Ceramic Tiles

Choosing your ceramic tiles might be the hardest part of a tile project. There are literally thousands of colors, sizes, styles, shapes and grades to choose from.

The trend in ceramic tiles used to be to stay as neutral as possible. In fact, most of the tiles sold for home use were either white, almond or gray. Nowadays, white and almond are still the most common, but people are experimenting more with color. Colors are getting warmer and brighter, as well as clearer and cleaner.

As far as size goes, the most popular tile sold is still the 4-1/4" square wall tile. However, the current trend is towards larger tiles, like 12x12s and even 18 x18s. It's tough for a do-it-yourselfer to install anything bigger than this because the underlayment has to be absolutely even and level.

Small one inch tiles are also common. These are called mosaic tile because you can mix different colors to create borders, patterns, and even pictures. These are usually joined together in 12"x12" or 12"x24" sheets to make them easier and quicker to set. You can even have custom patterns made.

The material that's used to make tile and the methods of manufacturing determine its durability and absorption. It's important to know what tile is best suited for your specific situation.

Most ceramic tiles is glazed. Glazed tile is made from a mixture of clays that are pressed into shape. A "glaze" is then applied to the top and baked on. Glazed tiles are available in high-gloss, matte, and abrasive slip-resistant finishes. Glazed tiles also come in decorative styles with a pattern or hand-painted design. The glaze on the tile doesn't go all the way through, so if it gets chipped, you're going to see the color inside. Glazed tiles may tend to get scratched on frequently-used countertops, but they're ideal for walls.