Three Common Misconceptions About Tile
- Michelangelo DeCaro
- Sep 12, 2023
- 5 min read
If you are planning on redesigning your home, have you thought about tile? Having tile installed in your home can elevate your space to a level worthy of a magazine! It can create a warm welcoming atmosphere, a cool and calm vibe, or even a relaxing rustic room. Although tile is considered high-end and luxurious, it has earned a bad reputation. Because of poor installation methods, many homeowners steer clear of using any tile in their homes to avoid the tile disasters so many of us have seen. Tile can create endless possibilities in your home, but so many miss out on that opportunity, because they have bought into these lies. I would like to confront Three common misconceptions about tile and encourage you to consider installing tile during your next remodeling project or while designing your new home.
1. Tile is Fragile.
The First misconception about tile is that it is fragile, and prone to cracking and breaking. You might be thinking to yourself that you have seen countless tile floors riddled with chipped corners, cracked edges, or even loose tiles. I have seen my fair share as well. There are even videos of tile popping right off the ground into the air! (Look it up!) So, what is the answer? If tile is truly durable, why are there so many examples that suggest it is so fragile? I would argue that the problem lies in the installation. Consider this: there are Cathedrals throughout Europe and the middle east that are hundreds of years old. Many of these Cathedrals boast beautiful tile mosaics, or large tiled walkways that are original to the building and still in pristine conditions. Many of these beautiful buildings have seen a myriad of visitors, natural disasters, and even wars! How could it be that such fragile building materials have endured hundreds of years under varying stress levels. Without getting into all the technicalities of how to install tile, or best practices, I would humbly suggest that it is all in the installation process. However, I want to be balanced and realistic. I do acknowledge that not all tile is equal. If you purchase the cheapest tile you can find, I wouldn’t have much confidence in that tile. But on the other hand, you can purchase high quality tile that should stand the test of time. Therefore, it is so important to make sure you hire a quality tile installer!
2. Tile is difficult to maintain.
The Second misconception is that tile is difficult to clean and maintain. I have lost count of how many of my clients have avoided using tile for this reason. Some have even told me that they wanted to use tile, but it had to be large tiles with small grout lines, because of previous experiences fighting to clean out the grout lines in their bathroom. Again, I am sure you’ve seen this in person. Tile starts to get discolored. Grout just looks gross no matter how much you scrub them with everything you have! And don’t forget about mold and mildew. Who wants that? General cleaning is bad enough already without having to break a sweat for minimal results. The solution to this problem is closely connected to the one mentioned earlier: proper installation. At the end of any tile installation, the grout and tile must be sealed. If it is properly sealed, then that will solve the problem of mold, mildew, and staining. And because tile is durable, when properly installed, you can use most any cleaning method you want. Brooms, Swiffer’s, Mops, and vacuums are all perfectly fine to use to clean tile. Because of this, in many cases tile is easier to clean than many other building materials like hardwood floors, or drywall. You don’t need to worry about scratching or denting the tile with a vacuum or cleaning off the finish by using certain cleaning products.
3. Tile is boring!
I am not sure who is out there spreading this lie, but it couldn’t be any further from the truth! I’m sure you’ve seen some tile that you may have thought was boring, or it wasn’t your style. I have seen them too. I’ve installed tile that I wasn’t crazy about dozens of times. But don’t be fooled by what you’ve seen! As I said earlier, with tiles the possibilities are endless! Maybe at one point the options to choose from were limited, but those days are long gone. Today, there are countless colors, shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from. Maybe you aren’t crazy about small mosaic tiles. If that is the case, large format tiles are currently trending, and you can buy some tile that are almost four feet wide! If you want a one-of-a-kind shower, consider creating your own design featuring multiple colors, sizes, or shapes! Break up an otherwise monotonous shower pop with a stone accent strip. For some people it would be enough to just have one color tile throughout – and that is great! Simple can be great! But having a simple tile design does not mean it has to be boring or ordinary. I have installed some truly unique backsplashes and showers featuring glass scallop shaped tiles, or even handmade trapezoid tiles!
Not only can you get creative with the style of tile, but you can get creative with its location too! Who said that tile only belongs on your backsplash or in your shower? Why can’t you have a tiled accent wall in your living room? Add some character to any bland room by installing a bright mosaic tile as an accent.
An entry way, or any area with heavy foot traffic is a perfect location to have tile installed. Think back to any home you’ve been in that has hardwood floors. It is commonplace for the finish to wear off quickly in areas like entry ways or kitchens, where people walk through a lot. Kids running into the house with muddy shoes or snow melting off your boots ensures a swift demise for your hardwood floors. Save the hassle of getting your floors refinished every few years by installing tile in your entry way or kitchen. Aren’t you tired of your guests being greeted into your home by tired looking hardwood floors that desperately need some love? Think about what your guests would say if the first thing they saw when entering your home was a beautifully tiled walkway leading them into the rest of the house.
When it comes to your home, don’t settle for less. Countless homeowners buy into the lie that they can’t have tile because its fragile, difficult to maintain, or they won’t be able to find something that fits their taste. Create the atmosphere you want in any room you want. Tile can remove the pains of maintenance and impress your guests at the same time. Don’t let the lies scare you. As you plan to update your home consider how you can add a unique quality by installing tile.
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