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Is Porcelain & Ceramic Tile Right for Me?

Flooring

Modern ceramic tile floor living room

You know that it looks great and is easy to clean, but are ceramic tile or porcelain tile right for your home or office? Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of this flooring and wall covering option.

Advantages: Easy, reliable, and design-friendly

Most porcelain and ceramic tile is hard-wearing and easy to maintain over the long term. This means that you’ll likely only be doing the job of installing it once over the course of owning your home or office. The colors don’t fade, and you’ll be pleased to know that it has hypoallergenic qualities. No need to worry about pets, spills, or wear and tear!

wood grain porcelain tile for floors and walls in the bathroom

It’s also good to know that porcelain and ceramic tile is easy to install. A beginner, DIY-friendly project, tiling is made simple with its clean lines and fiber mesh resin backing that holds tight to your underflooring.

Porcelain and ceramic tile is versatile, both in style and selection and in the way that it can be used in the home and office. Try tile on walls and floors, but also on counters, backsplashes, and shower surrounds. Check out the wide selection of colors and patterning available to design your space the way you want.

All tiles are standardized and tested so that they are easy to install and maintain, but they are also available in a wide range of affordable options. From highly-engineered rectified tile to retro subway tile to rustic mosaic tile, there are styles and options for your budget.

Disadvantages: Planning ahead

Before you invest in porcelain and ceramic tile, it pays to think about the kind of tile that will not only suit your budget, but your lifestyle as well. Start by finding out the differences between regular ceramic tile and porcelain tile.

Mediterranean Living Room Tile Flooring

Although these materials are from the same family, they can be very different in look and feel, in installation, and in durability. Traditional ceramic tiles are easier to cut and shape, but porcelain tiles are harder and can often be found in more modern and exacting styles. Think about what you need in your space, and what materials you want to work with, before you buy.

Unlike other wall and floor coverings, tile does not absorb sound. If you need a soundproof space, you may want to think about a different option.

Some tiles are prone to be slippery when wet. Be careful before you install highly glazed tiles on a bathroom floor, especially if it is regularly used by the very young or older adults. terra cotta red tile bathroom

As well, Saltillo tile is porous and should not be used in rooms that have a lot of water splashing, like the bathroom or kitchen.

 

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(13) Comments

  1. Kyle Wayne

    I like that you mentioned how porcelain tile is easy to maintain over a long period of time. My sister is building a home and is looking to use tile for her flooring but isn’t sure. I think I will encourage her to find a flooring professional that can help her get that taken care of and avoid a lot of maintenance in the future.

  2. Steve hall

    Want to replace carpet in very high traffic living room. Is porcelain tile a good choice or should we look into wood or engineered wood? I would really appreciate your input. Thank you for any information or suggestions.

    • BuildDirect Product Expert Team

      Hi Steve,

      Thank you for your inquiry! There are quite a few options you can go with in a high traffic area. Porcelain tile, luxury vinyl plank, or a solid or engineered hardwood in an oak, hickory, maple or an exotic species like Cumaru will work well. It all depends on the aesthetic you are looking for. The material you use can also depend on the area you live in as well as the climate. I highly suggest giving us a call at 1-877-631-2845 to talk to a flooring specialist so they can go over your project and suggest the best option. You can also email us at CustomerService@BuildDirect.com. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

  3. ABE GLAZER

    I need to cover a dry basement floor corridor which has quite a bit of foot traffic.
    I am thinking about using porcelain tile to cover the concrete floor. Is this advisable
    and any special installation instructions for durability?

    • Rob Jones

      Hi Ralph. This is from one of our product experts:

      The customer will also need:
      – Thinset – each 11 lb bag we carry covers 80 square feet so they would need 6 bags
      – Grout – For this tile they can use un-sanded grout, the quantity depends on the width of the grout joint they would like to use – for the wood looking tile most people prefer to use a small grout joint (about 1/8″ or 1/16″) in that case our 11 lb bags will cover about 80 square feet so they would need 6 bags of that as well
      – Underlayment – This depends on the customer’s subfloor, if the subfloor is plywood they will have to use either ‘Durabase,’ or a concrete backer board, if the subfloor is concrete they can decide to lay the material directly on the concrete or use an anti-fracture membrane.

      Hope this helps! 🙂

  7. L . P. Tan

    I have pets , is it right for me to replace my carpet on the loop of the second floor with wood look ceramic tile ? My first floor carpet I will replace it with ceramic tiles . This is because of my pets having accidents. Pls advice me if what I am planning to do is right. Thanks so much? …

  9. Edward

    need info on tile on concrete floor that will be under a gas stove?. This gas stove will be replacing a wood burning stove due to health reasons. I assume the normal installation for Porcelain glazed tile is suitable for this type of location. Thanks so much.

  10. spiro

    need info on restaurant diner flooring thats durable and slip resistant please send info on what u have available thank u

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