Why Choose Tiles?

Pet Friendly

Most of us love patting and playing with our four-legged friends and having the occasional snuggle from them in winter months. But despite all the positives fur-babies bring, they are harder on our household flooring than people. Beaumont Tiles’ strategic designer, Christie Wood, says tiles are the best choice when it comes to pets. “In the case of mishaps and failure to reach the litter box, floor tiles can be simply mopped off, unlike timber floor boards that can retain a dark spot and a terrible smell or worse still the shag pile carpet which can create all sorts of bother if your pet has a mishap! Furthermore, tiles are not only scratch resistant, but the smooth surface is kind to our furry friends’ paws.”

High Heel Friendly

With the equivalent hardness of Topaz and Quartz on the Hardness Scale, Tiles are pretty well immune to the harshest of treatment, including high heel pit marks. According to the National Science Foundation, high heels or spiked heels worn by a 45-kilogram woman can strike a floor with more force than an elephant’s foot. So high heels are much like a tiny hammer. According to Rapid Reno expert Naomi Findlay, while every girl loves their collection of heels, they don’t love a collection of pit marks throughout their living room or other common area floors. “Tiles are extremely durable and hardwearing meaning you don’t have to ask your dinner party guests to leave their shoes at the door,” Naomi says.

Allergy Friendly

With around 20% of the Australian population having at least one allergy, tiled floors is one of, if not the healthiest flooring choice. Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, with Asthma Australia reporting one in nine Australians have asthma and according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, nearly one in five Australians suffer from hay fever. According to the Mayo Clinic, hard flooring may be a good idea to prevent Asthma flare-ups. Ceramic and porcelain tiles, with a hard and mostly flat surface, are a good choice for those with allergies. They are easy to keep clean and cannot be penetrate by dust mites, pollen and pet hair like some other flooring options. They are also highly water resistant and help to repel the build-up of mould and mildew – two factors that can affect asthma and other allergy sufferers.

Low Maintenance

With life so hectic, homeowners love nothing more than life hacks to reduce cleaning and maintenance of their home. A recent survey for charity RUOK found almost 20 per cent of Australians say they were unable to spend as much time with their loved ones as they would like to, because of housework. Tiled floors are an easy and low-maintenance flooring option, according to Australia’s rapid renovation guru Naomi Findlay. “Basic cleaning requires a sweep or vacuum on a daily basis with a mop weekly,” she said. “And while other flooring options need more professional help the older they get, all tiles need is a grout clean and sealing on an annual basis. Not only do tiles save years of back breaking work, but they are also a more cost-effective option as they don’t require professional cleaning.”

Odour Free

Flooring takes the brunt of food and liquid spills, muddy footy boots and animal accidents, resulting in uninvited odours despite the best cleaning efforts. For some flooring choices, such as wood, high humidity and water can produce a musty smell, particularly when the room receives no ventilation or natural sunlight. Carpet, timber, concrete and vinyl flooring are all like a big sponge – they absorb odour like a sponge absorbs water, even when sealed. Non-porous or impervious flooring such as glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles do not absorb soils or moisture.

VOC Free

Many man-made products use Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs, which can over time produce vapours or gases. These vapours or gases can be of particular concern for households with babies, small children or anyone suffering from an illness. VOCs are known to present potential health risks, however this is dependent on the nature of the compound, level of exposure, length of exposure and the individual exposed to it. Beaumont Tiles’ strategic designer, Christie Wood, says: “While some flooring choices, like vinyl, include VOCs that have been connected to health problems such as respiratory problems, headaches and skin disease, the good news is they are not used in the production of tiles.”