Sacramento Tile Contractor

Tile floors, countertops, bath surround, backsplach

Choosing Your Tile

Tiles are a combination of clay, minerals and solvents that are shaped and sized and then heated to very high temperatures. At this point, the tile can just stay as is and is considered finished. It’s unglazed and without decoration. Without the glaze, the tile is very porous and, though attractive in a rustic way, it wouldn’t be wise to use it at this stage in areas where spillage might be common, like the kitchen.



Types of Tiles

Terracotta Tile

Terracotta tile offers a rustic, primitive look that is emerging big-time. But, Osburn says, it isn’t for perfectionists.

Mexican saltillo tiles became popular in the early 1980s. Some terracotta tiles are unglazed and usually left unsealed, which is what you want to get the look of old Provence, and although silicone impregnators are available to avoid grease spots, the tiles will still develop a patina from age. 


2. Subway Tile Sons.

The expression “subway tile” has come to define both a shape and a pattern; it refers to any thin, low-fired glazed ceramic tile. “It’s become a classic, like jeans and a T-shirt,” says Osburn, who predicts that subway tile will never go out of style. “You can create a design statement with even the most economical tile, and dress it up or down.”

Good for: Walls, backsplash, shower stalls.

Pros: Affordable, durable, and easily cleaned. Easily installed.

Con: Not suitable for floors.

3. Stoneware Tile Caviar Bar in Finland with a Wintry Palette.

This affordable tile is readily available in home-supply stores. Elements in the clay allow it to be fired at higher temperatures, which makes for a harder, glasslike surface. Stoneware tiles can be plain matte or glossy; other types can have a printed glaze finish made to look like wood or stone. They’re typically found on restaurant floors, where durability is needed; at home, dog owners who like the look of hardwood but can’t put it in their high-traffic area might opt for the visual impact of wood-patterned stoneware.


Good for: Mostly floors, but also used on walls.

Pros: Affordable, durable, and easily cleaned. Easily installed.

Con: Note that stoneware that looks like faux stone or wood doesn’t wear as well as the real thing.

4. Porcelain Tile

These are ceramic tiles made from a white clay that’s more elastic and can be somewhat translucent. It’s fired at an even higher temperature than stoneware, which makes it harder and tougher. The current porcelain trend started because the Italians decided to show off their tile-making chops, Osburn explains. “At one point stoneware was the big tile, and the Italians decided to switch to porcelain,” she says. “But it barely makes any difference in how the tile looks or performs.”

Good for: Walls, backsplash, shower stalls.

Pros: Durable and easily cleaned. Easily installed.

Con: Higher priced than other ceramic tiles.

5. Glass Tile


It’s possible to get even more beautiful colors in glass tile that you can from glazes, says Osburn. Still, you have to be a fan of that glasslike surface, which was especially popular 15 years ago. Glass tile is also tricky to install because of the translucency.

Good for: Walls, backsplash, shower stalls.

Pros: Durable and impervious to staining. Brilliant colors and finishes.

Cons: Requires special materials and techniques to install. Can be expensive. Not always suitable for floors (it can help if the tile surface is textured).

Price: From $16 per square foot (steer clear of anything less) to as high as $100. Standard good-quality glass tiles are around $25 to $35.


6. Natural Stone Tile

While stone tiles have been used around the world since ancient times, they were brand-new in the United States 30 years ago. And like terracotta, there was a learning curve: Many homeowners didn’t like that it can be hard to maintain, might vary from one tile to the next, and would develop a patina.

Many types of stone are cut into tiles for household and commercial uses; these vary in terms of their strength, durability, and imperviousness. The softest is limestone tile, which is earthy-looking and can’t be polished to a high shine.

Marble tile is somewhat harder, but not maintenance-free, while granite is the hardest and the easiest to maintain. And then there’s quartzite, which is also very hard—and not to be confused with quartz, an engineered stone that’s hard and stain-resistant. (Many of these stones are more often used as a slab for countertops and shower stall walls.) Slate tile is well suited for flooring since its natural texture makes it slip-resistant.

Good for: Walls, backsplash, shower stalls, floors.

Pros: Natural patterns are aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes, there’s no grout needed for installation.

Cons: Some stone tiles must be regularly sealed or treated to prevent staining. Those left unsealed can stain.

7. Cement Tile


Tiles made of pigmented cement—also called concrete tiles—are currently the biggest seller at Clé Tile, as the US scrambles to catch up with the rest of the world. Osburn considers cement tiles one of the best flooring materials, both for their beauty and for the fact that, like hardwood floors, they can be refinished over and over. However, they’re meant to develop a patina with age, so if you consider that a downside, cement tiles aren’t for you.

Good for: Walls, backsplash, floors.

Pros: Attractive, durable, and affordable. “There’s nothing more beautiful in that price range,” Osburn says. Grout is not always needed for installation, depending on the function and area where it’s used. Can be refinished.

Cons: Depending on wear and tear, needs to be sealed and maintained.


 

© Copyright Sacramento Home