ᐅ Tile Planning for Single-Family Homes – Slip Resistance/Thickness/Quality

Hello everyone,

Yesterday we had our initial sample review for the tiles in our single-family house.

For our open living-dining-kitchen area, we plan to use tiles sized 120x30cm (47x12 inches) in a wood look
--> Model: Craco – unglazed porcelain stoneware – slip resistance R10/A – thickness 10mm (0.4 inches)

For the hallway on the ground and basement floors plus the guest toilet, tiles sized 60x30cm (24x12 inches)
--> Model: Emarese – unglazed porcelain stoneware – slip resistance R9 – thickness 9.5mm (0.37 inches)

For the bathroom on the upper floor, tiles sized 90x45cm (35x18 inches)
--> Model: Conco – unglazed porcelain stoneware – slip resistance R10 – thickness 9.5mm (0.37 inches)

I have the following questions:

Regarding the living-kitchen-dining area: Are there any disadvantages to having a higher slip resistance such as R10/A (which we currently have planned)? As far as I know, this is usually only necessary in bathrooms. Of course, the tile surface is a bit rougher, but that does not bother me personally – quite the opposite.

Regarding the hallway on the ground and basement floors plus guest toilet: Is R9 sufficient here?

Bathroom on the upper floor: Here we have “just” R10 – should R10/A or R10/B be specified instead? What does R10 generally mean if there is no A or B following it? Is this something to be cautious about, or should we consider a different tile?

--> How important is tile thickness in general?

--> I think unglazed porcelain stoneware is suitable, right?

Hello questioner.
The slip resistance rating for barefoot areas exposed to moisture is, for example, classified as R10 A.
In all dry areas, the standard classification ranges from R9 to R13.
For all living areas, the R9 classification is sufficient.
Although the term is actually not appropriate for living areas and is incorrectly used there, this will not be further discussed here. Unfortunately, this is how it is communicated everywhere.
Yes, R9 is adequate for your property, and R10 in the bathroom (as long as it doesn’t concern the floor of a sloped shower area) is also acceptable.
The thickness of ceramic tiles becomes relevant mainly in commercial settings. Here, higher traffic loads, impact resistance, and the possibility of driving over the floor with forklifts or pedestrian-operated industrial trucks come into play.
This does not apply to residential areas, so with approximately 10mm (0.4 inches) material thickness, we can usually manage all typical loads in residential construction without damage, even with slight hollow spots beneath.
Unglazed porcelain stoneware, of course, requires additional surface protection in the form of impregnation or a film-forming treatment.
Good luck: KlaRa

Thank you for your reply!

Is R10 without the "A" sufficient for the bathroom, or is R10A strictly required?

With R10A for the living area, I have no disadvantages, correct?

Does it make sense to use glazed porcelain stoneware tiles instead of unglazed ones, for example in the bathroom? I read that they are easier to maintain.

Hello questioner,
Here are the answers to your questions:
"Is R10 without the 'A' sufficient for the bathroom, or is R10A mandatory?"
Answer:
No, the addition of A is not strictly required for living areas, but it is recommended for the bathroom, especially in and in front of the shower tray.
This means: In the bathroom, the slip resistance of the tiles or porcelain stoneware in barefoot areas should be verified.
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"With R10A for the living area, I have no 'disadvantages', correct?"
Answer:
Yes, that is correct.
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"Does it make sense to choose glazed porcelain stoneware tiles instead of unglazed ones, for example in the bathroom? I read that glazed tiles are easier to maintain."
Answer:
The type of soiling in more private bathrooms is understandably different from that in entrance hallways.
However, in both areas, whether glazed or unglazed porcelain stoneware, dirt deposits are inevitably going to settle over time in the microscopic surface depressions.
Therefore, from my perspective, there is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage for either surface type in this regard.
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Best of luck going forward: KlaRa

exto1791 schrieb:

So with R10A for the living area, I have no "disadvantages," correct?

Maybe socks and tights will wear out faster. 🙂

No joke, depending on the tile, that can actually be the case.

face26 schrieb:

Socks and tights might wear out faster this way. 🙂

No joke, depending on the tile, that can actually be the case.

Yep, that's how it is for us. It doesn’t matter. With underfloor heating, you can walk barefoot.

However, I would tile hallways and living areas with the same floor. It looks more spacious.
The gray tile seems quite deceptively delicate to me. You will notice every grain of sand on it.