Ceramic Bathroom Tiles: Things to Know Before Buying and Using Them

There will come a point when you're remodeling your bathroom, you'll have to choose a wall covering. Painting is probably the easiest but steam and condensation have negative effects on a painted wall over time. Wallpaper can be the same way with corners and edges that can start to droop if not applied properly. Your next choice is ceramic tiles and will be the choice that will far outlast the other two. However, not everyone can lay ceramic tiles and it may take hiring a contractor to get the results you want instead of attempting to do it yourself.

Before you contact a contractor, you must have a firm idea of what you want to be done with the ceramic tiles so you can get a clear estimate of the costs of the material and labor. There are a number of different designs you can do with ceramic tiles and if you come up with your own plans, you might save some money as compared with just having a contractor's recommendations. Keep in mind that his labor fees are a percentage of the materials, so the higher he can estimate the materials' cost, the higher the labor costs will be as well.

There are different grades of ceramic tiles, both for glazed and unglazed. Although the glazed tiles have a shinier appearance to them, they can also be slippery when wet. That's why unglazed tiles are mostly recommended to be used for the walls. Using an unglazed ceramic tile for bathroom and shower floors will prevent falls and lawsuits when your brother in law comes to visit. The setback to unglazed tiles is they can soak up oils and dirt more than the glazed tiles and will require more attention when cleaning. On the other hand, using household cleaners on glazed tiles can make the glaze finish to look dull over time so using unglazed on the floor will allow for a stronger cleaner or disinfectant.

If you're using a light color ceramic tile, consider using a darker colored grout, which is the putty that is applied between the tiles to seal water away from the walls and prevent moisture from getting behind the tiles and making them loose. A light blue grout around white tiles accentuates the design of the individual tiles. Grout that will be exposed to water should protected with a sealant to keep the grout from losing it's color.

To add flair to your ceramic tile floor, try adding some custom themed tiles to offset using just a single color. Using some graph paper, come up with some designs you'd like set into the floor, or even the walls in the shower, to customize the look you want. Give your graph design to your contractor before he does his estimate to figure in the extra costs involved.

If you're using ceramic tile on your vanity counter top, once again use an unglazed tile for both the top and the back splashes for cleaning purposes as well as a sealant on the grout.

And lastly, once you've chosen the tile you'd like in your bathroom, don't forget to add on matching towel bars, toilet paper rollers, soap dishes and a tooth brush holder to finish out the job.

Always make sure you're using a licensed and bonded contractor and that you monitor his or her progress throughout the job. Once the tile is on the floor, it doesn't come back up too easy for them to make any changes! When finished, enjoy a hot shower in your newly remodeled shower and bathroom.

*David Buster, Bathroom Ceramic Tile-Tips For Using Ceramic Bathroom Tiles, HomeAdditionPlus.com