Choose the right tiles

Nov 16, 2007

TILED floors are definitely in and for good reason. They are easy to clean, come in a variety of designs and are relatively cheaper than other decorative floor finishes like marble and granite.

By Lydia Namubiru

TILED floors are definitely in and for good reason. They are easy to clean, come in a variety of designs and are relatively cheaper than other decorative floor finishes like marble and granite.

There are two types of floor tiles; PVC tiles made out of plastics and ceramic tiles made out of clay among other materials.

For one on a budget, PVC tiles are a good choice because they are cheap and easy to install. PVC tiles enough to cover a square metre will cost sh8,000 from the Game Stores and other hardware shops around town. They are simply glued to the concrete floor. They come in a variety of colours although most not decoratively designed.

Ceramic tiles are the other option. Ceramic tiles come in a variety of design. Tiles enough to cover a square metre should cost you between sh25,000 and sh35,000. “The best ceramic tiles on the Ugandan market are those from Spain or Italy,” says Catherine Nantongo a building constructor. “Lesser quality tiles from United Arab Emirates are available especially from the hardware shops on Market Street Nakasero at sh17,000 per square metre,” she adds. When they are being laid, insist on using grout and not cement in the gaps between tiles. The smaller these gaps, the neater the final look. Kitchen and bathroom tiles should be a bit rough to reduce the risk of slipping. Decoratively designed tiles for the living room, dining room and bedrooms are also available.

Tiles especially ceramic tiles are cold. That is their downside. Footrests especially for the rooms where people rest their feet on the floor for long should solve this glitch. Cleaning your tiled floor with a soapy mop daily is usually all the cleaning it needs.

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