Ceramic Tile Buying Guide

Ceramic tile is a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens. Used on countertops and backsplashes, it can be thoroughly sanitized and cleaned, without suffering damage from powerful cleaning chemicals.

Ceramic Tile Countertops & Backsplashes

Ceramic tile can be a great choice for kitchen countertops and backsplashes. It is durable, heat resistant, and easy to maintain. With a ceramic tile countertop, you don't need to worry about hot pans damaging the surface or stains ruining the finish. Backsplashes suffer grease splatters, heat, steam, and even smoke. Ceramic tile is sturdy enough to withstand all of those, and will clean up beautifully.

Installation is fairly easy for a maintenance professional with all the right supplies like tape measures, squares & straight edges, tile cutters, adhesives, and grout floats. Tiling countertops and backsplashes will take about two days and is a simple way to upgrade your kitchens. Plus, once installed, ceramic tile will last for years.

Caring for Ceramic Tile Countertops & Backsplashes

Ceramic tile is easy to clean and sanitize using common multipurpose cleanser like Windex, Clorox, or Zep. Keeping grout joints clean and sanitized can be a little more challenging. Grout lines must be cleaned often and kept dry to prevent the growth of bacteria and mildew.

If a tile is cracked or chipped, you can repair it easily. Keep a stock of extra tiles so you can replace damaged tiles. Use a grout saw to cut around the ruined tiles, and remove them. This is much easier and simpler than replacing the entire countertop.

Ceramic Tile Floors

Ceramic tile floors are designer-friendly, allowing you to choose patterns and colors that best match your room and property style. Once installed, tile floors are easy to clean and long-lasting, with colors that don't fade. They require minimal maintenance and are a good choice for those who need hypoallergenic environments.

However, tile floors do not absorb sound which can create a noise issue, and they are not forgiving when items are dropped. Ceramic tile floors can also be very slippery and are not recommended for bathrooms or kitchens and spaces used by elderly people or small children.

Ceramic Tile Floor Care

Ceramic floors are durable and clean up easily. Remember to protect floors by using floor mats to catch dirt and debris at entryways. This will go a long way to keeping floors clean and minimizing damage to your tile.

To clean tile floors:

• Sweep or vacuum often to pick up hair, dust, and surface dirt
• Weekly use a damp mop or microfiber mop. For deep cleaning use a nonabrasive all-purpose cleaner that is safe for tile

Never use:

• Abrasive scrubbers or steel wool
• Oil-based cleanser, bleach, abrasive cleaners, or wax-type polish
• Ammonia-based cleaners

Installation of Ceramic Tiles

Installing ceramic tiles can be challenging. You must plan carefully and take the time to do all the prep work before the tiles go down. If you prefer to use a professional tile installer, rely on HD Supply's installation services.

Installation tips for ceramic tile floors:

• Prepare the subfloor to assure it is even, clean, dry, and stable
• Inspect all the tiles for minor color differences to avoid an unwanted pattern
• Lay the tiles from the center out
• Use a tile cutter to get the exact size you need, especially near corners
• Use spacers to get even grout lines and choose the right grout
• Use sanded grout for joints greater than 1/8 inch
• Use a waterproof adhesive or mortar
• Grout and seal according to manufacturer recommendations