Bathroom and Kitchen Tile

There is an unlimited amount of absolutely gorgeous bathroom tile to choose from on the market today.  Granite, Marble, Travertine, Quartz, Stone, Porcelain, Ceramic etc..  If it is bathroom tile that is porous then it needs to be sealed before installation otherwise mortar, grout, or other debris can penetrate into the tile making it very difficult to get clean again.  Also non-sanded grout should be used so that the porous tile doesn’t get scratched when applying the grout. If something looks like it has penetrated the porous tile then grout remover or sulfamic acid can be used to remove it but you have to be very careful not to mar or etch the tile.  Follow the directions and dilute the acid with the proper amount of water, and wear protective gloves, apron, and safety glasses.

The spacers you use between the tiles are totally up to what look you desire.  Glue additives can be added to your mortar and grout when installing bathroom tile in the shower to further seal and keep the water from escaping.  Latex additives can be added elsewhere to keep the grout from cracking down the road.

If your bathroom is large then using larger tiles on the floor can be used to give it more of an open look, but with larger tiles the floor must be level or the tiles won’t sit flush and might crack when walked on.  A floor leveler can be used to fix this problem.

Grout can be cleaned and repaired with our much elbow grease.  It should be re-sealed once a year in bathrooms or high traffic areas otherwise every few years should be sufficient.  Bathroom tile last longer than vinyl, or carpet, can be easily repaired and isn’t hard to keep clean.  In my opinion carpet should never be used in the bathroom, because it just gives a place for mold and bacteria to grow.  Bathroom tile is more expensive about 5 ½ dollars a square foot for installation by a professional, which includes thinset (mortar), grout, and sealant, but not the tile.  If you need a concrete board sub-floor (which you do if you don’t have a concrete slab floor) add another 2 to 3 dollars a square foot to the job. 

Bathroom tile adds more value to the room as opposed to vinyl or carpet as well.  I hope I helped give you some needed information and good luck with your project.