From DIYinfo.org
Ceramic floor tiles are one of the most hardwearing and good looking floor coverings available. They come in a huge range of colours, designs shapes and sizes.
The main difference between ceramic tiles for floors and their cousin’s use on walls is thickness. Floor tiles are usually at least 9mm (3/8 in) thick, compared with 4 or 6mm (up to ¼ in) for most wall tiles. They are generally harder fired, to give them the extra strength they need for underfoot. When you're buying tiles for use on floors, it's vital to check that they are suitable; a mistake could be very expensive.
Ceramic floor tiles (above) are available in a huge range of patterns, colours and come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Hexagons and octagons, the latter with small inset corner pieces, or traditional Provencale shapes are among the most popular. The former are usually glazed, while the latter may be unglazed, and may have textured surfaces to make them less slippery when used in 'wet' areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Quarry tiles originally got their name from the French word carre, meaning square. They are plain unglazed tiles made in a range of 'earthy' colours (browns, buffs and reds) and need sealing to make them waterproof and dirt resistant in use.
Squares and rectangles are the commonest shapes for both ceramic and quarry tiles; standard sizes are 152mm (Gin) square and 200 x 100mm (8 x 4in), while quarries are also made in larger sizes such as 230mm (9in) square. In addition, regular geometric shapes such as hexagons and octagons (the latter with small inset pieces) are available, and can help to break up the regular lines which square tiles tend to create.
Most floor tiles are manufactured without spacer lugs, so you have to use some form of spacer to ensure regular gaps between the tiles. The ability to vary the gap is an advantage with hand made tiles, which often vary slightly in size. Round edge tiles are available in some ranges for finishing off steps, and special shaped quarry tiles are made for forming raised skirtings.
You can also buy mosaic floor tiles (tiny tiles), usually plain, stuck to a mesh or paper backing with narrow gaps in between which are filled with grout once the sheets have been positioned on the floor surface. They are easier to lay round obstacles such as basin pedestals and WCs, since it is a simple matter to cut away unwanted pieces of the mosaic. Most mosaic tiles are square, but rectangles, circles and interlocking types such as hexagons and Provencale shapes are also available.
Ordinary ceramic floor tiles can be laid on solid or suspended timber floors, using thin bed tile adhesive (pick a waterproof type for bathrooms and other potentially wet areas). On solid floors, the tiles can be laid directly on top of the floor screed so long as the floor is free from damp. On suspended timber floors, sheets of exterior grade plywood should be laid over the existing floorboards to provide a flat, stable base for the tiles, and a special flexible adhesive should be used to take up any slight movement in the floor itself. Quarry tiles can be laid using a heavy duty ceramic tile adhesive, but it is more usual to lay them on a mortar bed and to grout the joint lines between the tiles with mortar.
When either type is being laid on a timber floor, it is worth checking that the floor structure is strong enough to bear the extra weight of the tiles, which can be considerable. Take a note of joint size and span, and contact your local council for advice.
Both ceramic and quarry tiles are sold in packs, usually containing either 25 or 50 tiles, or by area, enough to cover a square yard or square metre according to size. Measure up the floor area to be covered accurately before placing your order, and allow an extra 5 per cent on your final total to allow for breakages and cuts.
