TYPES OF TILES

CERAMIC

PROS ■ Hard-wearing and ultra durable ■ Easy to clean and look after ■ Waterproof ■ Lightweight, easy to cut and simple to lay

■ Great at conducting heat, so can be used with under-floor heating

■ Can be used for walls and floors (check your specific tile first)

■ Come in high gloss, matte, textured, metallic

■ Inexpensive

CONS

■ Not suitable for outdoor use

■ TRY: British Ceramic Tile (BritishCeramicTile.com), Tile Giant (TileGiant.co.uk), Tile Mountain (Tilemountain.co.uk), Topps Tiles (ToppsTiles.co.uk), Walls & Floors (Wallsandfloors.co.uk)

PORCELAIN

PROS ■ Stain resistant

■ Most need little or no maintenance

■ Waterproof and perfect for wet areas, such as bathrooms

■ Tough and durable, good for high-traffic areas, such as hallways ■ Can be used for walls and floors ■ Matt porcelain tiles have an anti-slip finish

■ Most can be used with under-floor heating

■ Frost-resistant, so can be used for patios and pathways

CONS

■ More expensive than ceramic tiles ■ Heavier and trickier to cut precisely, usually require a professional to lay them

■ TRY: Tile Giant (TileGiant.co.uk), Tile Mountain (Tilemountain.co.uk), Topps Tiles (ToppsTiles.co.uk), Walls & Floors (Wallsandfloors.co.uk)

CEMENT

PROS

■ Strong and durable and work well in heavy-traffic areas ■ Non-slip

■ Beautiful handmade look, with a matte, chalky texture

■ A variety of on-trend designs ■ Chips and knocks are less noticeable, as the pattern continues throughout the tile

CONS

■ Laying them is fiddly and should be done by a professional

■ They’re incredibly porous, so need sealing before they can be used

■ Require sanding and re-sealing every few years

■ High-maintenance and mark easily

■ Can’t be used outdoors

■ TRY: Bert & May (BertandMay.com), Best Tile (Best-Tile.co.uk), Cement Tile Shop (Cementtileshop.com), Mosaic Del Sur (Cement-tiles.com)