THE TILE FILE LOOK IT UP UNDER 'DURABLE,' AND FIND THE STYLE THAT FITS YOUR HOME AND BUDGET.

Byline: John Morell Correspondent

Tile is in style - especially on floors. Many homeowners are choosing it over carpet or wood because they find it meets all their expectations.

``Most tile is very durable, and it creates a classic look,'' said Steve Ross, a general contractor based in Van Nuys. ``You can use it anywhere in the house, and it looks great from the kitchen to the bedrooms.''

Varieties of tile range from inexpensive, glazed ceramic squares to pricey slate slabs and everything in between. What's hot right now are porcelain tiles that give a room a sense of an upgrade.

``Porcelains and ceramics are extremely fast sellers right now,'' said Ernie Rosales of Tile Club in Reseda. ``People are buying them in earth tones, rustic tones, natural, muted colors. They're staying away from the bright colors - they want something more neutral.''

``Going with a neutral tone for tile is always the best choice,'' said Ross. ``Replacing a tile floor is a messy, expensive job. It's not something most people want to do very often, so it's probably best to pick something that will be around for the next 10 years.''

Gone from the scene are the once-popular Mexican paver tiles.

``Those are really out of style right now. Pavers create a very bold look and have wide grout lines, and now it seems that homeowners are choosing more subtle ceramics,'' said Rosales.

Wearability is the big selling point for ceramic and porcelain tiles.

``If you've got a kitchen or family room with a lot of traffic, these will really hold up,'' said Ross. ``Unlike (with) carpeting, food or pets are not going to stain ceramics. And you don't have to worry about water on a ceramic floor, unlike (with) hardwood.''

Ceramics can chip if something hard is dropped on them, and cracking can occur when the house settles or during earthquakes, since there's no ``give'' in tile. Chipping and cracking are why it's important to buy more tiles than you need in order to have extras for replacement.

Ceramics retain the color better since it's glazed into the tile. Floor ceramics also generally feature some form of slightly abrasive grit baked into the finish to protect you from slipping on the floor when it's wet.

Tiles are rated according to their hardness by the Porcelain Enamel Institute, which determines how much wear and tear they can withstand. The hardness is affected by the firing process. The longer and hotter the firing, the harder the tile will be.

--Group I is for areas with light traffic, such as bathroom floors and other areas that aren't likely to get a lot of foot traffic.

--Group II is for medium-traffic areas such as a family room or bedroom.

--Group III is designed for medium-heavy traffic areas such as a kitchen or entryway.

--Groups IV and V are generally for commercial and retail use, but if you see a tile you like rated this high, don't be afraid of putting it anywhere in your home, since it could probably withstand a marching band.

When shopping for tile, you'll also want to ask about its porosity, or the amount of water the tile absorbs. This is critical when choosing tile for a bath or kitchen.

Ceramic tiles range anywhere from $9 to $20 per square foot installed, and you can choose anything from a simple white glazed tile to elaborate faux marble and travertine finishes.

If your budget keeps you from picking the higher-priced tiles, you also might choose to use tile accents in the design.

``These can be a special colored tile that coordinates with some color in your room, or you can go with something wild,'' said Stephanie Juarez of Marble and Tile Depot in North Hollywood.

One type of accent that's gaining in popularity is metal tile. Made of steel or copper, it's generally finished with some type of decorative design.

``It's a very distinctive look. And by spacing them out, you give your floor a very custom finish,'' said Juarez.

Metal accent tiles are 4 inches square and range in price from $20 to $30 each. ``They're not inexpensive, but if you're looking for a unique look to your floor, that might be the way to go,'' said Juarez.

Another choice for the budget-conscious are laminate floor tiles, which, like laminate wood floors, feature a fiberboard backing underneath a rock-hard topcoat with an image of an expensive stone or marble underneath.

``You get a very polished, custom look with one of these types of products,'' said Ross. ``Of course, it's not going to last forever like real granite or marble, but it's a lot easier to replace this type of floor than natural stone.''

The natural stones such as marble, granite, travertine and slate continue to be popular despite the fact that their cost is generally double that of ceramic tiles.

``When you have a natural stone floor, it feels like it's going to be there forever,'' said Rosales. ``We have a granite floor that gets a lot of traffic and often gets scuffed up, but when you clean it up, it shines just like new.''

Not all naturals are as indestructible, however. Unsealed marble can be stained by standing water, food or pets, which is why taking care of stone is so critical.

Marble and other natural stones should be resealed at least twice a year. Usually the installer will do the first sealing job, but it's not hard for the homeowner to do the follow-ups. Sealing generally involves cleaning the floor, then applying a top-coat sealant with a mop or rag.

``You've got to make sure it's been sealed correctly and that the sealer is applied regularly. Lots of people think, 'Well, it's a rock, it can take anything.' And that's true. But if you want it to keep the same shade without stains, you'd better take care of it,'' said Rosales.

Tile floor tips

-- If you've used a light-colored grout, make sure you use a grout sealant on it after it's cured to prevent stains from penetrating.

-- Considering a do-it-yourself tiling project? Remember that most of the equipment you'll need, including the power tile saw, is available at rental yards.

--Keep wax away from your ceramic tile floor, since it can make it slippery.

--Damaged tiles can be replaced. Make sure you keep a supply of matching extra tiles stored for repair duty.

-- When considering tile, remember that most tiles are 1/2- to 1/4-inch thick, and if they're installed over a wood subfloor, a rock board underlay may have to be used. This will raise the level of the floor, which could affect doors in the room.

CAPTION(S):

6 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) Tile with style

Durable flooring surface offer classic looks for all budgets

SHAW COTTO PORCELAIN

(2 -- color) DOMCO TARKETT SLATE PORCELAIN IN DESERT VINYL

(3 -- color) FLOORING AMERICA FRESCO CERAMIC

(4 -- color) SHAW TRIPOLI PORCELAIN

(5 -- color) SHAW OMBRA CERAMIC

(6 -- color) SHAW LARAMIE CERAMIC

Box:

Tile floor tips (see text)