Is Resin Flooring Cheaper Than Tiles?

The costs of high-quality floor tiling and resin flooring are comparable, although much depends on the finish, design, and size of the flooring project.

Although exact pricing varies, the average cost of a simple resin floor is between £85 and £120 per square metre for a higher-performance epoxy resin flooring system. In comparison, tiling costs around £100 per square metre.

While there isn’t an enormous difference in the initial cost of fitting either premium flooring solution, the ongoing maintenance, repair and cleaning could be a key consideration in selecting the right option for your property.

The Pros and Cons of Resin Flooring

Resin flooring has long been used in commercial and industrial applications, offering a wide range of benefits that make it ideal for high-traffic, heavy-pressure settings or scenarios where the floor needs to be resistant to chemicals, fading and other deterioration.

As a superb quality flooring system, resin is increasingly the material of choice for private properties and renovation projects, with a smooth, even, textured finish that is fully customisable and provides exceptional performance, lasting for many years.

Advantages of Resin Flooring Systems

• Durability: resin is long-lasting and resists wear and tear as a solid, stable flooring surface that will not crack, dent, scratch, or become damaged by oils, grease, water or other spillages.

• Easy to clean: the hygienic flooring system has no gaps or edging that attract bacteria and dust and can be cleaned with soap and water without needing specialist treatments.

• Safety: resin floors are naturally slip resistant and can be applied with additional additives as necessary to enhance the non-slip nature of the floor.

• Water resistance: unlike floorboards, laminates and carpets, resin floors are entirely water resistant.

Adding aggregates such as quartz or flakes to your resin flooring enables you to achieve any appearance or aesthetic you wish, with an array of styles, colours and textures to customise your flooring to your home or business.

Disadvantages of Resin Flooring vs Tiles

There are few scenarios where resin flooring is not ideal, but one factor may be that the resin will need sufficient time to dry and then cure thoroughly before it is ready for normal usage.

However, a professional flooring installation team can advise of the exact curing time required, which may be similar to that necessary for cement and grouting in tiling projects.

Resin may not be a particularly good solution if the substrate it is laid on has a tendency to move, ground movement for example. Although there is a certain tolerance with polyurethanes, epoxies are hard and can be brittle.

The Pros and Cons of Tiled Flooring

Tiles are popular in bathrooms, kitchens and utility spaces, as well as in some commercial applications, and have positive aspects that may be worth considering. Tiles are easy to come by, although more specialist tiling materials may need to be sourced.

Advantages of Floor Tiling

• Tiles retain a resale value, and antique or heritage tiles can be resold if you decide to renovate or redecorate your property.
• They are generally water-resistant, although care is necessary to avoid saturating grout and causing the tiles to lift or become unstable.
• There are no compound materials used in tiling, and they are suitable for properties where air quality is important.

There are multiple variants, ranging from ceramic to stone, marble and slate. However, the right flooring material will depend on the intended use of the space, as some tiles are more susceptible to cracks and damage.

Disadvantages of Tiled Flooring Vs Resin

One of the main drawbacks of a tiled floor is the grouting between the tiles, which attracts dirt and dust and can become stained. It is normally necessary to re-grout the floor periodically or replace the grout altogether after a period of usage when the grout begins to degrade.

If you are comparing flooring solutions for kitchens, it is important to note that tiles are water-resistant, but the grout and joins are not. Bacteria can cause the grout to disintegrate and erode over time, which is why floor tiles become loose.

Another issue is the potential for tiles to crack, break, or smash, with chipping common when heavier items are dropped.

Resin floors have slip-resistant qualities and can be applied with additives to improve the texture and grip of the floor, whereas this is not an option with tiling, aside from painted sealants, which require re-application.

Outdoor Resin Paving vs Tiling

Just as resin is a more durable alternative to indoor floor tiling, it can be used in place of outdoor paving slabs used for landscaping, garden paths, driveways and other exterior spaces.

Outdoor tiling is more expensive than interior projects due to the installation process. The substrate must be prepared carefully to ensure the base is even, stable and symmetrical before the tiles can be laid.

As with indoor tiling, the process includes mixing an adhesive, laying the tiles or paving slabs in a pattern, and grouting in between.

Resin-bound paving is as versatile and durable as indoor resin flooring, creating a smooth, even surface with edging in place to deliver a neat, uniform and level surface area suited to a variety of base materials and substrates.

How to Choose Between Tile or Resin Flooring

Both flooring options are high-quality, premium surfaces, and much may depend on the aesthetic and finish you’d like for your property.

However, it is a common misconception that resin flooring is considerably more expensive than tiling. The initial cost can be slightly higher for bespoke colours, specialist aggregates or larger floor surfaces, but the difference is in longevity, value for money and low maintenance.

A professionally fitted resin floor will last for years, retaining the same flawless appearance without any repair work. In contrast, tiles are prone to surface damage and usually need to be re-grouted, replaced or re-laid once the grout begins to break down or when an accident causes a tile to break.

If you are unsure which flooring systems are the right option for your property, indoors or outdoors, please contact Flexflooring for more information or to request an accurate quotation to help you make a direct comparison between costs.

We always recommend collating quotes to ensure you have a clear idea of the investment required for any flooring project and can make informed decisions to pick the ideal flooring solution to fit your objectives and budget.

References:

https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/tiling-cost/

https://www.homehow.co.uk/costs/resin-floor

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