Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 Feb 19, 2012 10:37 am We went to do our tile selections on Friday and I am now quite stressed about having accepted the guys suggestion of continuing the same floor tile (polished porcelain) into the bathroom, ensuite and laundry. I'm ok with the laundry but worry about how slippery they will be in the bathroom and ensuite. What have been your experiences? I do like and prefer the flow of the same tile throughout but, I'm sure there was a rougher tiles option in the same range. Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 2Feb 19, 2012 10:43 am l had same concerns for my shower base,went to tile shop got 600x300. put it on my shower base,no more slippery than polymarble imo.l will be having polished porcelian. Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 3Feb 19, 2012 10:55 am I have polished porcelain in the living areas of my house and if anything is spilt it is very slippery, much more than my bathroom tiles. I wouldn't have it in bathrooms as I'd be worried about the kids cracking their heads... But that being said, plenty of people have in their bathrooms with no problems Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 4Feb 19, 2012 12:54 pm We had the same debate in our house. A friend of mine has gorgeous polished 600x600 granite in her bathroom. I fell in love with them and wanted to supply our own for our bathroom (we are at the beginning, site cut and piering last week). DH was incredibly worried about the slip factor, which I think is true. Our compromise is to use the polished tiles in the ensuite and powder floors only BUT not in the shower of those bathrooms. So a different non-slip tile in the shower. There is still the risk of walking with wet feet out of the shower of course. So in the kids bathroom we have non-slip tiles throughout (shower and floor). A lot of luxury homes and hotels have these polished porcelein tiles (in our case, it is polished granite), but I agree it can be dangerous. Often tile shops do have the same tile but with different finishes (eg. polished, honed, textured etc.). Maybe ask for the different tile textures? SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 5Feb 19, 2012 1:17 pm We have polished porcelain tiles in our wet areas on walls & floor (incl shower) & we haven't had any issues what-so-ever. I was concerned about my young kids in their bathroom so we originally had honed floor tiles for them however after asking around I was told that polished aren't as slippery as people assume. So we changed to polished throughout, we think they look nicer & they are also very easy to clean Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 6Feb 20, 2012 8:19 pm Clients do use polished porcelain tiles in wet areas. We do not recommend it but its a compromise one must make if you wish to carry them through. Do not got for the same tile but in a natural/unpolished finish unless you are happy to accept a different look between the two. When ever a vitrified tile is polished or honed from the natural finish it is always darker and the movement in the tile more defined. This is most notable when the two butt up against each other. Most of the lines i bring in from Spain have no texture on them. They are usual in a satin finish and have never had issues with clients slipping. I definetly would not recommend using a textured tile as it may give you great grip but an absolute nightmare to clean. Cheers Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 7Feb 20, 2012 8:37 pm Zedman Clients do use polished porcelain tiles in wet areas. We do not recommend it but its a compromise one must make if you wish to carry them through. Do not got for the same tile but in a natural/unpolished finish unless you are happy to accept a different look between the two. When ever a vitrified tile is polished or honed from the natural finish it is always darker and the movement in the tile more defined. This is most notable when the two butt up against each other. Most of the lines i bring in from Spain have no texture on them. They are usual in a satin finish and have never had issues with clients slipping. I definetly would not recommend using a textured tile as it may give you great grip but an absolute nightmare to clean. Cheers Good advice Zedman, thanks. So by nightmare to clean - is that from mould or accumulation of soap / dirt etc? Does sealing it help? SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 8Feb 20, 2012 8:50 pm Thank you do much for your advice. I rang the tile company first thing this morning and put our quote on hold until we decide. I do still worry about slipperiness. Perhaps I should have a different tile all together. Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 9Feb 20, 2012 9:01 pm We had polished porcelain in our old house (hall, kitchen, laundry, bathroom and toilet) and never had any problems even with our kids aged 18 months and 5 years getting out of the bath and having water everywhere, they never slipped. Jasmin Hickinbotham Belmont - modified Signed: February 2011 Slab should go down before 2012 My build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52310&p=799483#p799483 Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 10Feb 21, 2012 7:29 pm If a tile is textured sealing will not help. And the type of tiles we are talking about generally don't need sealing. It's just a draw back of texture....gives you high slip resistance but its harder to clean and more can tend to stick to a textured surface over a smother one. Cheers Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 11Feb 22, 2012 8:34 pm Zedman If a tile is textured sealing will not help. And the type of tiles we are talking about generally don't need sealing. It's just a draw back of texture....gives you high slip resistance but its harder to clean and more can tend to stick to a textured surface over a smother one. Cheers Thanks. Sounds common sense. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 12Feb 24, 2012 8:54 am Standing on wet polished porcelain is not the problem (we have them in our bathrooms/showers & they are no more slippery than other tiles we have had in the past). We also have the same tiles in the main living areas). Its Walking on these tiles when they are wet that is the problem. It is literally like trying to walk on wet glass. A couple of days ago we got hit by a rather fierce storm. Our sliding doors were open at the time & some of the rain blew in onto our loungeroom tiles. D/h didn't know the tiles were already wet from the rain & hurried over to close the sliders - in an instant he went down like a sack of you know what. He disclocated his shoulder when he fell & now is in a whole world of pain. Just when we were about to start laying the outdoor pavers, too. "Whoever says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain!" Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 13Feb 24, 2012 9:23 am kezacheekychicken Standing on wet polished porcelain is not the problem (we have them in our bathrooms/showers & they are no more slippery than other tiles we have had in the past). We also have the same tiles in the main living areas). Its Walking on these tiles when they are wet that is the problem. It is literally like trying to walk on wet glass. A couple of days ago we got hit by a rather fierce storm. Our sliding doors were open at the time & some of the rain blew in onto our loungeroom tiles. D/h didn't know the tiles were already wet from the rain & hurried over to close the sliders - in an instant he went down like a sack of you know what. He disclocated his shoulder when he fell & now is in a whole world of pain. Just when we were about to start laying the outdoor pavers, too. oh dear. Sorry to hear that about DH. Ouch! Yeah, I agree with you they are slippery. Which is why we aren't using them in the kids' bathroom nor in any showers. I guess different people have different ideas / views and it all comes down to what you are happy with. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 14Feb 24, 2012 10:41 am kezacheekychicken Standing on wet polished porcelain is not the problem (we have them in our bathrooms/showers & they are no more slippery than other tiles we have had in the past). We also have the same tiles in the main living areas). Its Walking on these tiles when they are wet that is the problem. It is literally like trying to walk on wet glass. A couple of days ago we got hit by a rather fierce storm. Our sliding doors were open at the time & some of the rain blew in onto our loungeroom tiles. D/h didn't know the tiles were already wet from the rain & hurried over to close the sliders - in an instant he went down like a sack of you know what. He disclocated his shoulder when he fell & now is in a whole world of pain. Just when we were about to start laying the outdoor pavers, too. Ouch! Your poor DH, hope he makes a quick recovery. This is why I get confused though, polished porcelain is so popular as a main floor tile & people don't seem to question how slippery it is when they are wet yet they worry about having them in bathrooms? Walking is certainly a risk on polished tiles so what happens when people mop their living areas or spill water? We had a highly glossy tile throughout our last house & they were horrible when wet, my poor DD went "ice skating" across them when she was 2yrs old, slid straight onto her bum & copped the door architrave on her way down giving her a nice egg. I understand that bathrooms are "wet areas" however the only area that is really wet is in the shower & I wouldn't go dancing around in there with any type of tile. We always have our towel bath mat on the floor to step onto when done so no risk there.... Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 Re: Polished Porcelain Tiles in Wet Areas? 15Feb 28, 2012 8:14 am There are anti slip treatments that can be applied to polished porcelain tiles if you are worried about slipping once the tile gets wet. I’ve just had some outdoor textured porcelain tiles installed, and they’re already getting a bit dirty from all the trees and leaves that are around. I’m looking at… 0 1944 All sorted guys. Just needed to buy a blade with the correct bush. Dunno how to delete this post, can't find any help file. Cheers. 1 3905 Firstly the ableflex that has been installed needs (manufactures specification) a sealant cap over the top, preventing water draining down between the slab and the… 3 8402 |