Kitchen Counters: the Choice for Affordable Durability, Tile

Tile countertops are loaded in old-world charm or masquerade as luxe stone slabs. Whether you are seeking affordable first-rate durability or you are a DIYer prepared to handle a kitchen makeover, tile countertops could be the ideal area for you.

Sara Ingrassia Interiors

The fundamentals: Typically either stone or ceramic, tile is adhered in thinset mortar to a tile backer board and grouted into place. Stone tiles are all made from the same material found in slabs, such as granite and marble, but in a fraction of the cost. Common dimensions used for kitchen counters include 12- by 12-inch squares and mini slabs which are 18 inches wide by counter thickness. Grout lines are usually minimized to conceal the substance’s smaller size.Any ceramic tile which you may choose for your backsplash may be used for your countertop. Tile is best for a surface. Price: $10 to $50 per square foot installed for ceramic tile ; $30 to $70 per square foot installed for rock tile.

David Howell Design

Advantages: Tile countertops deliver top-notch durability in bargain prices. Additionally, this is the 1 countertop with a few DIY potential. Tile can stand up to both knives and heat, although a cutting board is recommended — not to protect the tile except to guard your knives from this unyielding surface.

Disadvantages: Cleaning grout joints can keep you active, so think about tile which allows for tighter grout joints to reduce day-to-day maintenance.

Norberry Tile & Plumbing Studio

Special concerns: Tile grout presents the largest challenge, because it needs to endure to both germs and the products developed to kill germs. The folks at Oregon Tile and Marble help decode the choices:
Standard sanded cement grout is utilized for joints 1/8 inch or wider. Standard cement grout (both sanded and unsanded) should be sealed with an impregnating product. Conventional unsanded cement grout was created for joints 1/8 inch or less in width, in combination with tiles that might be scraped by limestone or with calcium carbonate–established rock, such as marble or limestone.Fusion Pro Single Component Grout offers the best of both cement and epoxy grouts for ceramic tile installations. It is hard like cement, does not require sealing, does not stain and is easy to work with. To boot, it’s infused with antimicrobial Microban.

Echelon Custom Homes

Care: Daily cleanup with warm water and gentle soap can do the job. Exercise caution with the grout, which may be damaged by harsh or acidic cleansers. In terms of long-term maintenance, shiny ceramic tiles will not need to be sealed, however, the grout might require resealing, depending on the type used. Stone slabs as well as their grout require yearly resealing.

Witt Construction

Sustainability: The durability inherent in well-cared-for tile means it can stay in place for a long time, which saves on resources. And should you choose ceramic tile, you may look for recycled-content tiles, such as those from FireClay Tile, to enhance your kitchen’s green cred.

More: Compare tile with other kitchen counter substances

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