Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodels in Kansas City Need the Right Backsplash or Shower Tiles for the Biggest Impact and Best Results
A beautiful tile installation can really make your home remodel. But with so many tile options to choose from in your local big box hardware store, or through special order online, it can be frustrating to choose. And what’s with the different materials tiles are made of?
What you should know is this: any tile you love that suits the function of the space is the right tile for your kitchen or bathroom. Consider the rest of these comparisons to help you choose your tile.
Glass Tiles for Your Home Remodel
For high style and a glossy, sheen, decorative glass tiles are appealing and can look luxurious. They’re best used for backsplashes and walls, and don’t perform well on the floor. Glass tiles also are ideal for accents with subway tile or other tile shapes to add visual interest.
A quality glass tile will be more expensive to purchase, and you should be extra careful during the installation because they’re so easy to chip or scratch. Relying on a professional is your best bet to get the effect you want.
A great thing about glass tile is that it’s available in so many patterns, sizes, and colors, so you can create a truly custom look in your kitchen or bathroom. They’re also relatively low maintenance; you can simply wipe them down with a basic cleaner. But you may not want them for covering 100 percent of your small bathroom remodel, especially when there are better products available for that.
Porcelain Tile for your Kansas City Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel
Porcelain tile tends to be more impervious to water than ceramic tile, and it also comes at a high price tag. It’s made of a kaolin clay mixture, which is finer and more pure than ceramic clays. There may also be quartz or feldspar mixed in. This type of tile usually receives a glossy topcoat, called a glaze. It’s harder, but more brittle than ceramic tile. If it chips, you’ll see the same color throughout the tile.
Because porcelain tile is slightly less likely to absorb any water, it’s ideal for use in applications where getting wet is inevitable, such as custom-tiled shower stalls. However, ceramic tile is another good option.
Porcelain tile can masquerade as other materials through a special manufacturing process. They can mimic natural stone, like marble, or even wood grain. It’s availability in many colors, shapes, and surface finishes make it a smart choice for creating a custom look in your kitchen and bathroom.
Soap and water is more than adequate for cleaning porcelain tile, but you’ll also want to reseal the grout to prevent mold and mildew from growing.
What About Ceramic Tile?
The clay used to produce ceramic tile is more coarse than that of porcelain tile. When it’s glazed, it is nearly as impervious to water absorption as porcelain tile. Ceramic tile also can be glazed for a glossy, finished look, or left more natural for an organic style – although unglazed portions will absorb water or other liquids it comes into contact with.
At a glance, it is sometimes difficult to discern between porcelain and ceramic. So, If you’re on a tighter budget, you might opt for ceramic tile to save some money. Of course, there are some ceramic tiles that cost just as much as porcelain.
Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference, although ceramic is not as hard as porcelain, although it is less brittle. However, if it breaks or chips, you’ll see a different color beneath the glaze, making it quite obvious against the rest of your backsplash or shower wall.
Damp-mopping or using mild cleansers on ceramic tile will keep it looking great, but, like porcelain tile, you’ll want to reseal the grout on a regular schedule.
Tips for Choosing Tile
Tile can have a big impact on your kitchen or bathroom, so be sure to pick something that you truly love. Some homeowners opt for simple white subway tile, a timeless classic, while others want an unique design with brilliant color that stands out.
When it’s time to choose your tile, consider:
- Ordering samples to see what the tile will look like in person.
- Tile size, and the space you have to install it. For example, a scallop-shaped tile in a space that only fits one and a half rows won’t have the same impact as a wall that fits many rows of them.
- Your budget. Some tiles cost more than others.
- The style of the rest of your home.
- The design of your kitchen or bathroom. Your tile should complement the design style.
- The recommendation of a home remodeling contractor near you that you’ve hired to carry out your remodel. Get expert advice on what will work well and look great.
Schedule Your Kansas City Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel Today
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