Cost

Ceramic tiles for bathroom counter tops are available in many sizes, shapes, thicknesses, colors, textures, and strengths all at various prices. You can spend as little as $.99 a sq foot to as high as $45.00 a sq foot for designer tiles.

Color/Design

Ceramic tiles are a porous material thereby requiring a sealant or in other words a glaze. A natural glaze application would allow for the tile to gain a hard surface but would also leave the tile with its natural hue. In order for a tile to have a particular color, pigments are then added to the glaze and once fired, become an intentionally colorful tile.

The options truly are endless for tiles with respect to color, texture and style. The difficult part is really deciding which one best fits with your space!

* Glass tiles can be a beautiful addition to your bathroom counter tops as well. Remember that glass tiles are clear with color pigment inside the tile themselves. They change color with light, grout and backing. Durability

With respect to durability, all tiles are ranked using a Roman numeral grading system of I to V. Today the internet and discount tile supply stores are a fantastic option for getting great prices on tiles, but beware that not all packages will be properly labeled to distinguish a strength grade.

In bathroom counters it is vitally important to have a tile with at least a grade III strength rating. With respect to durability, a grade III or higher glazed ceramic tile is an excellent solution for counter tops in any Bathroom for many reasons: It is very strong and can last almost as long as any other counter top surface product on the market today if installed properly and well maintained.

Scratch resistance – Glazed ceramic tiles rank highly among similar materials for scratch resistance.

Strength – Although the strength of glazed ceramic tiles are ranked in grades and can be very strong with respect to wear and scratching, these counter tops can be more susceptible to damage than laminate and solid surface. Very heavy objects could eventually create enough pressure over time to crack tiles and should something heavy fall onto the counter, breakage will most likely occur. It is possible to fix broken tiles, however this process can also damage surrounding tiles so diligence is needed when doing so.

Fire resistance – Glazed ceramic tiles are fire resistant and will not burn or emit toxic fumes.

Water resistance – Glazed ceramic tiles are moisture resistant with an absorption rate of 3% to 7%. If water is left pooling on a ceramic surface for a prolonged period of time, damage can be expected. Proper cleaning and vigilance will keep tiles looking like new.

Maintenance – Cleaning spills quickly and occasionally cleaning the grout can prolong the life of your ceramic tile counter top.

Construction/Installation

It is not necessary to have Ceramic tile counter tops professionally installed, make sure you follow these few rules and you’ll be fine.

1. Do your research and seek out credible advice. There are several fantastic websites designed to help you install your ceramic tile counter tops and be sure to visit your local building centers where some will host free lessons on tiling. The more information and advice you can receive the less mistakes may be made therefore saving you money!

2. Choosing a color or style of bathroom counter top tile is an important consideration, but so is your grout! Be sure to get the right grout and don’t forget to choose the right grout color as well. Be aware of the look you are trying to achieve and realize that your choice of grout color could dramatically change the overall look of your bathroom counter for better and for worse! Space between your tiles is also something very important to consider. Greater effect and style can be created in something as simple as tile spacing.

3. Another tile to consider installing is un-manufactured tile or hand-made tiles. One very important thing to note about using and installing these tiles is that each tile is generally different. This tile can add rustic beauty to your space but beware of inconsistencies; your end result may not resemble your intention!

Environment/Health

Ceramic tiles are an excellent choice for bathroom counter tops in that they are very easy to clean. These tiles are non-conductive and therefore do not attract dust and dirt. From a green perspective ceramic tiles are ideal. Created from natural ingredients they are not harmful to landfills and post consumer recycled glass is a great option if you are so inclined.

In conclusion, Ceramic tiles are Very sexy and allow for much creativity in your bathroom design. Ceramic tiles are very prevalent in Mexican and Spanish design for a reason. They are durable and versatile and you can incorporate your ceramic tile counter tops into your back splash, match them to your floors; create a great space with unlimited possibilities!

The Oops Factor

Ceramic & Glass counter tops can be a scary bathroom choice due to breakage and maintenance! Although easy to clean, tough on spills, heat resistant and sanitary, these counter tops are problematic for damage! The tiles are also subject to breaking when abused so be careful with heavy items and try to always clean spills quickly to avoid staining your grout. With proper care you can have a great relationship with ceramic tile counter tops in your bathroom for years to come.

Michael Kyle is Co-founder of The Sexy Bathroom.Com and The Sexy Kitchen.com Two great web sites dedicated to Kitchen & Bathroom Design, Planning and Materials as well as a great resource for design photo’s and entertaining.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Kyle

1. Finish. Ceramic tiles come in a number of finishes. You can get glazed or unglazed tiles. So, how do you know which is best for you? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each. Glazed tile has the benefit of being more water resistant than unglazed. This is a great feature for someone with small children as they tend to spill often, and thus, water resistant flooring becomes a must. Also glazed ceramic tile is easier to clean than unglazed tile, which with children is also a plus. So, what are the cons? Well, for one, glazed ceramic tile tends to be more slippery when wet. This could be a hazard, but do not worry, this does not eliminate the pros of glazed tile from your options. What you can do, is use a glazed ceramic tile with a non-slip feature or material.

2. Size: Depending on where in your home you want the tile, and the look you are going for, will determine what size of ceramic tile is best for you. Ceramic tile come in a variety of sizes, from about 1/4″ square, to 12″ x 12″ squares and in some instances are even larger. The size is definatley a matter of choice, but for floors, a popular choice is 6″ x 6″ up to 12″ x 12″ sizes. Larger tiles work best for larger areas. For areas that may get more water, and thus become slippery, smaller tiles are a great choice as the greater number of grout lines help make the tile less slippery.

3. Shape: the shape of your ceramic tile is going to make a huge difference in how easy it is to lay, etc. So, shapes include square, rectangular, diamond, hexagon, octagon, triangular, round, and a variety of several of the previous options, or you can also have custom shapes made up for you, but this increases your costs. If you want to go for the custom look without the cost, then use more than one shape and even color of ceramic tile.

4. Color: Color is the decorators favorite option, and when it comes to ceramic tiles you aren’t limited by your choices of colors, you can find ceramic tiles in just about any color you can think of, as well as the natural hues of slate, granite, marble, and other natural stone tiles. So, to choose the best color for you home, you should realize that while some of the brighter blues, and more vibrant colors may be very attractive to you as you shop, if you stay with the neutral colors, or natural tones, the ceramic tile will be easier to match to your other flooring in your home. Also, because ceramic tiles are pretty much one of the very most durable flooring types you can find, and you will not likely need to replace it for a number of lifetimes (although you may need to regrout occassionaly), staying neutral means staying up to date. Instead of colored tiles try colored accent rugs and other colored décor. Also it is best to choose your tile first and then match the color of carpeting, vinyl flooring or other materials to the tiles, rather than the other way around.

5. Grout: The grout you choose to cement your tiles in with is going to make a difference in how your tiles look. You can use colored grouts, neutral grouts, really fine, or really course grouts. For easiest cleaning, choose grout that is a neutral color, and stay away from white white unless you want to use a lot of bleach. A gray or tan grout will hide dirt better, and leave the focus on the tiles themselves not the material holding them together.

HomeBuildingRemodeling.com is your source for top quality home building, remodeling and home decorating information. For free articles delivered daily by email, visit HomeBuildingRemodeling.com and enter your name and email under the Free Home Building and Remodeling Updates section.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Calderwood