Ceramic tile still remains the most durable, easy to clean and stylish flooring available. It cannot stain, fade, or suffer water damage. Today's technology has created an impervious floor with exquisite and unmatched design. Wood floors will be destroyed by water and need to sanded and refinished when worn. Let's not discuss what pets can do. Vinyl tile and linoleum are soft products that show scuffs, can stain from asphalt driveways, and can tear. Laminate floors cannot be refinished, many are not protected from water damage, and these products will chip and scratch more easily than ceramic. It is obvious why so many homeowners are buying and installing beautiful and durable ceramic tile which adds beauty and value to their home.

WHAT SIZE TILE SHOULD I BUY?

  Bathroom Wall Tile sizes  

Many homeowners choose large wall tiles because it minimizes the amount of grout to clean. However, large tiles in small areas sometimes create a fragmented look. 

3"x6"  

This tile is commonly known as subway tile, an extremely popular look designed to recreate that old New York 1940 prewar feel. It is usually found in white using black base molding, black top molding and 1" unglazed white hexagon on the floor. The tile is almost always installed in an offset (or brick) style pattern. 

41/4"x41/4"  

This tile is common place in all bathrooms prior to 1980. The tile is inexpensive and is readily available in a wide array of colors and trim pieces, which makes this tile popular with home builders, architects, and commercial builders.

  6"x6"  

This size tile shares all of the same features as the 41/4"x41/4". 

61/2"x61/2"  

This size is a result of the tile having an origin outside of the United States, where the metric system is applied. This tile is in most instances part of a modular design that would include a 13"x13" and a 61/2"x13". Using all components is a great way to have one complete overall look. 

6"x8"  

This size wall tile had its height of popularity between 1980 and 1990. These tiles replaced the standard 41/4"x41/4" and paved the way for the larger format tiles of today. Typically, the price range is lower than the 8"x10" size tiles. 6"x8" is still a great look for smaller bathroom walls or walls with many cutouts (ie: windows, outlets, medicine chests). 

8"x10"

 Today, this size tile remains the most popular for bathroom walls. The Europeans brought this size to the forefront of design by placing beautiful flowing images on tiles that seem to fit perfectly in any size bathroom. 

8"x12", 10"x13", 12"x16"  

The manufacturers are continuing the production of large format tiles. The advantage is each tile can carry a larger design and there are less grout joints on the walls. To install these tiles the walls should have minimum cutouts and should be as plumb and true as possible. 

Ceiling tile sizes  

Any size square tile makes the ideal ceiling. This ensures that all grout seams on the wall match all grout seams on the ceiling. In most instances, you will use the same tile that will be on the wall- choosing to match the grout joints to the wall where most visible. 

Bathroom Floor tile sizes  

Bathroom floors that have total square footage of less than 25 square feet should consider choosing tile smaller than 12"x12". The overall appearance of your floor may look fragmented if a big tile is placed in a small area. The outcome will produce the same amount of cut tile pieces to whole tile pieces. Bathroom floors that have total square footage of between 25 and 75 square feet may consider using any size tile up to and including 13"x13". Bathroom that have a total square footage of visual floor space above 75 square feet may choose to have any tile installed up to 16"x16". Many homeowners favor large tiles on their bathroom floors because it minimizes the amount of grout to clean. 

Counter top tile sizes

  Tile tops are primarily made using either 4"x4", 41/4"x41/4", 6"x6" or 61/2"x61/2" tile sizes. Smaller tile use too much grout and larger tile looks to fragmented. Counter tops and backsplashes 4"x4", 41/4"x41/4", 6"x6", 61/2"x61/2" are the primary sizes that should be considered for this application. Big tile will look fragmented.   

Kitchen, den, and living room floor tile sizesF

  Areas that are less than 100 square feet should use a tile no bigger than 13"x13". The rule is to see many more full pieces than cut (or partial) pieces. Areas bigger than 100 square feet may use any size tile, however if the area has a lot of square footage, yet is broken up with small hallways, or peninsula and island cabinets, you should definitely consider a 12"x12" tile. Remember: It is not necessarily the total square footage but, rather the total footage seen after cabinets and furniture.   Again, many homeowners like large tiles, because it reduces the amount of grout joints - but it still has to look good.  

  WHAT TYPE OF TILE SHOULD I BUY?  

  Walls and backsplashes  

  Easy to clean wall tile  

Smooth and high gloss wall tile is the easiest to maintain inside the shower or tub enclosure. However, today rough textured and matted finishes are among the most popular. All ceramic tile is glazed - the tile is not porous and it cannot stain. Porcelain tile is also impervious to staining, whether it is glazed or unglazed. 

Wall Tile Durability  

This is not an issue. The walls do not receive any foot traffic or wear and tear. Porcelain tile has more durability than ceramic but is certainly not required for interior walls. Ceramic wall tiles are made with less dense raw materials, are fired at lower kiln temperatures, and have weaker glazes than ceramic floor tiles, therefore, WALL TILES ARE ONLY MEANT FOR USAGE ON WALL APPLICATIONS. Ceramic wall tile cannot be used in exterior applications in climates that drop below freezing. Porcelain wall or floor tile should be considered.   

Floor Tile Matte finish vs. gloss finish This is an area that receives abuse and wear. Although shiny gloss tile is easy to clean, it will not withstand the abuse that a rough, slated, textured, or stippled tile can take. The gloss finish reflects light. If a gloss tile becomes scratched, chipped, or has dirt on it, the light will not reflect and the trouble area will thus, become highlighted. Matted finishes resist and disguise abuse more than gloss finishes.   

Porcelain tile vs. ceramic tile  

Porcelain tiles are made of more dense raw materials than ceramic and in some instances the color goes all the way through from top to bottom. In the event of a chipping unglazed porcelain tile you will still see the same color. 

Outdoor tile  

All natural stone, porcelain tile, and a few ceramic tiles could be used outdoors in climates that freeze. Any tile including natural terracotta could be used outdoors in climates that do not freeze. 

Slip resistance  

Gloss ceramic glazed tiles or polished porcelain tiles can be very slippery when wet. Matted, stippled, slated, finishes offers more grab than the gloss tile, but PRECAUTION SHOULD ALWAYS BE USED WHEN A FLOOR IS WET. Common sense dictates that if a floor tile is rough to the touch it will offer more resistance to slip under foot. I will mention that home and commercial design may dictate glaze type. For instance; major hotels and office buildings use high polished floor tiles for lobbies and bathrooms because they are easy to clean. These high sheen tiles do meet architectural specifications for those areas. Do not use those finishes for steps or outside floor surfaces. 

Floor Durability and PEI rating  

The PEI rating is a formula that tile manufacturers subscribe to. This rat ing scales the amount of time is taken to wear down the glaze off of the surface of a tile. 

PEI scale Application

 1 tile not for use but for display 2 wall applications only 3 any room within a residential home 4 any room within a residential home and light commercial use 5 light and heavy commercial use 

Tile Thickness

 Pei rating is the best indicator of which tile should be applied where. The thickness of the tile has no bearing on whether it is a strong tile or not. 

Tile Origin

 It is true that Italy is the country that leads the tile world industry in production, exportation, design, and technology. However, it does not make their tile the best for your application. Each tile series, regardless of origin or manufacturer, should be judged on a case by case basis. Red bodied vs. white bodied tile The fear is that if a red bodied tile is chipped, it will be more apparent than if a white bodied tile is chipped. Well, that all depends upon if the glaze on top most closely resembles the body. Also, if a chip occurs, it will eventually be equally noticeable when dirt fills it in. It is best to just replace the chipped tile. 

WHAT COLOR SHOULD I CHOOSE?  

Light color vs. dark colors

 Common sense should be your guide. Solid white tile will show every piece of dirt, lint, and hair. If your area is highly trafficked, you should avoid extremely light tiles. You will be forever cleaning them and they will show wear at a faster rate than darker tiles. Tiles with deep shaded colors will do the best in disguising dust and dirt and wear and tear. Light colors tend to make areas look more open and brighter, while dark colors tend to make areas more closed in. Colors such as black or navy blue will show dust. A hybrid of tones and shades is always better than choosing a solid color. 

WHAT STYLE SHOULD I CHOOSE?

  Marbleized look  

This can be both a modern look or a classic look. It is simply tile that resembles the feel of natural polished marble. This style mainly has a uniform background color with "veins" running in all directions of the surface. 

Granite look

 This is a ceramic tile look that usually conveys a more modern feel. It is a style that is marked by a singular color background overlaid by multicolored speckles.   

Stone look Welcome the most popular look of 2000. Manufacturers are producing tiles that have this feel in record numbers. This tile gives the effect of a worn or weathered stone. Many series have a modular (or multi-size) collection where a cobblestone feel can be replicated. The look of tumbled marble and limestone are often replicated using this style. Rustic look This look has a heavier and more earthen feel. Usually the rustic look has some real intense surface texture. This look will shape your area into one that has a timeless and rugged style.

  Wavy edge  

The edges of these tiles are wavy or "irregular" and will shed a tile's sometime look of uniformity. The grout will fill into the widening and narrowing joints. 

Slate look

 The surface of these tiles are typified by long clefts or the simulation of the shoaled and shaded natural slate. 

NATURAL STONE  

Natural stone is natural. That is, mother nature made it - not chemists and technologists. The beauty of natural stone is that no two pieces are alike. Ceramic tile cannot achieve this with the glazes and screens designed for mass production. Natural stone needs special care in maintenance. All natural stones stain. The product is so versatile it can be earthy and rugged, elegant and traditional, modern and contemporary, and smooth and refined. Choose the one that is right for you. 

Tumbled marble  

This natural stone is extremely popular. It is actual marble that is placed in a tumbler with a slurry of sand and rocks. The result is a beautifully worn and unique product containing nicks and divots which are filled in with grout and give this stone its character. This product must be sealed. 

Limestone  

This stone is slightly softer than marble and is defined by having a smooth and creamy coloration. Limestone usually is in a 12"x12" size and is either honed ( a finish which produces a smooth matte patina) or polished. Although it is now being tumbled as well. Other than the polished type - this product must be sealed. 

Slate  

This is the softest and least expensive of all stones. It has a variation in thickness unlike the other natural stones. 

Polished Marble

 This is a stone that is typified with veining and lots of it. No two pieces are alike (some pieces will have more veins than others). Expect degrees of inconsistencies in respect to shading and veining. Be sure to mix all boxes together. This marble has a lustrous finish that does not need to be sealed. 

Polished granite  

This is the hardest of all stones and the least likely to stain. It need not be sealed. It is defined by having a high lustrous shine typified by heavy dark speckles. 

LAMINATE FLOORING  

Laminate flooring is the next best alternative to ceramic flooring. It far surpasses natural wood and vinyl products in both maintenance and durability. Laminates have become an alternative to ceramic for many reasons. Laminate floors are warmer, softer, they can be laid over less stable sub-floors, and they do not create as much of a raise in total overall height than ceramic floors. Wood look  

This style resembles the look and feel of natural hardwood. It is available in many "wood" matches and is similarly installed in a tongue and groove floating floor system. 

Tile look

 This style resembles that of ceramic tile, yet it is installed in a tongue and groove floating floor system.