Tiles have been used for thousands of years. Whether it is an elaborate mosaic on a church ceiling or your bathroom floor renovation, tiles can set the mood of the space. And they last forever.

Easy to maintain

Tiles are easy to wipe clean and keep clean. They are very low maintenance and extremely hygienic. Unlike carpets and other furnishings they don’t trap dust and animal hairs or harbour the smells from cooking or cigarettes.

Selecting a colour

Tile come is so many shapes, sizes and colours they can truly reflect your personal taste and style.Colours are a matter of personal choice. Here are a few tips when thinking about what colour to choose:

• As with light coloured paints, light coloured tiles can help make a small room look bigger, as they reflect more light than darker coloured tiles.
• Using the same colour tiles on the walls and floor can also help to give a more spacious effect.
• If using plain tiles you may want to add in some decorative tiles or border tiles to give some added interest to your design

Types of Tiles

Glass Tiles: Very sanitary and easy to clean. They come in a variety of jewel and neutral tones. They are slick and shiny so they are best used as a backsplash or as accent pieces in your bathroom tile work. As for upkeep, they are very easy. No annual sealing or waxing, these tiles are extremely user friendly.Porcelain Tiles: Porcelain tiles are beautiful to look at and very durable. Compared with Stone, they can be just as eye catching without the added price tag. Porcelain tiles are the same colour through and through so if they ever do get damaged, it is well hidden. As for instillation, porcelain tile needs to be sealed before and after grouting to ensure they maintain their "like new" appearance.Natural Tiles: Natural Tiles are ideal for a luxurious space. Because they are made from naturally occuring stone, each tile has a variation in color and texture.The most popular types of natural stone tiles are:

• Limestone – classical soft, warm creamy white in appearance
• Travertine – a form of limestone that comes in darker natural shades of beige, cream and soft brown
• Slate – formed from volcanic ash to produce a very durable stone in dark and earthy colours
• Marble – crystal structures produce an almost translucent appearance at the surface, for a classically luxurious look
• Granite – one of the hardest stones, extremely beautiful and available in many colours

Natural stone tiles will need sealing to protect them from dirt and stains, to enhance their colour and to keep them looking beautiful for many years. They do have a texture to them even after sealing so make sure you scrub into the grooves when cleaning.

Mosaic Tiles: Mosaic tiles come in sheets comprising many small tiles. They are most commonly used as strips of added decore to bathroom tiling projects or as kitchen back splashes They now come in "peel and stick" varieties that are ideal for DIY-ers and renters looking to do a quick weekend renovation.

Mosaic tiles are also useful for fitting to un-conforming shapes such as a purposely curved wall, wet room floor or even to an uneven surface.

Ceramic Tiles: Resistant to water, stains and spills. Ceramic tiles come in a wide variety of colours, patterns, sizes, finishes and textures. Ceramic tiles are extremely durable, they last forever and are easy to clean. They come in glazed and unglazed varieties.

• Glazed are commonly used on walls and in showers.
• Unglazed are more commonly used in heavy traffic areas like the kitchen and entry ways as they are less shiny so don't show all the dust.