Stone Or Tile: Choosing The Best Material For Your Bathroom Remodel
For years, ceramic tile has been a popular flooring material choice for residential bathrooms. Today, homeowners have to decide whether ceramic or stone is the better tile choice for their bathroom. Each option provides a beautiful, but distinctive look for a bathroom. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a tile for your bathroom remodel.
What to Consider when Choosing Stone Tile
Stone tiling is quickly becoming a popular choice in remodels as more people decide to take on a modern look. Often made from limestone, granite, slate, and marble, stone tiles are popular because they are visually appealing, durable, and resistant to water.
The downside to stone tiles is they do require more maintenance, such as sealing, when compared to other tiles options. Furthermore, stone tile tends to be a more expensive choice in flooring.
What to Consider when Choosing Ceramic/Porcelain Tile
While porcelain and ceramic tiles tend to be considered the same type of material, they are also very different. For example, porcelain is a harder and more water resistant material than ceramic. Porcelain comes in a wide range of styles and colors. Porcelain even looks fantastic when it has been designed to mimic other floor styles such as stone or wood.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are ideal because they are easy to clean. Unlike stone tiles, a regular sweeping and mopping is all they really need to keep clean. The biggest downside to porcelain tiles is their level of comfort. Unfortunately, porcelain will be cold to the feet unless radiant heat is placed under the flooring. While porcelain and ceramic tiles are more expensive than vinyl and laminate flooring, they are also more versatile and durable as well.
Which Do You Choose?
The prices and durability between the two are absolutely comparable, depending upon which stone you decide the use. With porcelain, however, you can get the look of a more expensive stone for the price of porcelain. However, some people believe that, like with PVC fencing, while porcelain may resemble the stone, once you step on it and get in the room, you'll be able to tell.
Both of these will also need radiant heat from underneath or have most of the area covered in rugs during the winter for comfort purposes.
While it's possible for a seasoned DIY practitioner to install their own ceramics, stone tile is best left to the professionals. It's also good to note that as it ages stone gains character, therefore the price of your home may actually go up thanks to the stone in your bathroom. They seem very similar but only one style will ultimately fit into both your style and your budget. Contact a flooring company, like Art Tile Co. Inc., for more info.