Glazed and unglazed ceramic and stone tile are the most durable floor coverings. The downside is that they are cold to bare feet (but this can be a plus in warm climates). Other detractions are that anything fragile dropped on them is likely to break, and that some tiles are slippery when they’re wet.
Glazed ceramic tiles come in a huge variety of colors and surface textures. They are thicker and less glossy than tiles used for walls and counters. The glaze is water repellant and can be treated so that it has a nonskid surface. Glazed tiles can have glossy, satin, matte, and dull finishes and can be anywhere from a foot square in size to tiny mosaic pieces.
Unglazed ceramic tiles come in the color of the clay or can be colored with the addition of pigment before the clay is fired. Stone tiles are quarried slate, limestone, flagstone, marble, or granite. Unglazed and stone tiles can be installed unfinished or can be sealed so that they have increased moisture and stain resistance. All tiles are jointed with grout.
Tile and stone floors are installed using a couple of different methods, as shown above. They may be set directly in mortar over a concrete slab or plywood subfloor, or they may be applied to a concrete backerboard and/or subfloor, using a thin-set adhesive. The first method is the sturdiest, and the most expensive.
