Porcelain Tiles Archives

Flooring, Tile Floors
December 20, 2019

Are Porcelain Tiles Good For Bathroom Floors?

Thinking of remodeling your bathroom? It’s fun looking at photographs of all the things you can do. What colors should you use? How about upgrading the tub? Or maybe adding a steam shower?

The possibilities are endless.

At some point, you’ll head down to the bottom – the floor. What’s the best flooring for a bathroom remodel? You’ll quickly find you can’t ignore tile. By far, tile is one of the most popular choices you can make. But even within the subcategory of tile, you’ll have a lot of decisions to make.

Which is better for bathrooms, ceramic or porcelain tile?

As you start looking at your options, you’ll quickly discover that tile falls into two categories: ceramic and porcelain. Porcelain tile is the more popular choice for bathroom floors for a variety of reasons. It’s made of a denser material, is harder, and a less porous option. That makes it more water resistant and stain resistant than ceramic tiles. And in a bathroom, those are both great things to have.

Porcelain tile is also the perfect choice for installing over radiant heating. And here in Colorado, tile and radiant heating naturally go together. Because tile can be on the cold side of things, that’s the first hurdle many home remodelers have. Homeowners want a floor that won’t be cold on their as they get out of bed on frosty winter mornings.

Even more, porcelain is unmatched in its beauty. It can mimic any design you desire. Do you want natural stone without the care involved in keeping natural stone looking good? Do you want the look of hardwood floors without the upkeep? Porcelain tile is the solution for you. Depending on your budget, you’ll find it can take on just about any look you desire.

Porcelain tile typically comes in two basic types:

Through-bodied – where texture and color run all the way through the tile. This makes each tile strong and durable as it can hide scratches and chips better.

Glazed – where the entire tile is glazed with a wear layer that gives it a strong, dense surface. It also gives you the widest range of styles, colors, and patterns.

Do porcelain tiles chip easily?

Your bathroom floors take a lot of abuse. Think back what they’ve gone through just in the last few days.

Water spilling over from the tub
Moisture and humidity from that long shower you took on the coldest morning of the year
A dropped hair dryer
The mess when your makeup spilled

That’s a lot of different potential problems your floors will face. And flooring can be quickly damaged if you don’t select the right flooring for your room.

Porcelain is denser than ceramic, which means it has a lower absorption rate. This is what gives it water and moisture resistance, including the ability to withstand frost. That’s why it’s a great indoor/outdoor option.

That denseness also makes it less likely to chip. This is where you should also pay attention to something called a PEI rating. This will tell you just how resistant the surface of the tile is to scratching and chipping. A tile with a PEI rating will chip and scratch easier, meaning it’s better for applications where it won’t get much abuse, such as the walls. A PEI rating of 3 is good for all residential applications. Commercial or industrial often move to a PEI rating of 4 or 5.

Are porcelain tiles slippery?

When it comes to selecting a flooring product that has slip-resistant qualities, porcelain tile leads the pack. That’s why you’ll find porcelain tile in both residential and commercial, indoor and outdoor applications.

It is important to note that not every porcelain tile is perfect for wet spaces. It also depends on the surface structure and the glaze used in production. Porcelain tile does have slip-resistant qualities. But to ensure you make the right choice for your bathroom, ask which of your favorites would be best. We’re happy to help you make the right decision for your home.

Are porcelain tiles healthier than other flooring choices?

Bathrooms need to be a hygienic place. From spills to accidents, odors, and the chance for biological growth, your bathroom sees it all throughout the day. Yet porcelain tiles stand up well to the pressure.

They are easy to clean. You’ll be able to wipe off spills and accidents quickly.

They are hygienic, meaning the non-porous surface won’t trap allergens.

They also won’t allow mildew or mold and bacteria to grow.

If you want ease, porcelain tile is a great choice to make.

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Porcelain tiles are highly versatile and will give you the look you want!

If you think all tiles are the same, you haven’t looked at today’s tile. Especially with porcelain tile, they are designed to mimic just about any look you desire.

You’ll find them in every size, shape, and color. Want tiny tile to lay in mosaic format? Love the look of subway tile? Want a different shape – how about hexagon? Or maybe you want the look of exotic hardwood without the headache that comes along with installing exotic hardwood in the bathroom. Porcelain tile’s got you covered there too.

Plus, it doesn’t stop with selecting one look or feel. You can combine several different porcelain tiles to find a pattern that’s uniquely your own.

To find your ideal look, we recommend going online and finding design sites to look at. Sign up for Pinterest and you can create a pinboard that highlights the look and feel you desire. Then bring it in and share. It’ll give us a starting point to help point you in the right direction of the product lines that will be perfect to create the look you’re going for.

Are you ready to install porcelain tile in your bathroom?

When you’re ready to get started on your remodeling project, the best place to start is by stopping by and seeing our complete line. We can give you all the information you’ll need to make a decision on the tiles best suited for your needs.

Choosing porcelain tiles for your bathroom is the best decision you can make in your remodel. You’re going to love the look for years to come.

Flooring
December 7, 2019

Are Porcelain Tiles A Durable Option For Your Home?

When you’re ready to start a home remodel, most people start with the floors. Your flooring choice sets the stage for all of your home decorating ideas. Hardwood provides a different air than carpet, while tile takes it in an entirely different direction.

If you’re looking for a flooring choice that’s as durable as it is beautiful, you can’t ignore porcelain tile. Though it’s made from similar materials as ceramic tile, they are, in general, considered more durable and better made. Of course, like every flooring choice, porcelain tiles have their benefits and downsides; only you can decide if they are the right choice for your home improvement project.

What is porcelain tile?

Before we get into the pros and cons of porcelain tile, it’s important to understand what porcelain tile is. Porcelain tile is created from a very dense clay that is fired at higher temperatures than standard ceramic tiles (2000 degrees Fahrenheit and higher.)

This process removes nearly all of the water, creating a highly uniform in construction, non-porous product. This makes it a better flooring choice in rooms that can fluctuate greatly in temperature, or in areas where you choose to integrate radiant heating into your area.

Porcelain tile is denser and harder than many other building products, including ceramic tile. Many can withstand freezing temperatures, making it perfect for indoor/outdoor living. Unless they have a polished finish, they are also slip-resistant.

What are the benefits of porcelain tile?

We find a lot of people come in with a couple of predetermined beliefs about porcelain tile, and are leary of using them in their home.

They think they’re cold
They think they’re more expensive than other options

Both are relative. Porcelain tile can be cold to the touch. It’s also one of the best choices for use with radiant heating. Porcelain tile is more expensive than other choices. But it’s also a flooring product that can last for decades if well cared for. That can make the higher price tag worth it when you know your flooring will last for years. Of course, there are many other reasons you should take a look at porcelain tile.

Wearability

Some flooring choices can be accidents waiting to happen. The first glass of wine knocked onto a light colored carpet, for example, can quite literally take your breath away.

You won’t have that if you install porcelain tile. It’s highly resistant to wear, and tends to last longer than a standard ceramic tile does. That’s because of the way porcelain tile is designed. It’s denser, has fewer air pockets, and is more uniform in consistency. It’s harder and thicker than other tile formats.

Because they do last for so long, they aren’t just a great choice for homes, but also for busy commercial locations. If you have an office space where you meet clients regularly, porcelain tile may be the perfect choice for years of wearability. Of course, what makes it good for lots of foot traffic, also makes it great for wearing well with pets. They’re less prone to breaking, scratching, and can’t be dented.

Low maintenance

What good is a new floor if you can’t sustain your normal lifestyle out of fear you’ll spill and stain it? No worries with porcelain tile. Porcelain tile looks great, they’re tough, and they’re easy to maintain.

Because of their hard surface area, they don’t need special sealants to keep out moisture like other tile choices do. They’re easy to clean – just water and a mild detergent will keep them looking their best. That’s why you’ll see them being used in the most difficult rooms in a home – like your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, entryways, or basement. Keep in mind they aren’t completely waterproof, but resist water enough that if you clean up messes quickly, they won’t be harmed.

Great in high traffic areas

After reading about the other benefits, you’ve probably determined porcelain tiles would be great in high traffic areas. You’re correct. That’s what also makes porcelain tile in-demand for business use.

No matter how much you dish out, they deliver. They don’t scuff, break, or wear down easily. They repel moisture and are easy to clean. What else do you want in a floor?

Whether you have a family that is always coming and going, or like to throw dinner parties every weekend, you’re going to love the look and durability of porcelain tile. It holds up to the use and abuse any family member can dish out.

Beautiful

One of the biggest reasons to consider porcelain tile is their looks. They come in a full spectrum of appearances, and add aesthetics to any room in your home. No matter what your taste or personality, there is a porcelain tile waiting for you.

Even better, porcelain tile can take on the look of many other products. Want to lay a flooring that gives the appearance of marble, granite, hardwood, or even limestone, but is more durable and easy to care for? Porcelain tile can create those looks. And in many cases, by comparison, using porcelain tile instead will give you a more cost effective way of installing new floors. If you haven’t looked at porcelain tile lately, it’s time you did.

Let’s talk about the disadvantages

There are always two sides to every discussion. And while porcelain tile is the right choice for many, it does bring its own disadvantages to the table too.

They are difficult to install. This isn’t a do-it-yourself project unless you have a lot of experience laying porcelain tile. It’s more difficult to lay into place, hard to cut, and even harder to create the perfect layout that will wear well throughout your home.

It’s heavier than other flooring choices. And while that’s what makes them more durable, it can make it more problematic in certain homes. If you want to lay it in a second floor bathroom, for instance, you have to be sure your home can sustain the added weight.

It’s more difficult to repair. Once a tile is broken, you’ll have to replace it with a new tile. That means you’ll have to order multiple extra tiles and keep them on hand. You’ll also have to have a professional come in to replace it and ensure it looks good with the rest of your flooring.

And as we already mentioned, it’s costlier than other flooring choices. If you’re on a pretty tight budget, the price can be a sticker shock. Don’t forget it’s not just the material price; you also have to plan for installation, and possibly subfloor upgrades to ensure your porcelain tile is laid perfectly into place.

Is porcelain tile the right choice for your home?

We love porcelain tile. It can be a great choice, depending on your needs.

If you’re attracted to porcelain tile and think it would be a great addition to your home, why not stop by and look at our full line and selection? We think you’re going to fall in love with porcelain tile as much as we have. You’ll love what it can do for your home.