Overall, ceramic, porcelain, and vinyl tiles are some of the best bathroom tiles on a budget.
Ceramic Tile: At less than $1 per square foot, durable ceramic tile makes an excellent inexpensive flooring option. Look for manufactured tile that's rated at least a 3 on the PEI scale—the industry standard set by the Porcelain Enamel Institute.
Yes, a higher quality tile is usually more expensive. But it could have a high quality appearance, higher quality production standards, or a higher durability rating.
Ceramic tile is graded from 1 to 5, with 5 being the longest wearing tiles. Grade 1 tiles are the weakest, with the best application as wall tiles.
Durability: The density of porcelain tile makes it more durable than ceramic tile while being less subject to wear and tear. This makes it more suitable for commercial use as well as in the home. Water Resistance: Porcelain tile is almost impervious to water compared to ceramic tile.
Cost of Porcelain vs. Ceramic. While both ceramic and porcelain are less expensive than most renovation materials, their price differences are due to their density differences. Porcelain tiles are therefore more expensive than ceramic tiles.
EASIEST FLOORING TO INSTALL IN SUMMARY
If you're looking for a DIY project, one of the best options is a new vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile home floor. It's easy to install with glue or click-in ends and stunning results.
“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Enrique de Paz, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.
Tile floors cost an average of $17 per square foot, which means most bathroom floors require $1,100–$3,000 worth of tile work. Vinyl tile installation can cost as low as $2 per square foot, while premium tile can run more than $100.
In general, the tiles themselves typically cost between $2 to $10 per square foot , while the actual installation costs range from $5 to $14 per square foot. Four primary factors are going to influence how your tile installation will cost: Room size: Tile installation is priced per square foot.
Cons to consider:
Although porcelain tile is extremely durable, it does occasionally chip, particularly around the edges. This may not be noticeable with through-body composition, but it is a concern. Porcelain tile is typically more expensive than ceramic and other popular flooring materials.
However, you might be wondering how slip-proof they are, especially if you intend to lay them around a hot tub. The good news is that porcelain tiles are naturally very grippy and safe to walk on even when wet; however, it's not as simple as that.
Disadvantages of Ceramic Tile
Compared to porcelain, ceramic tiles are less durable. So, you may want to install ceramic tiles in low-traffic areas and surfaces that don't receive much wear and tear. Ceramic is also more porous than porcelain, which means it absorbs liquids more readily.
Porcelain is denser than ceramic which means it has a lower absorption rate. It is frost resistant – making porcelain better for outside applications. Indoors, the extra density makes porcelain less likely to chip.
Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic, but they make it from a more cultivated clay and bake it at higher temperatures. This makes it a tough scratch-resistant flooring choice. Unglazed porcelain is the best when it comes to scratch resistance.
1. Porcelain Tiles. Among the different types of ceramic tile flooring, there is a clear winner when it comes to sturdiness and that is porcelain.
White subway tile in a shower or bath will never age, Winn says. For floors, penny tile — white or black and white — is still found in homes built in the 1950s and '60s in North Arlington, Va., Winn says, but clients are also asking for it in new bathrooms.
Porcelain tiles are much easier to clean than natural stone tiles as you don't have to worry so much about damaging your sealant or water marks. Most porcelain is micro sealed during production meaning they are most resistant to wear and tear, requiring little up keep.
Tile Sizes & Shapes
The tried-and-true 12” x 12” tiles are still popular, but tiles are tending to be larger and larger. Sizes like 16” x 16”, 12” x 24” and even 24” x 48” are becoming more prevalent. Large-format tiles have fewer grout lines to clean and help a room look bigger, more open and less busy.