There’s a saying that goes ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell houses’—and there’s a reason people say this.
Whether or not you want to sell your home, upgrading your kitchen and bathroom is a smart move. What’s more, you might even be able to recoup some of the cost, as kitchen and bathroom remodels typically attract a decent ROI.
One of the typical components of a bathroom or kitchen remodel is replacing the flooring. Kitchen and bathroom flooring can take a beating over time as well as look painfully dated. However, installing a new tile floor is a fair-sized undertaking, so you need to do proper planning.
If you feel that it is time for a kitchen or bathroom refresh that involves new tiles, you’ll need to think seriously about what type of tiles will best suit your needs. Otherwise, you might end up regretting your final decision every time you look down at your kitchen and bathroom flooring.
Fortunately, we are here to help. As experts in tiles and flooring, we’re excited to guide you through the process of picking out the best type of tiles for your kitchen and bathroom remodel. Keep reading to get clear on what tile type to choose.
The Options
To determine the best type of tiles for your kitchen and bathroom flooring, let’s take a look at some of the main options.
Tiles have come a long way, and when it comes to design, you can get just about anything your heart desires. However, apart from looks, it’s essential to consider the different tile types that are available and how they compare.
This will allow you to start narrowing down your choices. Let’s jump in.
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles are one of the most durable tile options when it comes to bathroom and kitchen flooring. This makes them one of the best floorings for pets, homes with kids, high traffic areas, and bathrooms and kitchens.
Porcelain tiles are made using a mixture of clay, sand, and feldspar and are fired at a higher temperature than other tile types. Because of this, they have a low level of porosity and are very dense.
While porcelain tiles are incredibly strong, they are also hard to cut, which makes DIY kitchen and bathroom flooring installations tougher with these tiles. They are also more costly than most other types of tiles, such as ceramic and vinyl tiles, and typically come in fewer designs and colors.
However, the low porosity and strength of porcelain tiles make them one of the best tiles for kitchens and bathrooms. Chips and cracks are rare, and moisture absorption is less than 0.5% Additionally, unglazed porcelain tiles also have their color mixed right through the tile. This means that any chips that do occur won’t show up all that much.
In short, if you are looking for the best tile type for bathrooms, then porcelain tiles are it. They also make a fantastic choice for kitchen flooring. Thanks to their durability, these tiles can even be extended outside, making them ideal for designing indoor-outdoor kitchens.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are some of the most common types of tiles available. They are more porous than porcelain tiles and therefore are easier to cut. This makes them simpler to install if you are doing a DIY bathroom or kitchen flooring renovation.
However, their porous nature also makes them more prone to cracks and chips, and they absorb more moisture than porcelain tiles.
Ceramic bathroom and kitchen tiles are covered in glaze. The glazing gives them their color and design. Because of this, the color does not permeate through the entire tile. This means that any chips will clearly stand out against the tiles.
At the same time, ceramic kitchen tiles are less expensive than porcelain tiles. You may also find that you can get a wider range of trendy colors and designs in ceramic tiles than in porcelain tiles.
Overall, ceramic kitchen and bathroom tiles are a less cost-effective but less durable option compared to the porcelain tiles. They are typically best used for low traffic areas.
When it comes to ceramic kitchen tile pros and cons, they can be a budget-friendly solution for low-traffic kitchen flooring. However, if your kitchen sees a lot of heavy foot traffic, then common kitchen floor tiles advice decrees that ceramic tiles are not a good choice here. They are also not always ideal as bathroom tiles, thanks to their higher rate of water absorption.
Stone
Stone tiles used to be typically only seen in foyers and entranceways. However, we are now seeing them incorporated into stylish kitchens and bathroom designs as well.
Stone tiles for kitchen and bathroom flooring come at a much higher price point than other tiles. However, they do have a number of benefits.
Firstly, most stone tiles are very durable. If they do chip, this won’t be very noticeable, as they do not have a glazed on color or design. Because each tile is slightly different, they can also give you home a truly one-of-a-kind aesthetic.
Stone tiles are also beautiful. Granite, marble, onyx, and limestone are just some of the stone types you can choose from.
When weighing up the stone bathroom and kitchen tile pros and cons, be aware that some stone types need regular sealing, making them more high maintenance than ceramic or porcelain tiles.
Kitchen and Bathroom Flooring: Deciding What Is Best
So which tile type is best for kitchen and bathroom flooring? Overall, porcelain tiles are the superior tile type for bathrooms and kitchens thanks to their durability and low porosity.
However, if you are working with a tighter budget, you may want to consider looking into ceramic tiles for your bathroom and kitchen flooring project. If you really want to save some dollars, then vinyl is also an option. On the other hand, if you want to splurge a little and achieve a one-of-kind aesthetic, stone might an ideal, modern tile choice.
Do you need to advice on what tiles to consider? If so, contact us today, and we will be happy to discuss your needs.
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