Man’s quest for the perfect dwelling began when our ancestors left their primal homes, and ventured out into the open plains, knowing that there was life beyond the confines of their caves. Their primary concern was for a roof over their heads, in order to protect themselves from the harsh weather, and the next important feature was flooring – as a levelled floor was essential for a comfortable living situation.
After having achieved such habitats, our concerns shifted to efficiency, maintainability, and visual appeal. Locally sourced wood and stone were the obvious choices, and there was minimal processing and wastage of the natural materials. Everything was organised such that we ensured a sustainable and harmonious relationship with our environments.
For centuries we remained building our homes in this manner, until the advancement of science and technology allowed us to extract larger rocks and copious amounts of wood, at a much faster pace. In order the increase the surface comfort of our floors, we began processing these materials more and more, coming up with new, innovative and creative ideas to use our resources.
Ceramic tiles were first used as artisanal objects, and then features for churches, mosques, and the elite members of society. Vinyl, cork, laminates, engineered wood, etc., all added to the diverse range of options that could be adopted for modern interiors.
Out of all the options that exist today, it becomes difficult for us to make an informed and calculated choice, of which material we must implement in our homes. The following is a list of 5 reasons why modern tiles are the most beneficial materials.
01. Sustainability
Natural stones are used aesthetically for interior and exterior surfaces. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the rock that is mined is wasted, as a very small amount of the processed rock is used as a final product. In comparison, tile manufacture causes a much milder intervention to our natural resources during mining.
Ceramic tiles are an inert material, with no risk of interior environment pollution through volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) or any other such issues. Being light in weight, it generates less of a carbon footprint through manufacture and transport, as many of the manufacturing plants are energy efficient and resourced locally. By using these materials, not only do we conserve our ecosystems, mountains, and other rocks, but we also allow our future generations to be able to appreciate the value of our natural resources.
02. Aesthetics
Modern tiles have a diverse variety of colours, patterns, and layouts, which allow them to suite a variety of interior styles and aesthetic themes.
03. Durability
With careful installation, tile surfaces remain easily maintainable, as well as long lasting, being able to maintain its structural integrity and vibrant colours for prolonged periods of time.
04. Hygiene
The surface of a tile is non-porous and without fractures, which enables higher hygiene and safety standards.
Due to innovations in the industry, H & R Johnson (India), has also created a Germ-Free tile; a tile without any superficial coating, which respells any harmful micro-organisms.
05. Economy
The variety of tiles available in today’s market, creates tiles in a spectrum of different price ranges, allowing any single buyer to make a choice best suited to his economic and functional needs.
There are constraints with ceramic tiles as well, and ignoring these constraints create other challenges. This is why it is important to make a calculated decision while choosing the right tile, because differentiating tiles on appearance itself is impractical. The technical details and specifications of the tiles should be studied before it is confirmed for a particular project.
The absence of trained masons can also be an issue, because an expert mason can produce excellent results even with ordinary tiles. Proper installation ensures an attractive appearance and longevity.
It is important to realise that most of the problems related to tiles today extend beyond the manufacture and composition of the tiles itself. All these factors must be kept in mind in order to make an informed decision, on how to properly decorate the interiors of the places in which we reside⊗
Dinesh Vyas heads Marketing at H & R Johnson (India) where he leads brand and marketing initiatives across all product verticals. He is now the Building Material Expert and Advisor to Prism Johnson Ltd. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, he has worked with Ambuja Cement, Larsen and Turbo and Shell, apart from his long engagement with H & R Johnson. Vyas holds an M.Tech and an MBA degree, and has been recognised as amongst the ’50 most talented brand leaders in India’ by World Brand Congress.
