Flooring with tiles becomes popular
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
FE Report
The flooring of building today is dominated by porcelain tiles. Builders say a majority of their clients prefer them over marble, granite or mosaic. People now consider flooring to be as important as overall architecture, woodwork and paint.
Flooring has come to occupy a prominent position because it is visible unlike brick or cement, which is hidden, and is for everybody to see. So, buyers pay a great deal of attention to have good flooring.
Today's market is largely dominated by porcelain tiles. Customers prefer tiles because - they come in a variety of designs, branded tiles are available, assuring customers of good quality and they are easy to lay compared to mosaic, granite or marble. A majority of their clients prefer tiles to marble, granite and mosaic. They attribute the surge in demand for tiles to technological development.
Today vitrified and rectified tiles offer the kind of finish customers demand and perhaps no other flooring material offers.
This has to do with the size of tiles as well. While average tile size today is 2X2 feet, the popular size is 3X3. Odd sizes like 4X6 are also available, though. Customers prefer bigger tiles because the number of joints is less, grooves between tiles are not so visible, giving a complete look. And maintenance becomes easier.
As regards laying time, tiles are the quickest. Tiles-laying does not take up much time like marble or mosaic. And, it will be ready to use within 12 hours of laying. While marble requires very careful laying to ensure even surface and absence of air bubbles, mosaic consumes time for laying as well as polishing. Given the shortage of labour the builders face, they say they go in for tiles.
Irrespective of the truth in it, people have come to believe that granite being a rock product, should be used only in temples and not houses. As for marble the fear of leg pain has gripped people and holds them back from buying marble.
The flooring of building today is dominated by porcelain tiles. Builders say a majority of their clients prefer them over marble, granite or mosaic. People now consider flooring to be as important as overall architecture, woodwork and paint.
Flooring has come to occupy a prominent position because it is visible unlike brick or cement, which is hidden, and is for everybody to see. So, buyers pay a great deal of attention to have good flooring.
Today's market is largely dominated by porcelain tiles. Customers prefer tiles because - they come in a variety of designs, branded tiles are available, assuring customers of good quality and they are easy to lay compared to mosaic, granite or marble. A majority of their clients prefer tiles to marble, granite and mosaic. They attribute the surge in demand for tiles to technological development.
Today vitrified and rectified tiles offer the kind of finish customers demand and perhaps no other flooring material offers.
This has to do with the size of tiles as well. While average tile size today is 2X2 feet, the popular size is 3X3. Odd sizes like 4X6 are also available, though. Customers prefer bigger tiles because the number of joints is less, grooves between tiles are not so visible, giving a complete look. And maintenance becomes easier.
As regards laying time, tiles are the quickest. Tiles-laying does not take up much time like marble or mosaic. And, it will be ready to use within 12 hours of laying. While marble requires very careful laying to ensure even surface and absence of air bubbles, mosaic consumes time for laying as well as polishing. Given the shortage of labour the builders face, they say they go in for tiles.
Irrespective of the truth in it, people have come to believe that granite being a rock product, should be used only in temples and not houses. As for marble the fear of leg pain has gripped people and holds them back from buying marble.