Helpful Tips for Choosing the Right Tile for your Remodel

If you’re considering redoing your kitchen or bathroom, you’ve probably thought at least a little bit about tile–but you likely aren’t aware of all the options that are available. Lucky for you, Drury Design has put together a fantastic infographic that not only goes into the various types of tile you might be interested in using, but also how and where to use it and what it’s like to install and maintain.

What tile is right for your remodeling project

Image via: DIY Homes

Helpful Tips for Choosing the Right Tile for your Remodel

Glass tile

Most people don’t automatically think of glass when considering tiling, but if done well it can be incredibly beautiful. Glass tiles are most frequently used for kitchen backsplashes, walls, trims, and flourishes. They work well as decorative tiles because they can be stained with any number of vibrant colors that won’t fade over time. Glass tiles are also moisture-proof and extremely easy to clean and maintain, so they’re a great choice for people who want something that looks great and doesn’t need a lot of care. The only real drawbacks are that they are fairly expensive, and you don’t really want to use glass tiles for flooring because they can become a potential danger if they break under excessive weight or traffic.

Images via: Drury Designs

Porcelain tile

These clay-based tiles are more versatile than glass and can be used in for showers, walls, countertops, floors, ceilings, backsplashes, and more. That same versatility also carries over to the pricing, because it’s possible to find porcelain tile that will work within any budget. It’s also easy to clean and you can have an image screen-printed onto it to get the look you want, but there are drawbacks. First off, that image is only a façade, so if the porcelain chips, you’ll be left with the tile’s natural color. This might not be an issue except for the fact that porcelain tile is typically just white or gray. Additionally, it’s not easy to cut porcelain tiles, so you may not want it if you’re looking for rounded edges or specific custom shapes.

Ceramic tile

It can be used for everything that porcelain can be used for – at least indoors. Most people don’t like to use ceramic tile outdoors because it has a high moisture content and doesn’t do well in extreme temperatures. In short, it’s comparatively delicate. However, this very problem is also what makes ceramic tile ideal if you want customized shapes or need tiling in an area that’s shapely oddly. Ceramic tile is also one of the most budget-friendly materials out there and requires very little in the way of cleaning and maintenance, so there are definitely reasons you may want some ceramic in your remodel.

Natural stone

Where is natural stone tiling appropriate? Pretty much anywhere. Besides the areas mentioned above, many people also like to use natural stone for their baseboards, tub decks, and grill areas, as well as other outdoor areas like patios. But though stone tiles may look rugged (and great), they’re only in the middle of the pack when it comes to durability, and you’ll spend a lot more time, money, and effort maintaining them than the other options mentioned so far. They should be sealed because they are porous, and you’ll still need to clean them regularly with a non-acidic cleaner or regular soap and water.

Exotic tile

With a name like “exotic tile,” it’s probably no surprise that the materials falling under this category tend to be the most expensive ones out there. The level of durability and maintenance required vary greatly depending on the actual materials you’re using, and some of them require a lot from you. Why use exotic tiles, then? Because you can pretty much get whatever look you’re going for since the materials used are endless – mirrored glass, sea shells, and animal hide (!) just to name a few.

Want to learn even more about possible tile choices? Check out the actual infographic from Drury Designs.

For more DIY ideas for your bathroom or kitchen on Stagetecture, click here.