When choosing finishes for apartments, it is essential to take factors into consideration concerning durability, aesthetics, and ease of maintenance.

Apartments can be challenging to maintain, and wear and tear should be a primary consideration when choosing what flooring to install. Particularly if tenants have pets, high-quality, durable flooring can help avoid the replacement of floors every time a tenant moves out. Tiled floors work well in kitchens, bathrooms, and foyers because tiles are moisture-resistant. They are also easy to maintain to a high standard and keep clean.

Change to Building Code

Specifiers will also be aware of the recent Building Code change regarding internal moisture and flooring which impacts specifications for kitchens, laundries, bathrooms, and other wet areas of all residential homes which include apartments. The acceptable solution E3/AS1 for internal moisture no longer allows for timber-based flooring in areas that contain sanitary fixtures or sanitary appliances with acceptable options being tile or full-sheet vinyl. From November 5th 2021, alternative flooring options outside of these will require special council consent.

Click here for detailed code information

Tips for Apartment floor selection

• Avoid using a different type of flooring in each space and instead use the same type of flooring throughout. This will create a seamless look that ties one room into another, giving the illusion of having more space. Based on the build code change, tile is one of the only options that can be specified for every room of a home.
• Tiles can create flow from interior spaces to exterior. Tile Warehouse have a substantial selection of ranges that are suitable for both interiors and exterior areas. Click here to view
• Increase the appearance of more floor space by selecting floor tiles that are larger than the standard 600 x 600mm size. Installing with minimal grout and rectified edges can enhance visual space. Click here to discover some excellent options.
• If a timber look and planks are preferred, laying flooring diagonally across the room can also make it look bigger. Click here to view Tile Warehouse's popular Timber-tile range.
• Tiles in multi-level apartment buildings are subject to acoustic requirements. Tile Warehouse recommends the Acoustibond system.
• If balconies are required to have deck jacks installed, Tile Warehouse offers a comprehensive range of 20mm pavers available. Click here to view.
• Whether investing or purchasing to live in, Tiles are the most cost-effective flooring based on lifecycle costing.

Splashbacks and feature walls

With the ease of maintenance and cleaning and the myriad of colour and texture options available, tiles also lend themselves perfectly to feature walls and splashbacks.

Kitchens: Because a backsplash functions to protect the wall from splashes and splatters that come from cooking and preparing food, the only prerequisite is that tiles should be easy to keep clean. Equally important is that the surface be fire-resistant and low in porosity, both of which are found in tile. Beyond that, the choices become mainly aesthetic. A well-designed splashback receives a lot of visual attention and lends itself perfectly to an opportunity to make a statement.

Bathrooms: Feature tiles can be used to give an apartment bathroom a wow factor. This may come from interesting textures such as the current trend of terrazzo, coloured, metal-look subway wall tiles, or mosaics which can all result in a beautiful feature.

The commercial team at Tile Warehouse has supplied and assisted with many apartment projects across New Zealand, the most recent being the award-winning FABRIC in Onehunga, Auckland. With over 100 years combined experience, they can support designers with technical advice, a vast product selection, and package deals for multi-dwellings projects.