Blog > Cement Tile - Stuff of Dreams or Pinterest Gone Bad?
You can’t watch HGTV these days without seeing one of the newest trends to hit kitchen/ bath remodels, cement tile. It’s a gorgeous look that has slowly made its way across the pond and pairs perfectly with today’s coastal color palettes. However, a killer look may not coincide with functionality. Per a recent piece in The New York Times :
Ceramic tile usually has a layer of glaze on top and is impervious after being fired at a high temperature in a kiln. Cement tile is cured at room temperature, not fired, and the colored layer on top, usually about an eighth of an inch thick, is porous.
Many tile installers will strongly advise clients to choose another material due to not only the irregularity of each tile but more importantly, because of the product’s porous nature. One tile installer recounts a horror sorry when he installed the product, sealed it five times and it proceeded to stain immediately. And that was after the homeowner paid the additional installation cost due to the tricky nature of the product. If that wasn’t enough to potentially scare you away, there’s also the fact that the tile must be re-sealed monthly. Knee pads, anyone?
So while it may be a beautiful look, a standard porcelain may be a better choice. Sorry, Pinterest.
Call me today to look at homes with tile, wood, carpet, or any other material you are interested in!
Margaret Marcoe
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