Interior designers in Kenya are involved in the selection of finishes that shall be applied within a building once the structure is complete. This selection of finishes this done in together with the client in order that they are intrinsically involved in the selection of materials that they shall see as the finished built product once the building is complete. The floor being one of the core areas of selection of materials is very sensitive and must be selected right due to its characteristics. In this article we shall discuss various floor finishes that available in the market and why one should use them.

Floor tiles Are Commonly Selected By Interior Designers in Kenya

Floor tiles have become the de facto standard for versatile floor finishes within the building context. Due to their modular nature, they can be fixed or transferred from a given site and the ability to be assembled on-site in interesting patterns. Floor tiles are hard wearing finishes whose versatility speaks for itself by virtue of its multitude of applications.

Tiles in general speak of modular shaped pieces of hard materials that can be assembled on-site and can be assembled bit by bit to form a larger finished surface, composed of many of these pieces brought together. Tiles can be made of different materials, and their individual characteristics are derived from the strengths of these materials that are used to formulate them. Interior designers in Kenya use tiles in combinations with each other to form various interesting patterns.

The earliest materials that we knew went into making tiles is clay, which is used to form ceramic tiles. Depending on their process of manufacture, ceramic tiles are further classified into several other forms of tiles, based on their final finish and formation process. These are a favorite for interior designers in Kenya. Their ease of manufacture has also made them very widespread locally, and there are now several local as well as international ceramic tile manufacturers that are  involved in the production of clay tiles in the market.

As mentioned earlier, it is the system of manufacture that leads to various types of tiles. Again the degree of fineness of the tiles contributes to its pricing, hence well-refined tiles often have a higher cost in the market that those which may not be of as high quality. Nevertheless these all have their own qualities and strengths, which can be harnessed appropriately by great interior designers in Kenya.

Use of Porcelain/ Granito Floor Tiles By Interior Designers In Kenya

One of the most popular types of tiles to the interior designers in Kenya is the use of porcelain tiles. Also known as granito tiles, these tiles are characterized by a smooth, highly polished and glazed surface that gives them a very fine look. They are available in various thicknesses from manufacturers locally and abroad, and range from 6mm thick to as much as 12-15 millimeters thick.

Granito tiles are great for applications on commercial facilities that are seeking a sharp corporate feel, without spending too much on their floor finishes. By virtue of them being essentially ceramic in make up, they are not as expensive as the high end stone based tiles such as marble and granite. However they offer a sleek polished finish, due to a process of being fired in kilns at somewhat higher temperatures during their manufacturing process. They are a great choice for interior designers in Kenya seeking to achieve highly polished finishes.

The downside of using granito tiles is the fact that while they are well polished and gleaming, they are also very smooth on their surface. This has the obvious disadvantage in that they are slippery. As such they can pose a security risk if they are used in an area prone to moisture and dampness, any wetness on them can cause an accident. Lubricants such as oils and fats on them are also a health hazard.

Another weakness that has been noted in porcelain tiles over time is the fact that if they are not properly fixed with sufficient grouting underneath, the tiles have a weakness in that they absorb atmospheric moisture to a certain extent and expand. Once this happens, they peel off their fixing layer of grout, and begin to swell slightly. They pull off of the substrate on which they are fixed, leaving them prone to damage if any weight is placed on them. The only remedy to this is the fact that they must be properly fixed with adequate grout of proper mix and consistency during their installation.

Interior Designers In Kenya Can Assist To Source Floor Finishes

Some of the most popular suppliers of these tiles in Nairobi is the Tile and Carpets on Mombasa Road, as well as Saj Ceramics also on Mombasa Road. A number of fine manufacturers and tile suppliers are available also along Kijabe Street in Nairobi who store these kinds of tiles. These tile traders are great sources of information for any interior designer who is interested in knowing what new products are in the market that they can use to enrich their designs.

When interior designers in Kenya are specifying these tiles for use in a project, they can also refer clients and contractors to some of these suppliers who offer good rates for purchase of these tiles. In addition the leading wholesalers and retailers offer catalogues of these tiles such that an interior designer in Kenya is able to specify particular tiles that are available in the market for their particular design application.

The use of these floor tiles offer great opportunities for interior designers in Kenya to achieve great looking interiors.

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