The tiles should be in harmony with the way of decoration, objects, colors, shapes in the space and the activities that are done in it. Also, they should be in harmony with the characteristics of the area such as shape, dimensions, space and lighting. This choice also depends on personal tastes and the trends. Therefore, establishing special rules and regulations in choosing tiles does not seem very appropriate.
Things to consider from a technical point of view
The tiles must have technical characteristics appropriate to the space and be resistant to mechanical stresses, thermal stresses, chemicals, etc.; In other words, the greater the possibility of stress in the space, the higher the resistance of the tile should be.
It is better to look at some concrete examples in this regard: first, we will look at the suitable tiles for different places in the house, and then we will give some tips on choosing the most suitable floor tiles for public areas and factories.
Floor Tiles at the Entrance of Buildings (for Non-Public Areas):
The amount of traffic and stress borne by the tiles at the entrance of houses is different from one building to another. The entrance of the house is the place where the highest volume of traffic occurs. The amount of wear and tear of the tiles also depends on the location of the house. For example, the entrance hall of an apartment on the fifth floor is different from that of a villa whose courtyard floor is covered with sand or gravel up to the entrance door. In the latter, wear and tear is much more. Therefore, you should choose tiles that are more resistant to wear.
Bathroom Floor and Wall Tiles:
Bathroom floor and wall tiles are in contact with staining chemicals (such as hygiene products, cosmetics, perfumes, etc.) and detergents. For this reason, it is better to use tiles in bathrooms which are highly resistant to chemicals, especially acids and bases.
Kitchen Floor and Wall Tiles:
The highest amount of impact and abrasion is related to kitchen floor tiles. The kitchen floor is exposed to the greatest amount of contaminations and grease stains, and therefore it should be cleaned more carefully than other places. In addition, things are likely to fall on the kitchen floor, therefore the kitchen floor tiles must have the highest mechanical resistance and resistance to chemicals. Although kitchen wall tiles are exposed to little mechanical stress, they require very high chemical resistance because they are exposed to chemical stress caused by cooking and detergents.
Floor and Wall Tiles for Open Areas:
Choose tiles that are frost resistant. These tiles are generally shaped by pressing and have low water absorption and may be glazed (single firing), without porcelain glaze or even extruded (clinker or cotto). Tiles according to ISO 13006 standard, which are pressed, must have water absorption below 3%, or in other words, they should be selected from Group BIb In Iran's National Standard Number 25, these tiles are known as Group 1.
Floor Tiles in Public Places:
In public places, chemical and mechanical stresses are more than in non-public places like residential houses. Aesthetic matters should also be considered in these places. In these places, very strong tiles, resistant to wear and chemicals and with low staining should be used. Also, you should think about choosing glossy glazed tiles in these places, especially if the entrance to the tiled area is directly from the street. A similar caveat applies to choosing high-gloss porcelain tiles for places like restaurants. It should be noted that polished and shiny surfaces, despite their beauty, are not suitable for these places, and after a while their surface will be distorted and lose its luster. Tiles that are acceptable in terms of resistance to chemical and mechanical stresses, such as industrial acid-proof tiles, are suitable for use in such spaces.
