| When choosing materials for your bathroom remodel, | | | | between $3 and $6 per square foot, Porcelain has |
| tile should receive as much consideration as your new | | | | great value. It is easy to install-and definitely possible |
| fixtures. Tile, in addition to providing protection from | | | | to do yourself-though it must have a different |
| water, is integral to making your new bathroom feel | | | | setting material than typical Ceramic. It is a more |
| like it is truly "yours." | | | | porous material, so ask the tile's manufacturer about |
| Durability, expense, ease of cleaning and aesthetic | | | | their preferred type of compound setting. |
| value should all come into consideration during tile | | | | 3. Terra Cotta |
| selection-there are thousands of kinds to choose | | | | As one of the most ancient tile materials-dating back |
| from, but there are some obvious winners. Here are | | | | to before oven-firing was an option in its baking |
| three examples of such bathroom champions. | | | | process-Terra Cotta is certainly tried and true. It |
| 1. Ceramic | | | | provides a uniquely rustic and weathered look to any |
| An extremely durable tile, Ceramic comes in every | | | | space, while remaining within the same range of |
| color under the sun. Typically molded from clay, fired | | | | prices for the preceding tile types. Some added |
| and glazed, Ceramic is a classic tile material. Ceramic | | | | expense is incurred, however, when installing and |
| tile mosaics and installations are still intact in ancient | | | | deciding whether or not to seal the tiled surface. This |
| structures from Egypt and Pompeii. Ceramic is easy | | | | is a job for tiling professionals (like those at Denver |
| to clean-a wet towel does the trick-and doesn't | | | | Tile Installation), particularly in terms of selection. |
| harbor germs. It can be purchased in five different | | | | While good Terra Cotta will last forever, even tile |
| gradations of hardness: zero through two are | | | | experts have a difficult time evaluating its quality. |
| typically chosen for wall tile and three for flooring. It | | | | Only buy from a trusted source, and seriously |
| is easy to install on your own, and is very affordable | | | | consider sealing. Sealing the floor-applying a glaze |
| at between $3 and $7 a square foot. Be sure that all | | | | over the completed surface-will ensure that no water |
| tile used in your bathroom comes from the same lot, | | | | will infiltrate and will dramatically improve the ease of |
| as color and size can vary slightly between | | | | cleaning. |
| manufactured lots. | | | | There are many options for creating aesthetic quality |
| 2. Porcelain | | | | in a bathroom, and it is tempting to go with what is |
| Porcelain is a variation on Ceramic tile, in that it is | | | | most attractive. However, since bathrooms need to |
| durable and affordable. In fact, it is more typically | | | | serve a practical purpose first and foremost, you |
| used for commercial tiling jobs as it is more durable | | | | should also keep more practical aspects of tile |
| than is necessary for residential bathrooms. | | | | selection in mind. That way, you will not only love the |
| Manufactured in the same way as Ceramic tile, | | | | way your bathroom looks when it is completed, but |
| Porcelain comes in an infinite number of colors and | | | | also be able to enjoy it long afterward. |
| sizes. Priced essentially identical to Ceramic at | | | | |