Square tiles arranged in geometric floor
This past week, we began a two-part series looking at some really beautiful and colorful tiles used in a kitchen type setting. These tiles are a decorative type of tile that are made for wall installation, but they’re not made for floor installation. Some types of tiles can be used for both. In most cases, when a tile could be used both for a wall and a floor installation, it will be clearly stated by the manufacturer.
There are differences because some tiles, while they work in a wall type position or installation do not have the strength or appropriate friction coefficient for usage in floor installation. In kitchens and bathrooms, particularly, we recommend floor tiles that both have sufficient strength for appropriate installation and appropriate traction.
The floor tile traction will sometimes be presented as a rating referred to as a dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF). In some cases, it is recommend to have a DCOF higher than 0.42, but we generally recommend even higher than this particular scoring. Commercial kitchens, for example often are required to have a minimum of zero 0.60 DCOF. Essentially a higher score in this area means that there’s more traction on the floor.
Essentially that shouldn’t mean that there will be less slipperiness when the surface is wet. This type of tractions important for wet areas like showers and kitchens and places like that. Without it, there’s a higher risk of having a slippery surface which of course for obvious reasons can be dangerous. For example, there’s a wide range of wall tiles that are used in places like showers that have a gloss enamel that are particularly slippery. If these surfaces were to be installed on the floor and that floor were to become wet then it could be extremely dangerous.
In this past week, we talked about some of the different design elements that occur in the range of these tiles. This particular series or grouping of tiles has an extremely wide variety of different designs and illustrations. There’s also a relatively wide range of colors used, but those particular colors happen to have relatively consistent elements. Colors are bold and bright, for example. Dark black lines are used to separate colors, in many cases.
If you look very closely at this particular tile installation, you’ll notice that the tile is not just itself creating the side or face of the surface. Instead, there is a wood trim installed above and below the tile to in case the horizontal course. Essentially, the tile works like an architectural frieze, a decorative element that is intended to stand alone but dress or improve the aesthetic of the accent area.
There’s a small chip or cracked area of the wood trim below the center of the tile to the left of the picture below. This area stands out and could be repaired without necessarily having to replace the entirety of the wood trim.
At areas of this accent tile installation, there is a granite stone surface installed around the surface above the accent area. Tiles like this can be used in a variety of different locations in a kitchen and or even a bathroom. You could even use tiles like this in other parts of the house, as well, just for decoration. In many cases people have removed the original historic masonry fireplace surrounds and replaced them with different types of tile works. Some of the elements of tile work can look relatively minimalist and others can have exaggerated elements of detail and variety, like these colorful tiles.
This particular collection has so many different varieties in their design package that it begins to look almost infinite. Where you have ones that are replicates or duplicates, you almost stop noticing them. It takes just the right amount of variety before that visual cognitive change begins to happen. In this case, they basically almost reach that point. It’s like a critical mass of busyness. This lacks all elements of minimalism, there’s basically so many different things going on here it’s almost like chaotic noise, but together it creates a somewhat nostalgic or transportational type of feeling where it takes you somewhere else.
Dupont Kitchen & Bath Can Help
As dedicated and local DC metropolitan kitchen and bath builders and installers, we pride ourselves on turning your visions into reality. Your kitchen and bathrooms can reflect your unique style and be designed with personalized aesthetics. It can be a process from creative designs to the realization of your dream space. Specializing in kitchen and bath construction, we bring expertise and skills to every project. If you’re contemplating a renovation, upgrade, or modernization in the local market, we’re happy to be your team. Consult with us, and we can start together on a path to redefine and elevate your DC living experience.
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