Tiles have grown beyond being known as a basic form of home décor. Available in a splash of colours, designs, and textures, a tile can now capture the essence of your home, matching every possible theme you can concoct in your mind. Every tile has its own set of special features that deems it suitable for specific uses.
Floor tiles and wall tiles have their own flair as well as utility, however, it is fairly common to get confused between the two. However, one must know that they can’t be, shouldn’t be used interchangeably due to the very subtle, yet very impactful differences.
Read on to know the differences that set them apart
Wear Ratings
Tiles come with wear ratings that represent the tile’s hardness and durability. Best tile companies adhere to a PEI rating scale of 0-5 with 0 representing ‘best as a wall tile’ and 5 representing ‘durable against heavy duty commercial traffic’. PEI rating for wall tiles range from 0 to 2, and ratings for floor tiles range from 3 to 5. Floor tiles are much thicker than wall tiles since they have to absorb stress incoming from heavy foot traffic, furniture, appliances and any impact from falling objects.
Finish
Floor tiles have a more uneven surface when compared with wall tiles. They are textured so to make them more slip-resistant and safer to walk on. Wall tiles are generally smoother and extremely slick when wet. Wall tiles may also have textural surface keeping the design in mind, however, they neither possess the durability of a floor tile nor the mandatory slip resistance.
Glazing
It is mandatory for tiles to have a glaze. Floor tiles are glazed to make them waterproof. They are alternatively made capable of absorbing glaze, assisting them in repelling water. Wall tiles often don a matte or a semi-glossy finish which makes them porous, and therefore unsuitable to be used on the floor.
Size
Floor tiles on an average are larger than wall tiles. Specially formulated mortar is required for wall tiles larger than 12 inches, which can increase the cost of installation. Therefore, most tile manufacturers create tiles between 1X1 to 6×6 inches for wall. Floor tiles range from 12 to 24 inches.
Wall, Floor Tiles and Sanitaryware - Somany Ceramics 