Selecting Kitchen and Bathroom Tile Materials
There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing tile for kitchen and bathroom. From porcelain to glass, each type of tile has its place in your remodeling project. All the different tile materials can be used for different purposes such as flooring, counters and backsplashes. Learning about the different tiles available will help you make good choices for the needs of your kitchen and bathroom.
Types of tile
There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing tile for kitchen and bathroom. From porcelain to glass, each type of tile has its place in your remodeling project. All the different tile materials can be used for different purposes such as flooring, counters and backsplashes. Learning about the different tiles available will help you make good choices for the needs of your kitchen and bathroom.
Porcelain and Ceramic
Porcelain is made from natural clay. Porcelain is actually a high quality type of ceramic. Porcelain is made with a denser clay than other ceramics and fired at a higher temperature. Porcelain is hard so it is more durable and scratch resistant. Porcelain is more stain and water resistant than natural stone. Porcelain is a great tile material to use for both floors and walls in high use areas due to its durability.
Glass
Glass tiles are commonly used as a kitchen backsplash. Although most common as kitchen backsplashes, glass tiles can be used for many other areas including flooring. Glass is a very beautiful material and can be used to create stunning mosaics. Glass is highly water and stain resistant. This makes glass tiles very easy to clean. Glass is more environmentally friendly than porcelain as it takes less energy to produce glass tiles. Glass tiles are on the expensive side. Glass is more prone to scratching. If glass tiles break, they can have some very sharp edges. The tiles get slippery when wet. These two points are especially important when considering glass tiles for flooring. Despite the price and fragility of glass, the beauty can make it worth it.
Marble
Marble tiles are a natural stone tile. Marble is an elegant material. It has been prized throughout history for building. Some notable buildings that use marble include the Washington Monument, the Taj Mahal and the Pantheon. The beauty of natural stone is hard to match. Marble can come in various colors. Each piece of marble is unique. The individuality of each tile can create a beautiful surface. It may be difficult to find a replacement tile if needed due to the uniqueness. Although it is stone, marble is a relatively soft stone so it is prone to scratching and possible breakage. Since marble is rather porous, it is vulnerable to water damage and staining as well. Marble requires proper periodic sealing to prevent this. When marble is polished is very glossy. Polished marble is also slippery when wet. Just like glass, marble tiles can be pricey and vulnerable to damage but with proper care they can make a marvelous surface.
Granite
Granite tiles are another attractive natural stone tile. Like Marble, granite is also available in various colors. Granite is harder than marble so scratches and cracks are less of a worry. Although granite is a hard rock, it is also porous. Is is susceptible to staining and water damage. Granite needs to be sealed and periodically maintained. High grade granite is less expensive than high grade marble.
Limestone
Limestone is a beautiful stone with an earthy look. It comes in different earth tone hues and blue as well. If you are going for a rustic look, limestone is a great tile choice. Limestone does not have the sheen of marble or granite when polished. Limestone has about the same hardness as marble therefore the possibility of scratching and breakage are things to be aware of. It is also porous and can be susceptible to stain and water damage. Limestone also has to be sealed and maintained. High grade limestone is generally less expensive than high grade marble but more expensive than high grade granite.
Travertine
Travertine is a type of limestone and shares many of its properties. Travertine is softer than limestone on the hardness scale. It generally comes it shades of tan but can be found in other colors. Seal and maintain travertine as you would limestone. Travertine is generally less expensive than limestone.
Slate
Slate rounds out our selection of natural stone flooring. Just like the other stone tiles mentioned, slate is durable enough to be used for various tile purposes. It’s hardness is about the same as limestone. It comes in a variety of colors including multiple colors in single tiles. Slate has historically been used as roof tiles due to its low water absorption. Although slate has low water absorption, slate should be sealed and maintained to keep its appearance.
Cement
Cement is made up mostly of limestone. The process to make cement doesn’t involve firing. This aspect is more environmentally friendly than the production of porcelain. Cement tiles are versatile and can provide you with a variety of design options. Sealing and maintaining concrete tiles will reduce the chance of staining and water absorption just like their stone counterparts.
Metal or Tin
Metal or tin tiles are popularly used as a kitchen backsplash. Maintenance is easy for this type of tile. A general cleaning is all that is needed. As with other metals, care needs to be taken not to dent it.
There are several ways to utilize the different tiles mentioned in this article. We hope this article has helped you narrow down what types of tiles you will be looking into for your home improvement project.