Varieties in Ceramic Tiles to Use in

Your Home Renovation For most kitchen and bathroom renovation or remodeling projects, homeowners wish

to change the look and feel of their old kitchens and bathrooms, and in doing so,

replacing the old tiles and getting new ones installed in their place is the right thing to

do. Through this piece, we will try to help you choose the best tiles for such tilework

projects.

There are thousands of colors, sizes, shapes, styles and grades of tiles to choose from,

unlike the older days when colors in tiles were limited to almond, grey and white.

As far as sizes in tiles are concerned, the

4-1/4” square wall tiles are the most

popular. However, of late, larger tiles like

12x12 and 18x18s are increasingly

becoming popular. These tiles call for

professional assistance for installation as

their large sizes require a completely

level and even underlayment which

cannot be achieved in any do-it-yourself

project.

The smaller one inch mosaic tiles are

used by homeowners to mix and match different colors to create borders, patterns and

pictures.

The materials and methods used to make the tiles affect their durability and absorption

and it is important to know which tile is best suited for the specific tilework project.

A majority of the ceramic tiles are glazed, i.e. are manufactured from a mixture of clays

that are pressed into shape. These tiles are available in matte, high-gloss and abrasive,

slip-resistant finishes. The glazed effect is only on the surface and if the tile gets chipped,

the inner color of the tile becomes visible. These tiles tend to get scratched easily when

used on surfaces like countertops which are frequently used and are considered to be

ideal for walls.

Quarry tiles comprise of the broad category of tiles that are unglazed, red in color,

porous and irregular in shape. These tiles are mostly used indoors.

The next category of tiles available for any tilework project is Mosaic tiles. These tiles are

made of different types of clay and have color pigments added so that the color can

go all the way through the tile. These are chip-resistant, stain-proof and resistant towards

moisture and hence can be used on any surface.