“T-i-l-e” spells versatility.
Indoors or out, from the roof to the basement and even covering the space shuttle, tiles are functional, durable and easy to maintain.
They line swimming pools, bathtub enclosures, shower stalls and fireplaces, and are applied to floors, countertops, tabletops and walls. There really is no limit to where they can be used.
From contemporary to vintage to custom, tile makers have something for any style of home. The combination of the look of individual tiles, whether manufactured or hand-done and the way tiles are arranged create the overall design.
Tile varieties include ceramic, porcelain, natural or engineered stone, metal, glass, synthetic and recycled materials. Thicker tiles are used for floors, and thinner ones for walls, countertops and furniture surfaces.
“Glass, metals and mosaics are very hot,” notes Bethany Waite of Denver’s Euro Glass + Tile. “Also, we’re seeing combinations of materials like stone and glass.”
For some of his noteworthy projects, Frank Lloyd Wright favored cast-concrete tiles, which are making a resurgence, according to Waite.
Tiles can be subdued or bold and come in a dazzling array of colors, shapes and designs. Standard sizes range from 1-inch minis for intricate mosaics to large 2-foot by 2-foot patio tiles. Some tiles are simple and monochromatic. Others glow like luminous jewels.
Neutral colors and white remain appealing, but Waite is seeing a lot of interest in greens and other “spa colors.”
All shapes and sizes
Popular shapes include brick, square, round, hexagonal, diamond, triangle, pebble (resembling flat stones), breadstick (long and thin) and subway (3 ½ by 7 ½ -inch brick shape). In addition, decorative tiles are made in rosettes, rope, postcap and other shapes.
Tile surfaces can be flat, rounded, crackled, rippled or otherwise textured. Low-texture tiles have small dimple-like indents of a consistent depth. Random-texture tiles show irregular peaks and valleys, resembling topography. Relief-texture tiles have been molded into specific shapes such as ropes, flowers, leaves, geometrics and more.
“Some tiled surfaces look like wallpaper,” says Lynne Amaral of McGuckin’s Design Center in Boulder. “Exquisite!” she adds.
Rhonda Miller of Athena Tile in Northridge, Calif., is seeing increased interest in “wood-looking porcelain tiles. People used to buy it for kitchens because it has a hardwood look but is more durable. Now, she says, it is appearing elsewhere too.”
Small tiles usually come mounted onto a foot-square mat backing or removable paper overlay for ease of installation. Larger squares typically are priced individually.
On walls and counters, “outside” tiles need a finished edge. Bullnose tiles have one rounded edge. Double-out bullnose tiles for use on corners have two rounded edges. Tiles meant to overhang a countertop are L-shaped in profile.
“Dot” is the industry term for a small accent tile. “Ours are handmade and hand-finished,” says Kritsin Traynor of Arizona Hot Dots. “We do glass and also pewter and bronze. Some metals are hand-carved with a relief pattern. Some are engraved. Patterns range from Southwest to nautical.”
From $1-$250
Prices can range from $1 or so per square foot for simple, white ceramic subways tiles from a discounter to $250 or more per square for a hand-painted, custom tile mural, plus installation.
Ceramic tiles, made from clay or a mixture of clay and other inorganic, non-metallic materials, are kiln-fired at high temperatures, making them extremely durable and resistant to chemicals, abrasion and other damage. They can withstand high heat and cold.
Porcelain tiles are dense, fine-grained and smooth and come with a matte, unglazed or highly polished finish. In this subgroup of ceramics, the color extends through the entire thickness of the tile.
Glazed tiles are coated with liquid glass that is baked into the surface. The glazing also takes the great array of colors and designs. Metallic glazes give tiles an iridescent finish. Unglazed tiles must be sealed for stain-resistance.
Quarry tiles made from natural clay or shale may be glazed or unglazed.
Since they are based on earth colors, they are commonly dark red, brown or gray. These sturdy tiles, which are suitable for floors indoors and out, may be textured to aid traction.
Terraccotta tiles, from Mexico and elsewhere, are generally handmade and come in many colors, shapes, sizes, textures and designs. These highly decorative tiles are favored for countertops, backsplashes and furniture. They are usually pre-finished, but some do require a sealer or coating.
Popular natural stone includes travertine (used as a building material since the days of the Greeks and the Romans), limestone, marble, slate and granite. Travertine and slate often have a satiny appearance, while marble and granite tend to be polished to a high gloss. Some must be sealed.
“People still want natural stone,” says Lynne Amaral of McGuckin’s Design Center, “including exotics like onyx and jade.”
Terrazzo or agglomerate tiles, primarily used on floors, are manufactured of marble or granite chips in a cement, polyester resin or epoxy matrix.
In glowing glass tiles, the color also extends through the entirety of tiles, which can be the most optically luminescent. They are clear or frosted and can also be screen-printed with words or images.
Terrazzo and glass tiles made wholly or partly from recycled materials, an important part of the green building movement, are especially in vogue now.
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DYI Tips
Laying tile can be a do-it-yourself job, but be prepared for a big project. The pitfalls are many, and rectifying mistakes is not easy. Here are some special cautions:
Measure the surface you are tiling carefully. Calculate the amount of tile you’ll need and add extra for cutting, breakage and future repairs.
Be sure all tiles have the same lot and color/shade numbers.
Save money by renting such specialized equipment as a wet saw (rotary saw) and correct-size tile cutter for your project – and an electric chipping gun if you are removing old tile.
Prepare area to be tiled with a proper substrate (two layers of 1 1/8-inch exterior-grade plywood and a waterproof membrane) or cement backer board.
Avoid an elaborate design with several tile sizes or designs for your first tile project.
Measure and lay accurate chalk guidelines so that tiles are balanced.
Get the right adhesives and grout for the type of tile you are installing.
When applying mastic or thinset, do not obliterate your guidelines, which you will need to see when putting the tiles down.
Use white thinset mortar if you will be using white or other light-colored grout.
Allow mortar, thinset and grout to dry the recommended amount of time.
And finally, be prepared to call a professional if this seems overwhelming.
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What you’ll need
Equipment and Supplies
Chalkline
Grout float
Grout mortar
Level
Mastic
Notched trowel
Rubber mallet
Tape measure
Plywood (for floor substrate)
Thinset mortar
Tile cutter
Tile nippers
Toothbrush and other clean-up supplies
Wet saw or pull saw
On-Line Resources
doityourself.com
extremehowto.com
floorstransformed.com
thetiledoctor.com
Books
Ceramic Tile Setting, by John P. Bridge
Ceramic Tile: Selecting, Installing,
Maintaining, by the Editors of Creative
Homeowner
Complete Tile, by Steve Cory
Setting Tile (and Fine Homebuilding), by Michael Byrne
Tile Your World: John Bridge’s
New Tile Setting Book, by John P. Bridge
Videos and DVDs
How to Tile from hankthetiledoctor.com/
Tile Made Easy from tilemadeasy.com/
Five instructional videos downloadable from floorstransformed.com/downloads.html
