Ceramic Tile Countertop

You hardly ever see a ceramic tile countertop on TV. Home design shows always show either granite or laminate. If, like me, you're not a big fan of laminate, and you don't want to take out a loan to have a granite countertop, it's time to take a hard look at ceramic tile.

Tiles will resist heat and stains, maintaining a good look for a long time. It is also reasonably priced, and it never goes out of style. There are reasons for longevity.

The selection of colors and patterns for your ceramic tile countertop is overwhelming. Your biggest problem will be narrowing the field down from the 4 or 5 you really love to that final pick.

Obviously, you can't bend the tile around an edge. I've seen people use cut tiles as a flat edge, but I think this requires more grout than I want to see along the front of the top. Using a wood edge works well, but it's your option. The wood can get banged up over the years.

It's important that the ceramic tile countertop gets installed properly. You don't want uneven edges between the tiles, or inconsistent grout lines. This is not a job for a do-it-yourselfer.

My recommendation is to keep the grout lines narrow. The problem is that the grout is where the installer makes up the space he needs to fill in small gaps in order to get all full tiles from front to back.

He needs (I say HE NEEDS!) to lay the tiles out first and think about a slight overhang at the front (if necessary), and covering a small gap (if any) at the back with the backsplash. Keep the grout lines to less than 1/4". He should use a spacer to insure consistency of grout lines. They come in a 1/8" size.

When he's finished, he should seal the grout (not the whole countertop). Many tiles won't absorb the sealer - it will just lay on top - and eventually get on your cookware or your food. Sealing the grout keeps moisture from being absorbed (for a while).

Eventually the sealer will wear off. If you don't reseal every 2 to 3 years, the grout will start to look dirty, making the entire counter look that way. This is another reason why I like narrow grout lines.

Although a ceramic tile countertop will resist scratching and scorching, and will last forever, it's hard - don't drop your good crystal on it. However, it will crack if you drop a heavy object on it. So it's a good idea to buy a few extra pieces in case future replacements are needed.

Another negative is that a ceramic tile countertop will get slippery when wet. So be careful when walking on your wet countertops (I'm kidding).

Back to the plus side - you have fantastic potential for diversification. With your creative juices flowing, you can create patterns using several different colors, you can have designs made from mosaics, checkerboard your counter, or you can break pieces before you install them to make the countertop look "shattered".

The possible designs are limited only by your imagination. But be sure your installer is up to the task if you decide to have something that's a bit out of the ordinary. I've also seen many kitchens where another material was used on the counter, and the backsplash was done with ceramic tile. If done well, this could add interest, charm and warmth to your kitchen (just an idea).

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