Tile flooring installation

Where tile works best

• Front entries and mudrooms, where boots, salt and water come in all winter
• Kitchens, for a floor that shrugs off spills and lasts decades
• Bathrooms and laundry rooms, with a waterproof surface
• Basements, over concrete, especially with in-floor heat

Porcelain or ceramic?

Porcelain is denser and harder, absorbs less water and resists chipping, so it's the choice for entries and high traffic. Ceramic is a bit softer and usually less expensive, and fine for most bathrooms and low-traffic rooms. Large-format tiles look clean and modern but need a very flat floor.

What's under the tile matters

Tile and grout can't flex, so a bouncy or uneven floor will crack them. Over wood subfloors, installers check that the floor is stiff enough and add an uncoupling membrane or cement board. Over concrete, a membrane helps tile ride out small cracks in the slab.

Heated floors

Electric heating mats or cables go under the tile on a thermostat. They make bathrooms, entries and basements much more comfortable, and they're easiest to add when the floor is being redone. Electrical connection needs an electrician and an ESA permit.