Tiles still hold up as a great choice in many situations

The range of finish material options for building is nearly limitless but tiles still have a space believes Love Choudhary, Founding Partner and CEO, AND Studio.       

What are some of the key areas in interiors where tiles can be used effectively?

Effective usage of tiles mostly revolves around spaces and areas of any given space, which does or could require maintenance every now or then. Kitchens, bathrooms and entryways, spaces which require increased durability of the material used – tiles are easily replaceable, applicable, as well as require low maintenance. In specific areas – for dado work, for areas that conceal the functional areas of the house – shafts, motors, etc. tiles would be the perfect choice. Also, as an example, for bathrooms – if the floor’s cladded with stone, it tends to be slippery when polished, which is not advisable for wet areas. Whereas, anti-skid tiles could be incorporated in the same, while not compromising on the look of the same.

From a 12cm X 12cm to large slabs, how have tiles evolved beyond a mere component restricted to hotels, bath spaces and hospitals?

The range of finish material options for building is nearly limitless but tiles still hold up as a great choice in many situations. The reasons haven’t really changed. It is durable and relatively low cost. We, at AND Studio, believe in adhering to the client’s needs and wishes in the best budget possible, which is mostly made possible by suggesting tile solutions instead of over the top expensive stones. Also, the tile’s come pre finished, retaining their look and finish for years, whereas with stone, it required timely polishing and high maintenance.  Tiles can be easily cleaned and stands up to a lot of wear – with a relatively long expected life span for a building material. And     while tile can be sourced from anywhere in the world, you can also make a sustainable choice by finding locally manufactured tile in any part of the country. There is no aesthetic tradeoff for all these economic and environmental benefits – the variety of color and texture combinations available in tile is huge.

When it comes to selection of tiles for commercial vs residential spaces, what are the key differences?

Commercial tiles are designed to withstand the highest level of foot traffic, all the while maintaining its beauty. Dust carried in shoes contains hard substances that can cause wear and tear of the tile surface. Whereas, while purchasing residential tiles, the two main considerations to be made are budget and durability. Budget determines the ability to obtain the most durable tiles available.  Movement of material and other objects also takes place and the tiled floor must be sturdy to take those stresses and impacts. Within commercial spaces, the challenges for flooring vary viz from a shop to the airport lobby. Residential areas experience low foot fall, since it’s mostly used by the residents itself, they could be more delicate in nature.

13