Can You Install Floor Tiles on Walls?

You might have some queries about what you can and can't do while remodelling or renovating your home. Some of these inquiries, such as "HOW DO YOU SELECT THE BEST GROUT COLOUR FOR YOUR TILES?", are totally fair inquiries for any interior designer.

Then there are the other queries, which you may think are too foolish to ask yet to which you still want answers. One such concern in the tile sector maybe, "Can you install floor tiles on a wall?" We don't think any tile-related question is too stupid to ask at AGL, especially when it comes to the interior design of your house.

We also recognise how difficult it may be to make sense of the wide number of floor tile and wall tile options available today.

So, in this post, we've attempted to answer some of the burning questions you might be too hesitant to ask, like can you install floor tiles on the wall. But first, let's learn the difference between wall tiles and floor tiles.

Floor Tiles vs. Wall Tiles

The only difference between wall tiles and floor tiles is based on their slipperiness and rigidity ratings. 

Coefficient of Friction (COF) Rating: COF ratings are one factor in determining which type of tile should be used on walls or floors. A COF rating is assigned to each ceramic or porcelain tile. For floor tiles to be safe to walk on, they must have a certain amount of friction. The Coefficient of Friction, or COF, is a measurement of friction, with higher numbers indicating more friction. Wall tile can be polished and as slippery as glass, and it's often as slick as glass since traction isn't a problem.

PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) Rating: The second factor that defines hardness and durability is the PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) grade. Tile companies can employ the Porcelain Enamel Institute's (PEI) five grades of PEI ratings if they like. Classifications range from Class 1 (no foot traffic) to Class 5 (heavy-duty foot traffic), as found in commercial settings. PEI ratings are frequently hidden in the specs of each tile and are an excellent indicator of where a tile may be installed.

Can Floor Tiles be Used on Walls?

Yes, floor tiles can be used on walls!!

To be clear, tiles having a PEI rating of 0 are considered wall-only tiles. However, there's no reason why you couldn't install tiles with a PEI rating of 1 to 5 on your walls, such as floor tiles. You read it correctly—you can use floor tiles to design your feature walls! But why would you want to do something like this? Actually, there are several reasons. Let's look at it more closely:

To Keep Up with the Bigger Tile Trend

Large-format floor tiles, which we define as tiles measuring 600 x 600 mm or larger, are one of the hottest trends right now. These look fantastic on wide floor space, like a garden room, but they're also great on small bathroom walls. They'll create the sense of more space by using more tile and fewer grout joints. With our AGL Tiles collection, you can create this sophisticated effect, with your walls appearing as if they've been encased inexpensive Italian marble.

The Aesthetic of a Modern Design:

If you like minimalist design, you'll appreciate the trend of running the same floor tiles up the walls of your bathroom. This is a terrific technique to bring a sense of tranquilly into the space; for the best impact, use bigger tiles and make sure the grout seams are consistent from floor to wall.

More Design Possibilities-

Thanks to "digital printing" technologies, there are now a plethora of incredible tile patterns that are more lifelike than ever before. Tiles come in an incredible variety of forms, styles, and sizes, with everything from small mosaics to hexagon tiles, trendy bricks, and traditional wood-effect planks. Although many of them are sold as floor tiles, we prefer to think of them as wall and floor "coverings," and it is up to you, the client, to decide where they should be installed. 

However,

This does not imply that any floor tile may be used on any wall. To ensure that your wall can withstand the load, consider the weight of the tiles and adhesives. You should be alright if you're installing tiles on a solid wall or tile backing board. But keep in mind that you should never use a wall tile instead of a floor tile! 

In Conclusion,

To be honest, we think the conventional method of thinking about tiles as "walls" or "floors" is a little out of date. It's an exciting moment in the tile market, with all the improvements in design and technology, and the lines between bathroom, kitchen, wall, and floor tiles are becoming increasingly blurred.

Wall-only tiles, of course, will always have a place, and their modest size means they're already full of personality. However, the next time you're out shopping for wall tiles, we recommend looking at the entire tile spectrum before making a decision-you'll be mesmerised by the gorgeous designs and styles available.