What are some benefits of the ceramic tile countertop? Ceramic tile countertops carry some of the biggest benefits that homeowners are looking for today,they're impervious to heat and resistant to scratches....
Ceramic tile countertops carry some of the biggest benefits that homeowners are looking for today,they're impervious to heat and resistant to scratches. Tiles also come in a huge variety of colors and styles, and the smaller sizes are great for mosaics, making ceramic a popular choice with designers that have a certain look in mind. The costs associated with a ceramic tile countertop are also quite reasonable, letting ceramic remain a luxury product in feel but not price.
Michael Bryan, a fabricator and installer for more than 20 years, names its nonporous nature as ceramic tiles first benefit. This means a tile sealant isn't necessary, and ceramic tile won't stain. Unfortunately, the grout seam between tiles is still porous. Grout is harder to clean than tile, and needs to be sealed occasionally. Any mildew or mold that starts to attack the grout needs to be dealt with swiftly, as well, or it might stain. Michael Bryan acknowledges this downside, "It is grey ceramic but it does have more grout joints that can suck up things like grease or animal fats. As far as the kitchen and the bathroom, it works better in a bathroom, but the grout joints still get dirty- but it is nonporous."
Ceramic tile countertops can offer one of the big features that modern homeowners are looking for,hot pots can be placed on the surface. Many synthetics, especially those used in the 60s and 70s, would be stained and damaged if you attempted to move a pot from the stove to the counter. Ceramic also resists scratching, and can be cut on in a pinch (though it isn't good for the knife). Simple acts like sliding around the toaster can scratch some other kitchen surfaces, but a ceramic tile countertop would be okay.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of ceramic tile is the unique look. Ceramic tiles are a man-made product, though one which has been around for thousands of years. This means designers can imprint patterns into tiles, use a wide variety of colors when making them, and mix and match tiles to create great mosaics and interesting patterns. Small tiles can be matched with large tiles for a varied texture, or large tiles can have elaborate scenes painted on them then sealed for protection. In a designer kitchen looking for an unnatural color ceramic tile is often the only way to find what is needed. Ceramic is a very traditional kitchen addition as well, and looks right at home in many old-world inspired homes as well as the quintessential country kitchen.
Porcelain, a type of ceramic, is also facing huge surges in popularity. Recent manufacturing techniques have made it possible to closely imitate the look of real stone and marble, without the drawbacks of porousness, price and water absorption. The strength of porcelain really shines in high-traffic floors or around swimming pools, but porcelain is also finding its way onto kitchen countertops too. For countertops, the porcelain is slightly stronger than other ceramics, and might be available in hard to find patterns, but is otherwise very similar to ceramic.
In summary, the benefits of ceramic are many and the options are wide. The downside to ceramic is the grout joints, and many homeowners are relegating ceramic to the bathroom while opting for seamless countertops. Whether the benefits will outweigh the maintenance in your home is a decision only you can make.
