Ceramic tiles advantages and disadvantages
Ceramic tile pros
1. Unglazed ceramic
It’s possible to go with an unglazed ceramic tile that will have a more natural feel to it. This is a major advantage over other tile options that require a glaze to function properly. Unglazed ceramic tile is affordable and durable but not nearly as water resistant as the glazed variety.
2. Water resistance
(general comparison to all types of flooring like for example hardwood floors, not specifically comparing only to porcelain tile)
Ceramic tile is also good option for a damp environment like bathroom or a basement because it’s heavily water resistant and excess water is easy to wipe away before it has a chance to seep down to the underlayment below your tile, as long as it’s installed properly with good quality grout in between. It’s even used in rooms with hot tubs or swimming pools in some instances.
3. Design options
One of the most diverse tile flooring options, and are sold in complex patters which are unique and in just about any color that you like. There are so many different design options, that you really have endless options to work with. Choose these tiles if you want a specific floor that you simply can’t replicate with other tile flooring options or other flooring options entirely.
4. Allergen concerns
People that suffer from severe allergies don’t want a flooring type that holds hair, dust and other allergens in places like carpet or even wood to a lesser extent. Ceramic tiles are very easy to clean up and they don’t harbor allergens over time. Often just getting rid of carpet for ceramic tile is enough to reduce problems with allergies in your home.
5. Cost
You’ll spend considerably less money on ceramic tile, and it will cost less to be installed as well. That means that you can put your money toward other enhancements that you want to make in your home, and going with ceramic tiles can help you lower the overall cost of a bathroom or kitchen renovation.
Ceramic tile cons
1. Weight
Make sure that the floor you are installing tiles over is sturdy to withstand the weight of the ceramic. Ceramic tile flooring is very heavy and can be too much weight to bear for a lightweight floor.
2. Price to durability ratio
Just remember that you get what you pay for and that while you save money by buying ceramic tile, you might have to deal with increased maintenance and make more tile repairs over the years than you would have to with a more expensive solution like porcelain tile.
3. Grout
Although ceramic tile is easy to clean, grout can be difficult to clean, and you’ll need to scrub and seal to keep it look fresh.