Why Choose Tiles?

Scratch Resistant

A hardness scale* of 1-10 is used by the industry to rate the scratch resistance of flooring materials against ten common minerals. Vinyl is ranked the most likely to scratch (no 1) and is equivalent to talc, followed by wood ranked at number two, with a scratch rating equal to gypsum. No flooring scores a hardness of 10, which has the hardness of diamond, however the hardest flooring is porcelain tiles, which score between 7 and 8 depending on their manufacture. Former Block contestants and now professional interior designers Kyal and Kara love the durability of tiles for flooring. “They’re really hard-wearing which is great with a young boy who loves riding his bike around the house. They also come in thousands of different styles, including tiles that replicate other flooring options such as stone, concrete, marble and timber look tiles.”

Underfloor Heating Compatible

In the depths of winter, we desire flooring that keeps our toes warm, made possible through underfloor heating. While underfloor heating is readily available for most flooring choices, its effectiveness depends on the thermal conductivity of the flooring material. Good conductivity ensures the floor heats up quicker, gives off more heat and is more efficient to run. This makes tiles the best flooring to use with under tile heating. Beaumont Tiles’ strategic designer, Christie Wood, said Tiles have high thermal conductivity, meaning the heat transfers to the floor surface quickly. “It also retains heat well, not only making the system efficient but ensuring toasty toes even in rooms that have high heat loss,” Christie says.

Termite and Woodworm Proof

A survey by CSIRO suggests that one in three dwellings have termites within the property boundary and many of those homes are at risk, particularly those with termite food available such as untreated wood and wood products. A benefit of tiles is that they are immune to these highly destructive pests which the Australian Institute of Architects suggests attacked 130,000 Australian homes in a year, with estimates of $1.5 billion in damage.

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Long Lasting

Tiles are among the most durable products around, with the average lifespan reaching up to 100 years. They are so durable, that there are hundreds of listing of pre-1800 ceramic and porcelain tiles on sale throughout the world. The same can’t be said for other flooring products, such as carpet that needs replacing as soon as five years or laminate timber flooring that’s lifetime can be as short as 10 years. Rapid Renovation expert, who helps Australians maximise their property investment, says tiles are “a go-to-choice when you are looking for a long lasting and good looking flooring option.”

Waterproof

It is not just the wet areas of the home, such as bathrooms and kitchens that are likely to get liquid on them. Kids, pets and parties are among the spill inducing scenarios that can see the lounge room, dining room and bedroom floors become soaked – potentially having long term effect on the floor. Then there are always wet feet from a swim at the pool or beach, which are unavoidable during the summer months. Former Block-heads Simon and Shannon Vos, who, when not running their design and construction business, love getting out in the surf year-round. They say that while most flooring will absorb moisture, tiles are the ideal waterproof flooring. “The tile’s durable glaze on top of the surface does not let liquid seep through,” says Simon. “Tiles are virtually impenetrable and will not let liquids soak in, allowing for easy maintenance and worry-free cleaning,” says Shannon.