Interlocking Vs Traditional Floor Tiles

Tile floors can increase the beauty and elegance of any room. There are many benefits to choosing tile floors.

They are more durable and easy to clean than carpet or wood floors. They can also increase a property’s value. There are more design options available with tile floors than with carpeting or wood. Tile floors can be customized to match any decor. Unfortunately, the cost of installing tile floors can be high. In addition, the installation can be a lengthy and inconvenient process. For those seeking to avoid the expense and time involved in installation, interlocking floor tiles can be an attractive alternative.

Traditional tile installation requires many tools and lots of patience which have to be pre-set on the floor, cut down to size, then adhered to the floor using a strong industrial glue. They will not stick to every surface and frequently, a layer of floor base must be installed before the tiling work can begin. If the tiles are placed too close together, they can buckle, leaving unsightly bumps and lumps on the floor. If they are placed too far apart, there will be obvious gaps. If a mistake is made when laying down the tile, it is very difficult to fix as the tile is glued to the floor. The tile will have to be pried up, excess adhesive scraped, and the process started over. Laying traditional tile floors is a project that can take several days, to several weeks, to finish.

Installing interlocking floor tiles is a much easier and user friendly process. They are designed to clip together, eliminating the need for measuring spaces and also leaving room for the tiles to settle. Each tile is surrounded with divots that lock to the other interlocking floor tiles. They clip together easily, much like a jigsaw puzzle, and allow a perfect seamless finish. If a mistake is made while installing the interlocking tiles, it is easy to fix. Simply pull them apart and start over. As no adhesive is generally used, they do not need to be pried up, risking damage to the floor.

Installation

Interlocking floor tiles are also useful to those who might only want to make a temporary change to their floors. Traditional tiles require adhesive and caulking, which frequently results in damage to the underlying floor. Interlocking tiles do not usually require any adhesive at all and can be pulled up as needed. This allows for more versatility should the user decide to change their floor back or install a different set of interlocking floor tiles.

Traditional floor tiles can be difficult to replace as well. If one tile is damaged, in most cases all the tiles around it have to be replaced in the repair process. This is a costly and time consuming procedure. If one of the interlocking floor tiles is damaged, it is easy to pull the damaged tile up and replace it quickly. The repair time on broken interlocking tiles would take seconds, as opposed to the hours it would take to replace traditional tiles.

Costs

When it comes to price, interlocking floor tiles are significantly less expensive than standard tiles. The need for additional flooring or plywood, adhesive, tools and man hours can make standard floor tiles thousands of dollars more expensive than interlocking floor tiles. Interlocking floor tiles require very few tools and in most cases, can be placed directly on the floor and hammered in with a rubber mallet. They are also much easier to install without the assistance of a professional. This eliminates the need to hire expensive contractors to do the work. People who choose interlocking floor tiles can expect to save anywhere from $500 to $5000 depending on the area being tiled and the expense of the tile chosen. For a percentage of the traditional tile cost, those who choose interlocking tiles receive the same quality floor or better.

Some think of interlocking tiles and immediately think of ugly, heavy, rubber flooring used in the industrial sector. This could not be further from the truth. While interlocking tiles were initially created to serve the industrial sector, they have come a long way since that time. Interlocking floor tiles are now available in an array of finishes and material types. They can be purchased in rubber, plastic, vinyl and porcelain, among many other high quality materials. Virtually any tile material that can be used in a traditional installation can also be used in interlocking floor tiles.

Many people also have questions about the tiles durability and use. Interlocking floor tiles are usually placed on the floor underneath it, meaning there is no adhesive or floor base. Some may become concerned that the interlocking tiles will become loose easily due to the lack of adhesive. This is not the case. Tile floor systems are designed to lock together permanently. When appropriately installed, the interlocking floor tile should remain exactly as it was placed until the user decides to move it. Interlocking tile floors are appropriate for any use, from industrial to residential. This interlocking flooring system does not have as much risks compared to traditional tile flooring.

Interlocking floor tiles can also be treated exactly as any other flooring when cleaned. There are no special products required for cleaning interlocking tile floors, unless the materials making up those tiles require special care. Standard floor cleaners will work just fine on interlocking floor tiles and no special care is needed.

Upgrading to tile floors are a great way to increase home value when someone is considering selling their home. They are also a good option for those that simply want to update their living space. While the expense of flooring might prohibit many people from affording the installation, interlocking tile floors offer the same quality and beauty for a fraction of the price. Interlocking tiles are affordable, durable, versatile and can be used for a variety of custom looks, making them a great option for anyone looking to personalize their home.

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