Winter Boots & Protecting Your Floors

Tile floors are a great investment for entryways where people enter your home. Tile floors won't absorb water the way a carpet might and wood flooring while beautiful, reacts poorly to any water that gets into cracks or penetrates the surface. Ceramic tile is extremely durable and waterproof when sealed properly so it's a great solution for entryways where winter boots will travel. Yes, tile is also cold and harder than other flooring materials but the trade-off in worthwhile.

Why not enjoy the weather and protect your home at the same time? This is especially true for children who have lots (many parents would say, too much) energy and playing outside regardless of the weather is a great way to use up their energy and we all need more exercise.

Tile Entryways are Perfect for Winter Boots

Think about all your exterior doors, doors that open up to unconditioned (no heat/air conditioning) space.  There's one door that gets used most of the time and that's rarely the front door. Most family members use a side door coming in directly from outside or through the garage. Does this entry room/space have a tile floor today? If you don't have tile, check the floor and see how well the high traffic area looks compared to a corner of the room. When you make changes now you can enjoy the new floor and it will reduce the stress of getting your home ready to sell in the future.

Ideally the primary door into a home has a place to hang coats and jackets. It's also helpful if there's someplace to sit down and remove winter boots. There should also be a table to place anything you're holding while removing your jacket and shoes. That's where you'll keep slippers. Let's take a quick survey of your entry doors and rooms where there's water.

When you find there are 2 or 3 different rooms/spaces where it makes sense to upgrade to a tile floor, it doesn't mean you have the money to do it all at once. Here are tips for prioritizing these projects. Getting opinions from 1 or 2 real estate agents, what is typically called a punchlist for selling your home will give you a head start towards that day in the future.

• Your top priority should be preventing water damage as this will show up in a home inspection, and repairs are more costly than preventive measures taken today.
• When you have carpeting that is pretty worn that will need to be replaced before you sell your home, why not replace the carpet now with a nice tile floor that you can enjoy for a few years.
• Maybe you have tile but there are cracked tiles and/or grout letting water penetrate to the sub-floor below. You want to repair tile/grout problems now to extend the life of the tile floor you already have.

Tips for Buying Tile for Winter Boots & Wet Areas

We'll leave your tile design for another article. We need to stress here that very smooth tile can become dangerous when wet. Ceramic tiles most suitable for wet areas are ones that do not absorb water and have a rough surface to prevent slipping when wet. That includes areas where you're wearing winter boots, as well as kitchens.bathrooms, a non-vitreous tile is recommended.

Glazing helps block water absorption by adding a layer of ground glass and re-firing the tiles. This is the most popular type of tile in the US (more than 50% of the tile sold) so you need to find a rougher tile for flooring that even occasionally is wet like your front door. No industry standards have been agreed to yet so be careful when shopping, and ask about the “friction rating” for any tile you're considering. The closest standard comes from the Americans with Disabilities Act which has set the following guidelines, Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF):

• For level walking floors – 0.6 SCOF
• For walkable ramps – 0.8 SCOF

Water Mats Another Solution for Winter Boots, Sports Gear & More

If tile floors aren't in your future, consider these mats as a great alternative. The more water and dirt they trap, the less cleaning you'll need to do … and your floors will thank you.

Muddy Mat All-Purpose Boot Tray (2.5 ft. x 1.2 ft.)WaterHog Indoor/Outdoor Mat (3′ x 3′ Ft.)Boot & Shoe Tray (29.75 x 15 Round)

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