Choosing Tile For Your Bathroom Remodel – Which Three Kinds Have the Best Value?

When choosing materials for your bathroom remodel, tile should receive as much consideration as your new fixtures. Tile, in addition to providing protection from water, is integral to making your new bathroom feel like it is truly “yours.”

Durability, expense, ease of cleaning and aesthetic value should all come into consideration during tile selection-there are thousands of kinds to choose from, but there are some obvious winners. Here are three examples of such bathroom champions.

1. Ceramic

An extremely durable tile, Ceramic comes in every color under the sun. Typically molded from clay, fired and glazed, Ceramic is a classic tile material. Ceramic tile mosaics and installations are still intact in ancient structures from Egypt and Pompeii. Ceramic is easy to clean-a wet towel does the trick-and doesn’t harbor germs. It can be purchased in five different gradations of hardness: zero through two are typically chosen for wall tile and three for flooring. It is easy to install on your own, and is very affordable at between $3 and $7 a square foot. Be sure that all tile used in your bathroom comes from the same lot, as color and size can vary slightly between manufactured lots.

2. Porcelain

Porcelain is a variation on Ceramic tile, in that it is durable and affordable. In fact, it is more typically used for commercial tiling jobs as it is more durable than is necessary for residential bathrooms. Manufactured in the same way as Ceramic tile, Porcelain comes in an infinite number of colors and sizes. Priced essentially identical to Ceramic at between $3 and $6 per square foot, Porcelain has great value. It is easy to install-and definitely possible to do yourself-though it must have a different setting material than typical Ceramic. It is a more porous material, so ask the tile’s manufacturer about their preferred type of compound setting.

3. Terra Cotta

As one of the most ancient tile materials-dating back to before oven-firing was an option in its baking process-Terra Cotta is certainly tried and true. It provides a uniquely rustic and weathered look to any space, while remaining within the same range of prices for the preceding tile types. Some added expense is incurred, however, when installing and deciding whether or not to seal the tiled surface. This is a job for tiling professionals (like those at Denver Tile Installation), particularly in terms of selection. While good Terra Cotta will last forever, even tile experts have a difficult time evaluating its quality. Only buy from a trusted source, and seriously consider sealing. Sealing the floor-applying a glaze over the completed surface-will ensure that no water will infiltrate and will dramatically improve the ease of cleaning.

There are many options for creating aesthetic quality in a bathroom, and it is tempting to go with what is most attractive. However, since bathrooms need to serve a practical purpose first and foremost, you should also keep more practical aspects of tile selection in mind. That way, you will not only love the way your bathroom looks when it is completed, but also be able to enjoy it long afterward.