcelain tile for $4 per square feet or less!

Nothing is perfect, so there are of course a few cons that come with tile flooring. The biggest downside to tile is that it can get especially slick when wet, creating safety hazards in your kitchen, especially if your tile is glazed. Tile flooring is also susceptible to cracks and chips if heavier items are dropped on them. Lastly, older homeowners and those that suffer from knee or foot problems might have some difficulty standing tile, as they’re solid and rough surface and provide no support, unlike hardwood or vinyl flooring.

In all, tile is the ultimate option for kitchen floors. Though it has its flaws, it is still to this day the kitchen flooring option that offers the most durability, aesthetic value, and it can save you a lot of money compared to the other options!

My Affordable Flooring is Here to Help Find The Right Kitchen Flooring Option For You

There are a lot of different flooring options and making a decision can be difficult, so if you’re looking to have new floors installed for your kitchen, we would love to help! Our ultimate goal is to meet your budget needs and providing you with the best kitchen flooring options for your home. If there is anything we can do to help you, please feel free to contact us!

Choosing Floors for Resale Value in Milwaukee

May 30, 2019 by My Affordable Flooring

Whether or not you’re planning on reselling, choosing the flooring that boosts the value of your home is a must. However, with an abundance of options at a homeowner’s disposal, it can be hard to decide on one. So, we’re going to dive into the best floors for resale value.

Firstly, homeowners who choose hardwood floors will almost always see a return on their investment.

Resale Value of Hardwood Floors

Besides strength and elegance, a hardwood floor is the first thing people look for when buying a home. According to a report from The National Association of Realtors, homeowners who installed hardwood floors recovered 91 percent of their investment on average. Likewise, the report says that homeowners who refinished their hardwood floors saw a full return on their investment.

In addition, tile floors can increase a home’s value.

Resale Value of Tile Floors

Tile floors can help homeowners boost their home’s resale value. While hardwood floors will likely see the most return, tile is a breath of fresh air. According to a post from Realtor, homeowners can expect an average of 70 percent return on investing in ceramic tile and 55 percent on porcelain tile. Consequently, Realtor reports an average of 55 to 70 percent return for stone tile and less than 50 percent for marble. If you’re interested in tile, see our post on the benefits of installing ceramic tile!

While hardwood and tile reign supreme, they can be expensive. So, homeowners can benefit from installing carpeting in their home.

Resale Value of Carpet

Carpet does provide a comfy flooring option. However, it won’t help your home’s resale value. According to Home Advisor, homeowners who plan to sell will find better resale value with hardwood floors. That doesn’t mean that you should opt out of carpet flooring. Carpet is cheaper to install, easy to clean and works well in rooms with a lot of foot traffic.

Much like hardwood floors, laminate floors are a great way to mimic hardwood, but won’t see the same return.

Resale Value of Laminate Floors

Homeowners who aren’t in the market for hardwood floors can benefit from laminate floors. Laminate floors are multi-layered floors made from numerous materials. While they may be mistaken for hardwood, their resale value is up in the air. According to a post from Sapling, homeowners benefit more from installing natural hardwood rather than laminate. Homeowners have a better chance of reselling their home when they install hardwood.

Now that you have a good idea of what flooring options will boost the value of your home, you should reach out to a local flooring company to get started.

A Final Word on Floors and Resale Value

Whether or not you’re looking to sell your home, choosing a floor that will hold up is essential. No matter your plans for the future, installing good flooring will save you time and money in the long run. For your flooring needs, call on My Affordable Flooring for flooring installation and repairs!

Caulking and Grouting Tiles in your Milwaukee Home

April 15, 2019 by My Affordable Flooring

Choosing caulk or grout for tile floors can be a tough decision for homeowners. Both materials have their own benefits, but depending on the project, one may work better than the other. Here’s what you need to know about choosing caulk or grout for your Milwaukee home.

What is Caulk?

Caulk is made from either silicone, latex or polyurethane. It’s used to seal gaps between tiles and prevent water absorption. Some brands, such as Lifetime, reinforce sealants with anti-microbial properties for easy cleaning.

What is Grout?

Grout is a paste made up of water and sediments, such as cement and sand, that fills the gaps in between tiles. Like caulk, grout acts as a sealant for space in between tiles. Grout is a tough material that helps hold tile together and is easy to clean. Hardware stores sell an assortment of brands that come pre-mixed and unmixed.

What are the Benefits and Downsides of Caulk?

Caulk is a great material for working with tile. It’s super durable making the room for error is smaller. The sealant factor makes it resistant to water and pests, meaning you can reduce the occurrence of mold and inhabiting pests. According to a post from The Tile Doctor, caulk is especially helpful for sealing tiles surrounding bathtubs.

A post from Sanford and Hawley, Inc. urges consumers to choose wisely when it comes to caulk. While it is highly durable and resistant to water, not all products are one and the same. For example, latex based caulk may not work well in areas exposed to high temperatures. Homeowners should keep in mind the type of room and the conditions when buying products.

While caulk is a great sealant, it works best for sealing tile on a short term basis. Grouting between tiles provides long-lasting strength.

What are the Benefits and Downsides of Grout?

The sedimentary material in grout mixes gives it a lot of strength. Grout does a fantastic job holding tiles together in the long run. If you haven’t had any luck with caulking tiles, grout could be the best solution in the long run. Homeowners should be aware of grouts limitations before they hit the store.

Grout products come both sealed and unsealed. Unsealed grout is porous and can absorb water, leading to mold buildup. Poorly sealed grout also invites pests to inhabit in between tiles. Homeowners should pick up some sealant when they’re purchasing grout.

Caulk or Grout: Which One Do I Pick for My Tile Floors?

Caulk and grout carry their own benefits and drawbacks. Homeowners who are new to tile work should consult a professional before they attempt to install tiles. If you want to leave it to a professional, call on My Affordable Flooring, providing for homeowners from Milwaukee down to Chicago.

5 Bedroom Flooring Ideas that Aren’t Carpet

November 21, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

The carpet boom of the 1950s and 60s still lingers in many bedrooms around America. Soft underfoot and warmer than wood or tile, stepping on a fluffy carpet first thing in the morning seems like the height of comfort.

But did you know that carpet can irritate allergies and trap pathogens like E. coli and staph? In fact, carpets are so good at harboring nasty things that they’re 4,000 times germier than a toilet seat!

Do you want a fresher start every day? Consider these great bedroom flooring ideas to get inspired.

modern bedroom with vinyl flooring

1. Hardwood

Hardwoods are the ultimate in high-end flooring. They’re so long-wearing that wood floors from the 1800s can be refinished and restored to their centuries-old glory.

They also provide a depth of natural beauty that you’d be hard-pressed to find with any other flooring. The variations in wood-tone and grain pattern add interest and class to your bedroom. There’s such variety with hardwoods that you’ll be able to customize yours to your exact tastes.

2. Luxury Vinyl Tile

Vinyl has come a long way from linoleum. Luxury vinyl tiles—LVT if you’re in the know—can mimic the look of about any style you’re going for. There are wood-look planks, marblelike square tiles, ceramic, slate, and even travertine.

Its three-layered composition makes it durable and water-resistant. If you’re looking for the best flooring for a bedroom in the basement, you can’t go wrong with LVT.

3. Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile, like vinyl tile, can be made to look like wood planks. Or you can go bold with a geometric or Moroccan tile. Your bedroom is your private haven, so make it what you want.

Even a simple tile laid in a chevron or herringbone pattern adds visual interest and elevates your bedroom style.

Tile is colder than wood or vinyl. If you’re down South, that’s a good thing. If you live up North—like in Milwaukee or northern Illinois—you’ll want to position a rug under your bed to lessen the morning chill. You’ll still get your fluffy, warm comfort that way.

4. Cork

Though cork floor tiles are nothing new, they are often overlooked. The Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, built in the 1920s, has a cork floor.

The natural substance is warm, springy, and soft. It offers insulation from noise and heat. Cork is anti-microbial and doesn’t stain if properly sealed. The nice thing about cork is that individual tiles are replaceable as they become damaged.

5. Painted Subfloor

If you’re looking for cheap flooring ideas for your bedroom, consider painting your subfloor. For real! After you remove the carpet and tack strips, give the subfloor a deep clean, sand the rough spots, and paint.

You can tape down a design or use stencils for more impact. The nice thing is, you can paint over it again or install a whole new floor when you’re ready to make that change.

Get Inspired by Bedroom Flooring Ideas

The alternative to carpet doesn’t have to be something cold and uninviting. There are bedroom flooring ideas that offer warmth and personality without sacrificing style and cleanliness. Are you ready to rip out your carpet yet?

If your bedroom needs a refresh, we can help! As flooring installation experts, we have a large selection of hardwoods, vinyl, and tile to offer, and the expertise to install them correctly. Call us for an in-home consultation.

Can You Put Laminate Over Tile? A Guide to Installing New Floors

November 7, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

If your home or business has outdated tile flooring that you’ve considered replacing, you’ve probably wondered if you can you put laminate over tile. After all, tearing up tile takes time, and time is money.

The short answer to this question is yes, you can put laminate over ceramic or porcelain tile. But, of course, there are caveats—and to do it right, you’ll need to weigh a variety of factors.

Here’s a quick guide to help you determine whether you can have new laminate installed over existing tile.

Black and White Marble Floor

Consider the Condition of Your Existing Tile

You can rule out putting laminate over tile if your tile is in poor condition.

Think about it: Your new laminate flooring needs something solid and level in order to properly adhere and lay correctly.

If your old tile is cracked or loose, you will need to remedy this. If it’s just a few loose tiles, you can pull them up and reset or replace. Same for if you have just a few cracked tiles. However, if the majority of tiles need repair, it might worth pulling them all up and starting from scratch.

If your tile floor isn’t level due to an issue with failing tile or poor subflooring, you’ll need to remove it before you install laminate. Your new laminate will only be as level as the floor below it.

Be aware: Even if you feel your tile is level, there are probably slight dips around the grout. You’ll need to sand these areas level or fill them prior to laying your new laminate.

Think About the Height of the Floor

Your floor will gain some height if you put the new laminate over existing tile.

Depending on the room, this may not be an issue. However, it’s important to not overlook this factor. Gaining even a small amount of height can affect the movement of doors and height of appliances.

The Need for Baseboard

Laminate flooring needs about a 1/4″ gap between it and your walls to allow for normal expansion and contraction. This means you need a baseboard or quarter-round molding (attached to the walls, not the floor) to hide this gap.

You might currently have baseboard or trim that you can remove and raise. If not, you’ll need to add it.

So, Can You Put Laminate Over Tile? It Depends

This guide touched on just a few important factors to weigh when considering if you can you put laminate over tile on your floor.

If you are looking to replace your flooring, the best option is to call an expert. They can come to your business or residence and take a good look at your existing flooring. A professional or company who has experience working with different types can also help advise you on which will work best for you.

If you are in the Racine, Milwaukee, or northern Illinois area, get in touch with us today and schedule a free in-home estimate. With our flooring experts, you can feel confident that you’re choosing the best, most cost-effective, and lasting solution for your flooring needs!

The 5 Most Durable Flooring Options for High-Traffic Areas in Your Home

October 24, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Most Durable Flooring Options

There’s something special and exciting about customizing your home to the exact way you want it. But before you start fawning over every flooring sample you can find, you need to make a list of must-haves.

For low-traffic areas of your home, aesthetics can be the deciding factor. When it comes to high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms, though, you also need to look for the most durable flooring options. That is, unless you want to go through the whole process again in a few years.

In the long run, choosing one of the more durable types of flooring for your home can end up saving you considerable time and money.

Various decorative tiles samples

Most Durable Flooring Options for High-Traffic Areas

Whether your floors will face kids, pets, high heels, work boots, or a little of everything, your best bet is to go with one of these options:

Natural Stone Tile

Tile floors are known for their clean look and long-lasting quality. Keep in mind that some materials are harder than others, though, so your best bet is to look for natural stone tile floors like travertine.

Bamboo Hardwood

As beautiful as hardwood is, most types are best suited for low-traffic rooms. Bamboo, however, is a wonderful exception. The adhesives and coatings manufacturers use make bamboo a force to be reckoned with when it comes to scratches.

For the most durable bamboo hardwood flooring, look for options that are strand-woven. Stick to high-end, high-quality varieties as well.

Laminate Hardwood

If you love the look of hardwood floors, another durable option is laminate flooring. It’s more scratch-resistant than natural hardwood, so it will stand up against paws and claws. However, keep in mind that laminate is susceptible to moisture damage. So, it’s not often a good choice for bathrooms and other high-moisture areas.

High-Quality Vinyl

Before you dismiss it as an outdated choice, today’s vinyl flooring is nothing like your grandmother’s kitchen floors from the 1970s.

Modern vinyl comes in higher-quality options. It’s also available in a nearly endless array of styles. For instance, some of the most popular choices are made to mimic hardwood flooring and tile floors.

Berber Carpet

It should come as no surprise that carpet isn’t as durable as its harder counterparts. Still, we recognize that some homeowners love the comfort and warmth they get from a carpeted floor.

If you have your heart set on carpeting but you want durability, go for Berber carpet. This style uses short loops for a clean and flat look. It’s easier to clean and holds up better against high traffic than high-pile carpets too.

Choosing Your Flooring With the Future in Mind

In an ideal world, you’d be able to choose your favorite flooring options based on looks alone. The reality of homeownership, however, is that unless you have an unlimited budget, you need to find options that will hold up against the wear and tear of daily life.

The good news is that today there are plenty of great-looking options available in durable and low-maintenance materials. With the ideas above, you can get started finding the most durable flooring for your home.

For more guidance in your flooring design, contact our home flooring experts, who can recommend the ideal options for each room of your house. We have a long history of creating gorgeous, durable floors in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Everything You Need to Know About Marble vs. Granite Tile

October 10, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

It may seem like a trivial matter, but choosing the correct tile for your home is often a loaded and overwhelming decision. What color do you want your tiles to be? How much wear and tear will it have to endure? How will they set the tone for the rest of your home?

As two of the best file flooring options out there, marble and granite tile flooring each have their differences, their positives, and their negatives. And to make the right choice, you need to know those differences.

To help you make the best decision for you and your home, here’s a lowdown on everything you need to know about marble vs. granite tile flooring.

close up shot of a granite background

Durability

As solid, natural stone materials, both granite and marble offer great durability and are heat resistant. However, one does prevail.

Granite is an igneous rock made up of grains of compressed quartz, feldspar, mica, and similar materials. This makes it harder and more durable than marble. Granite can endure scratching and intense cleaning better than other tiles.

Marble, on the other hand, is a metamorphic rock created from limestone that has endured intense pressure and heat due to tectonic shifting in the Earth’s crust. Since marble is made of calcite crystals (which is a salt of calcium), marble is prone to fading, scratching, and staining.

This is something to consider in terms of how much wear and tear your tiles will face, especially if you are trying to choose tile flooring that best suits your kitchen.

Cost

In terms of the cost of marble vs. granite, granite slabs are generally slightly cheaper than marble. However, this depends on the quality of the stone and the size of the tiles.

Keep in mind that due to the heaviness of both stones, you will have to factor in costs for tile floor installation.

Appearance

When it comes to the difference in appearance between marble and granite, deciding which looks better is subjective. After all, beauty is in the eye of the tile holder.

Granite includes specks of different colors, so granite tiles can include a variety of different shades. The color variation comes across as freckling throughout the stone because granite has melded flecks of stones in it like feldspar, mica, and amphibole. In contrast, marble has a consistent appearance in terms of color. The different shades of color give the impression of veins running through the tiles.

While they may vary in look, both marble and granite are gorgeous options for tiles in your home.

Choosing Between Marble vs. Granite Tiles

Choosing between granite and marble tiles depends on your personal preference. Each stone has unique qualities that make each ideal for different parts of your home. And, luckily, both tiles are suitable for Southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois aesthetics.

If you’re still undecided, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. We’d love to hear from you and give you our personal opinion. And know that no matter which option you go for, you’re going to have rock-hard tiles that are a great investment for your home.

5 Wonderful Benefits of Tile Flooring

August 15, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

When it comes to flooring, you have a lot of options. There’s laminate, wood, carpeting, and tiles. And each of those comes in dozens of styles, types, colors, and designs.

Each possibility also has its own advantages and drawbacks, but which one is right for you and your home? You should be considering which option has minimal upkeep, resilience, style, and of course, price. With these criteria in mind, ceramic tile flooring will give you a huge bang for your buck.

White glossy ceramic tile floor

Not familiar with the pros of this type of flooring? Read on to learn about the five main benefits of choosing tiles for your home.

1. Durability

Ceramic tiles have a longevity and resilience that other flooring doesn’t. Tiling can maintain its beauty for years.

If you’re opting for tiles, invest in hiring a quality installation company. When they’re put in properly, tiles become very durable and hard to crack.

2. Less Maintenance

It doesn’t require much effort to keep your tiles looking clean. Routine sweeping and mopping are usually all that’s required. And for those with children or pets, ceramic tiling is the way to go. Spills and accidents can be easily taken care of.

Compare that to:

When it comes to carpeting, your household vacuum can only accomplish so much. You’ll need to invest in professional carpeting cleaning on a routine basis if you don’t take care of it.
Maintaining wood flooring can also be high maintenance. Wood is delicate and requires gentle cleaning products and oiling.

3. They’re Hypoallergenic

Carpeting is a trap for allergens like dust, mites, bacteria, and mold. For people with allergies or asthma, that can become a big problem. And even daily vacuuming doesn’t solve the issue. These allergens can collect deep inside the fibers and underneath the carpet.

Tiles, on the other hand, are hypoallergenic. They’re easily cleaned and don’t absorb allergens like carpet.

4. Endless Variety

With wood and carpeting, there are only so many options available to you. However, with tiling, you can achieve a huge variety of looks based on your style.

There are tiles that come in all sorts of shapes, textures, colors, and patterns. In fact, there’s even tile flooring that can mimic the look and feel of wood flooring. That’s perfect if you want the style of hardwood without the maintenance required.

5. Environmentally-Friendly

Compared to laminate, wood, and carpet, ceramic flooring is the most environmentally friendly. Here are just a few reasons:

Ceramic doesn’t require the exploitation of important natural resources like trees.
Manufacturing ceramic tiles also don’t require the same amount of waste and chemicals that other flooring does. The excess of materials ends up in landfills, and dangerous chemicals can end up in water treatment facilities.
Ceramic tiles are also the type of flooring that is most easily recycled. Because of its longevity, tiles can often be reused. With other flooring, it usually doesn’t last long enough for it to be recycled.

Are You Considering Ceramic Tile Flooring?

When it comes to tile flooring, the pros well outweigh the cons. Especially if you care about the environment or want a distinct, unique look.

If tile sounds like the right option for your home, contact us today. We can give you a free estimate and talk about your options!

4 Bathroom Flooring Ideas Popular in Milwaukee

July 18, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Are you looking to give your bathroom a new look? What better place to start than from the bottom up?

Remodeling your bathroom flooring doesn’t only give the space a new look and feel. It can also increase the value of your home and reduce maintenance costs down the road.

Keep reading to check out four trendy bathroom flooring ideas you’re sure to love.

colorful floor tiles with complex pattern

1. Warm Wood

Warm wood bathroom flooring gives the bathroom a cozy and, well, warm feeling.

Wood used to be a no-no in the bathroom industry due to the risks of water and humidity. However, today’s market is full of wood flooring that can stand up to moisture, last for decades, and remain naturally beautiful.

Look for engineered wood, wood laminate designed for bathrooms, or flooring made of teak or bamboo. All of these options stand up to moisture and look amazing in a bathroom. They’re also perfect for rustic and traditional homes.

2. Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are among the most durable of bathroom flooring options. They provide a beautiful, natural look that fits well in rustic and Spanish-inspired homes.

Terracotta ceramic tiles specifically are trending right now. They pair well with Bohemian and Jungalow looks, and they are low maintenance. Plus, they stand up to well to moisture.

Terracotta tiles are a great clay color naturally. However, if you go with ceramic or porcelain tiles, you can choose virtually any color, texture, and finish you desire.

3. Polished Concrete

This one is for you modernists and minimalists out there. Polished concrete is shiny and sleek and can give the impression of marble.

The natural color of concrete is a nice, neutral gray that can pair well with any other tones. However, the great thing about concrete is it can be stained to any color you’d like. You can also order it to have various textures and designs, too.

Since it can be slippery when wet, we recommend using polished concrete only for the adult bathrooms of the home.

4. Granite

Granite stone bathroom flooring is so elegant. Like concrete, it is a natural option, so it is considered eco-friendly. Plus, it comes in a variety of color options, and it provides texture and pattern to the room.

Certain types of granite finish can give a marble or onyx look. Naturally, granite is porous, but today’s bathroom flooring options are sealed. This means your floors will last decades without much maintenance.

Which of These Great Bathroom Flooring Ideas Inspires You?

When it comes to finding bathroom flooring inspiration, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Check out all of our bathroom flooring products, and contact us today to schedule a free in-home estimate and consultation. We can help you find the right bathroom floor for your style.

At My Affordable Flooring LLC., we provide flooring removal and installation services throughout Milwaukee, Racine, and everywhere in between.

5 Modern Floor Tile Trends We Can’t Get Enough Of

June 30, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Looking for a new floor? You’re not the only one.

In 2017, three million square feet of ceramic tile was laid in the U.S. In fact, the U.S. market sells over 21 billion dollars’ worth of flooring each year!

So, how does that affect you? It gives you plenty of choices at reasonable prices, that’s how. And if you want to upgrade to a modern floor tile, now is a great time to do it.

For many homeowners, the biggest problem when choosing new tile is navigating the massive variety of options available. Not sure where to start? Here are five top picks for 2018 floor tiles.

tile flooring of marble, quartz and granite

1. Zellige Tiles

These Moroccan tiles come with deep, vibrant colors and a rippled texture, and their glossy finish immediately draws the eye. Plus, they provide a counterpoint to the asceticism of minimal space, like a modern kitchen.

Zellige tiles come in hundreds of different colors, with seafoam and black being the most popular. Manufacturers also offer them in a vast variety of shapes, such as hexagonal, square, and rectangular. You can also pick them up in round or octagonal shapes.

The tiles also lend a handmade, artisan feel to modern bathrooms, and they’re perfect for the shower.

2. Cement Tiles

No, these are not the slate-gray panels you see covering modern apartment complexes. Encaustic cement tiles are glossy, bright works of art.

The byzantine shapes covering the surface of these tiles impress even the most discerning flooring aficionados. And the the huge assortment of colors and patterns guarantees a fit for any room in which they come.

If you like patterns, you can’t go wrong with cement tiles.

3. Terracotta Tiles

If your tastes run more sustainable and organic, try terracotta. And, yes, they’re made from the same stuff the famed Chinese Terracotta Warriors are!

The red clay from which they’re made gives them a truly exotic feel, and they’re perfect for decks and other areas that receive direct sunlight. If you want earthy and natural, this is the way to go.

4. Marble Tiles

If you’re looking for elegance, marble is your best bet.

In 2018, subtle matte finishes, like honed marble, are popular. But remember: The cut of the marble limits the variety of patterns available.

Fortunately, marble already offers a natural, hypnotic blend of colors. No human intervention is necessary.

5. Wood-Look Tile

Ordinarily, ceramic tile is known for its resemblance to natural stone. That’s no longer the case. Tile manufacturers can now disguise tile to look like hardwood.

Popular textures include:

Wire-brushed
Rustic
Hand-scraped
Distressed

If you’ve always wanted a wood floor, but never wanted to deal with the maintenance, this is your best bet.

Further Notes on Modern Floor Tile

These popular tile choices are just the beginning. That’s why before you make your final decision, it’s important to consider your other options. Laminate flooring saves time and money, while hardwood flooring is another popular choice.

Take a few minutes to read our other articles to discover other options you may have missed. And, if you need one-on-one guidance, don’t hesitate to give us a call.