Tile Flooring

Tile Flooring for Kitchens, Baths, and Beyond

Tile is the most versatile and durable hard-surface flooring you can put in a home. Ceramic and porcelain tiles handle water, foot traffic, pets, and heat better than wood or laminate, which is why they remain the default choice for kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and entryways. Builders Surplus YeeHaa carries tile flooring across popular styles, sizes, and price points, with most options available locally and design help to plan the layout.

Ceramic vs. Porcelain Tile

The two main categories of floor tile, with practical differences worth knowing.

Ceramic Tile

Made from clay fired at lower temperatures, ceramic tile is more porous than porcelain and slightly less dense. It’s typically less expensive, easier to cut, and works well in low to medium-traffic areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and walls. Some ceramics are rated for floor use, but the cheaper end can chip or wear faster than porcelain.

Porcelain Tile

A type of ceramic fired at higher temperatures from denser clay, making it harder, less porous, and more durable. Porcelain handles high-traffic floors, freeze-thaw conditions, and heavy use better than ceramic. It costs more but typically lasts longer.

For most kitchens and main-floor installs, porcelain is the better choice. For bathrooms and walls, ceramic often works fine and saves money.

Common Tile Sizes

Tile size dramatically affects how a floor looks and feels.

Small (4 x 4 to 6 x 6 inches). Traditional bathroom and backsplash tile. Lots of grout lines, busy look. Falling out of favor for floors.

Medium (12 x 12 inches). The default for decades. Standard pattern, manageable to install yourself, works in most rooms.

Large (12 x 24, 18 x 18, or 24 x 24 inches). Currently the most popular for kitchens and baths. Fewer grout lines, more contemporary look, makes rooms feel larger.

Plank-style (6 x 24, 6 x 36, 8 x 48 inches). Wood-look porcelain in plank shapes. Installed like wood flooring but with the durability and water resistance of tile.

Mosaic (under 2 inches). Small tiles sold on mesh sheets for backsplashes, shower floors, and accent areas.

Popular Tile Styles

Wood-look tile. Plank-shape porcelain printed with realistic wood grain. The look of hardwood with the waterproof durability of tile. Popular for kitchens, baths, and full-floor installs.

Stone-look tile. Porcelain printed to mimic marble, travertine, slate, or limestone. Lower cost and easier maintenance than real stone, similar look.

Solid colors. Modern, minimalist tile in white, gray, beige, or black. Often in large formats for a contemporary feel.

Patterned tile. Encaustic-look, Moroccan, or geometric patterns used for accents, half-rooms, or full floors in a decorative style.

Subway tile. Rectangular tile (typically 3 x 6) used mostly on walls and backsplashes, occasionally floors in a herringbone pattern.

How To Choose the Right Tile Flooring

Match the durability rating to the room. Tile is rated on the PEI scale (1 to 5). PEI 3 is fine for most homes; PEI 4 to 5 for high-traffic kitchens and commercial use.

Pick the right slip resistance. Bathrooms and wet areas need a higher coefficient of friction (look for the COF rating). Smooth, polished tiles can be dangerous when wet.

Plan the layout before purchase. Diagonal layouts use 10 to 15% more tile. Herringbone uses 15 to 20% more. Account for cuts and breakage (typically add 10% to your square footage).

Coordinate with cabinets and counters. Lighter floors expand small kitchens. Darker floors anchor large open spaces. Bring samples home before you commit.

Decide on grout color early. Light grout shows dirt; dark grout hides it but can look stark against light tile. Mid-tones work for most installations.

Consider underfloor heating. Tile feels cold underfoot. Electric radiant heat mats under tile transform comfort in bathrooms and kitchens.

How To Install Tile Flooring

Installation is achievable for an experienced DIYer but unforgiving of mistakes. The main steps:

Prepare the subfloor. It needs to be clean, level, and stiff. Use cement backer board over wood subfloors and a leveling compound on uneven concrete.

Plan the layout. Dry-lay the tile across the room to find the best starting point. Doorways and visible edges should land on full tiles where possible.

Set the tile with mortar. Use the right size notched trowel for the tile size. Press tile firmly with a slight twist to set in the mortar.

Cut tile as needed. A wet saw makes clean cuts in porcelain and ceramic. Tile nippers handle small irregular cuts.

Let mortar cure, then grout. Typically 24 hours between setting and grouting. Apply grout with a float, wipe off excess with a damp sponge.

Seal grout (if cement-based). Epoxy grout doesn’t need sealing. Cement-based grout benefits from a sealer to resist staining.

Many homeowners hire a tile setter for complex layouts, large rooms, or bathrooms with custom showers.

Shopping Tile Flooring at Builders Surplus YeeHaa

We stock tile flooring in popular sizes, styles, and price points, including ceramic, porcelain, and stone-look options. Most options are in stock locally so you can see the actual tile before you buy, plus take samples home to check against your cabinets and lighting.

Our design team can help plan tile layouts, coordinate floor tile with countertops and cabinets, and recommend grout colors, free of charge. Professional installation can be arranged for any tile purchased from us.