Porcelain and ceramic tile provide a beautifully timeless tool for decorating your home, whether you’re looking for a slip-resistant bathroom floor tile for baby’s bath time or a stunning wall tile in your kitchen that wows friends. Both options offer you the long-lasting durability you need and easy maintenance for your busy lifestyle in a range of patterns, colors, and shapes. 

You can have your pick between ceramic and porcelain when it comes to shopping for the perfect tile flooring to complement your home’s design aesthetic. Both are made from clay, have similar installation needs, and result in resilient, waterproof flooring that won’t disappoint in a chaotic, kid-filled (or pet-filled) household. 

• Ceramic tile is a classic choice that is available in a wide variety of colors, styles, and finishes. Ceramic tile is relatively affordable and easy to care for.
• Porcelain tile is a more durable option than ceramic tile. It is also non-porous, which makes it resistant to stains and moisture. Porcelain tile is a good choice for high-traffic areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
• Natural stone tile is a luxurious and elegant option. It is available in a variety of colors, textures, and finishes. Natural stone tile is more expensive than ceramic or porcelain tile, but it is also more durable and long-lasting.
• Glass tile is a unique and eye-catching option. It is available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Glass tile can be used to create a variety of looks, from modern and sleek to traditional and elegant.

• Traffic level: If you have a high-traffic area, you will need to choose a durable tile that can withstand wear and tear.
• Moisture level: If you have a room that is prone to moisture, such as a bathroom or kitchen, you will need to choose a tile that is resistant to staining and mold.
• Style: The style of your tile should complement the overall style of your home.
• Budget: Tile can be an expensive flooring option, so it is important to set a budget before you start shopping.

With so many different types of tile available, you are sure to find the perfect option for your home. With proper care, tile can last for many years and add beauty and value to your home.

As you search for the perfect flooring for your home, are you focused on picking a durable solution that will last for years and years, or is your goal to find floor tiles that perfectly tie your space together? Believe it or not, you actually don’t have to decide between practicality and visual aesthetics since porcelain and ceramic tile floors can deliver on both needs! 

Choose from a seemingly endless selection of sizes, shapes, and designs, from wood-look kitchen floor tile to oversized rectangle bathroom floor tile resembling expensive marble. You can easily find a tile flooring that perfectly suits your family’s unique lifestyle and home decor. 

What are the key benefits and disadvantages that can come with wall and floor tiles? A few of the clear advantages include:

• Budget-friendly
• Durable enough to last for decades
• Easy to maintain and clean
• Beautiful styles and colors available and in a variety of sizes

A few disadvantages worth considering include:

• Seams of grout can be difficult to clean
• Can feel cold underfoot, though that can be refreshing in warmer seasons and climates
• More time-consuming and tedious to install
• Need sturdy support since they can be heavy

You know there are two types of floor tile available, but you have no idea how to tell them apart, let alone which one to choose for your particular project. That’s where we come in! Ceramic and porcelain tiles make gorgeous flooring for the busiest rooms of your home. So what’s the difference? How they’re constructed! Porcelain tiles are fabricated of a finer mix of purer clay that’s then fired at a high temperature. This results in a denser tile that holds up better to water, making it the perfect choice for your bathroom and laundry room tile needs.

Wall tile

Are you looking to turn your boring bathroom into a spa-like retreat that features beautiful wall tile? Check out porcelain tile, which is the better option for this high-moisture situation. Whether you’re installing an accent wall, a bathroom stall, or a kitchen backsplash, you want a lighter wall tile. Your local Design Center expert can help you identify the best products for your specific use, plus act as a tie-breaker if you just can’t decide from the overwhelming color and design options!

Even though they may look delicate, all types of floor tiles offer incredible durability, even in the face of your little ones on their rowdiest days! Ceramic and porcelain tiles can hold up to the scuffs and scratches that can so easily occur during daily wear and tear from your bustling household. 

The cost of both wall and floor tiles vary based on several details. What size, type, and quality of tile do you want? How large is the space you’re tiling and how much tile will it require? As you can imagine, high-quality floor tiles and those in bigger sizes will cost more, as will installers’ quotes for larger or more complex areas. For example, you can expect to spend less to install kitchen tile flooring than you would to tile your entire first floor. 

Whether you end up choosing a stunning porcelain bathroom floor tile or intricate ceramic wall tile, you can expect decades of life from your new investment. But that’s assuming you put your best foot forward when it comes to a handful of factors that influence your tile’s longevity. 

These include: 

• How it’s installed

• The quality of the materials used, including the tile itself

• How well you care for and maintain the tiles and surrounding grout

• Whether you follow the manufacturer’s guidance for your particular product

A proper installation is among the most impactful variables. Poorly sealed grout and misalignment are two issues that can commonly occur if any part of the installation goes awry. To avoid any headaches, trust a professional installer to do the job right, ensuring your warranty protection stays intact and it’s smooth sailing for years to come! 

• Hire a professional to install your tile floor. This will ensure that the job is done correctly and that the tile is installed properly.
• Have a plan for how you want your tile floor to look. This will help you choose the right type of tile and the right installation method.
• Maintenance is key to keeping your tile floor looking its best. Be sure to clean your tile floor regularly and seal it annually to protect it from stains and moisture.

You’ve found luxury vinyl flooring that will beautifully highlight your new renovations and give your home the finishing touch it needs. But will vinyl flooring work well in your chaotic, sometimes messy home? Here are the top benefits this resilient flooring option offers: 

• A huge variety of styles, colors, and designs, including realistic-looking hardwood and stone
• Easy care and maintenance
• Water resistance, so you can use it in all the rooms of your home
• Efficient, easy install for a professional to tackle

The disadvantages are minimal, including:

• Not environmentally friendly due to the volatile organic compounds that can off-gas

• Difficult to remove

• Minimal return on investment 

It might be safe to say that you have the hardest part behind you once you’ve selected and installed your vinyl flooring! Thankfully, the maintenance it takes to keep your beautiful new floors looking stunning for years to come is pretty straightforward and requires minimal effort. You’ll want to sweep or vacuum regularly, making sure to pick up dirt and debris that’s accumulated. For an occasional deeper clean, reference the care instructions provided by the product manufacturer.

Clean, well-maintained floors give the durability of your vinyl flooring a boost. If you’ve got an active household, whether that’s a few rambunctious pups or a couple of sports fanatics who play hockey in the house even after you tell them not to, pay attention to the wear layer. This is the topmost layer of your vinyl floor that protects it from scratches, scuffs, and stains. The busier your home, the thicker you want the wear layer to be! 

You and your husband have agreed on vinyl flooring and you’ve even found the perfect oak wood-look vinyl planks! Once you have them installed, how long can you realistically expect them to last? It’s an important question since you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. While you can safely expect several years from your new investment, the actual lifespan will depend on a few variables, all of which are within your control. These include: 

• How it’s installed 

• The quality of the materials used

• The wear and tear your vinyl flooring receives on a daily basis

• Whether you keep up with the care and maintenance 

• How well you follow the manufacturer’s guidance 

The first step to ensuring a long life for new vinyl flooring is a proper installation. A pro installer will take the time required to get it right the first time, including having the necessary tools and paying close attention to detail during the step-by-step process. At the end of the day, you can rest easy knowing you have a beautiful, long-lasting vinyl floor that’s still protected by your product warranty.