Choosing tile for bathroom renovations is more complicated than it should be. I find it weird how hard it is sometimes. Truthfully I actually blame manufacturers for claiming that they have a new tile on the market or they re-invented tile altogether, or it has such a weird name that you don’t know if it’s even tile anymore.

Let’s make things easy.

There are 3 types of tile to use for bathroom renovations. Yes 3 and only 3.

Ceramic.

Think making a mug at a clay store, glazing it and putting it into the kiln to cure. That’s ceramic tile.

Porcelain.

Think high end dishes (stoneware). This is still clay, but cured at higher temperatures. See info here

Stone.

This is literally stone. It’s cut from the earth and honed or polished. Examples: Marble, Limestone (these are the big two)

There, that’s it, those are your choices. Easy right! See, not everything needs to be hard. On to the pros and cons!

Ceramic Pros, Cons & Best Applications

Pros: Inexpensive, comes in a variety of interesting finishes, can mimic stone easily, doesn’t stain easily

Cons: Wears faster than other types, cannot be re-finished, the most porous, the least strong

Best used: For bathroom owners that want style on a budget. Works well on bathroom floors, in showers, on benches, anywhere in the bathroom.

Porcelain Pros, Cons & Best Applications

Pros: Can range from inexpensive to very expensive (huge range). Very strong, Not porous, Can mimic stone, Comes in large format, resists stains very well

Cons: Can be expensive, Cannot be refinished, Some types can stain or react with shower soap, is difficult to seal

Best used: For bathroom owners that wants a stronger tile that wont fade as easily as ceramic. Works well on bathroom floors, in showers on benches, anywhere in the bathroom.

Stone Pros, Cons & Best Applications

Pros: Can always be refinished, Looks the best, feels natural, can be customized very easily, the edges can be rounded with tools, takes sealant well

Cons: Can be the most expensive of the options. Can stain easily if not spec’d properly or sealed periodically,  Can darken once installed (especially marble), Can be porous.

Best used: For bathroom owners that want the best type of tile in high end bathrooms. Great for owners that don’t ever want to redo their bathroom again and want something timeless. Works well on bathroom floors, in showers on benches, anywhere in the bathroom.

And that’s it! Happy material specifying for your bathroom renovations!