turboman786

Hi all

I am having my kitchen fitted and rapidly need to decide on what to do with the floor. I have had it all boarded out with 9mm plywood, so it is ready for tiling...

The tiles I most fancy are the high gloss granite floor tiles......they look amazing!

BUT

The kitchen is in effect the main entrance to the house (round the back) and therfore will encounter the most human traffic.....so I do not want it to get scratched/and I know how badly it can mark...it is also VERY pricey!

What are your experiences with granite floor tiles, and is there any decent alternatives out there for me to consider..

Ta!

jonc

They're very reflective, especially if you have bright ceiling lights like halogens, so you get good views of some ladies whoever graces your kitchen, if you know what I mean

Oh and they're a pain to keep clean!!

MattW

They are the dogs. Got them in mine now, the wife uses some mop thing to keep the clean and they do look amazing.

They won't scratch, or mark, trust me.

Chip Sengravy

Expect some slips and trips then, they will be lethal with wet feet. I have glossy tiles in my kitchen, I stepped in one day over the step ( about 10" ), one (wet) foot just shot forward, the other stayed planted on the path outside, and my testacles were black for 3 days.

I wouldn't have them...they look much better rough side up anyway.

Deep Singh

Too slippery. I've got honed limestone, but I wouldn't recommend those either as they stain too easily. Go for a good looking honed porcelain

RichardS2005

Natural slate looks good?

MattW

You can get a non slip barrier to put on it. Ask your local specialist.

Deep Singh

I have copper slate in my downstairs toilet/shower. Its quite soft, not sure how it would cope with heavy traffic

turboman786

Thanks for the replies so far...

Im told that granite is one oif the toughest meterials out there - surely it shouldnt scratch or mark easily then?....

Also what is the best price for granite tiles, the best I have found so far is £50 a sq/m which is fairly hefty (10sq/m needed!)

Any other experiences welcomed!

MattW

That's about the cheapest, you may get down to 40 for a big order.

AsifScoob

In my opinion, not worth spending too much money on the place unless you are going to live there for a long time/foreseeable future, or if it is in an extremely desirable area where people will pay over the odds to move into.

If you are planning to move in the near to middle future and expect an extra return due to the sheer expense of granite floor tiles, or Italian wall tiles, or stainless steel effect shower screens etc etc, you may be disappointed.

Just wanting to sound a note of caution and in no way dissing what you want to do of course. I do think you will make your place more sellable, just not sure you will get the return you may hope for or expect.

When renovating my place a few years back and spending money on some nice things which I liked, I realised that I was simply not going to get the return when the time came. I planned back then to move in 5 years time: so I needed to make the place nice to live in for that time and still sellable for when the time came to move on. 2007 is that time so with just a lick of paint all will be ready to go.

I would have loved to put down the polished back floor tiles as I thought they looked great but realised the above.

My kitchen diner and living areas are all open plan so I used a good quality, waterproof, laminate, (guaranteed for 10 years) in the Beech colour everyone comes to expect, simply to do the job, look nice enough, and be as sellable as possible.

The proof will be in the pudding, but I am confidant as all who come round are impressed, still, which gives me a degree of satisfation.

Oh, btw, if you are not going to sell on then apologies for the irrelevant waffle!

Asif

turboman786

Asif many thanks for the reply, I have thought along similar lines as I only will hopefully live there for about 3 years.....

However normal porcelain tiles will set me back about £250 so for the sake of saving £250 I am wanting to have something that looks good, and if I get 3 years use out of it myself before selling then I think thats my £250 worth out of it!

AsifScoob

Thats fair enough Turbo, you have to be happy with it.

I found that it doesn't end at just one nice thing however and the temptation was to get a whole room, or a whole area, up to a particular standard.

I certainly went over budget on mine, loved the look of it, made my place more sellable, but not sure I will get all of my money back thats all.

Asif

r32

Shiny tiles, main access. Dont do it. You'll be on here in 12 months asking how to polish the dull area you have near the door. If not complaining that you have injured visitors claiming off you for injuries sustained in falls. Hope your house insurance covers you for claims.

Go to a good tile outlet, have a good look round and talk to the experts or you'll end up like Deep Singh.

Deep Singh

What do you mean END UP like Deep Singh??