Tile Types & Materials

I remember the first time I saw it. A whole kitchen, walls and backsplash, dripping in that classic white, slightly imperfect ceramic. It was a moment. For years, the image of subway tile was synonymous with chic, affordable renovation. It felt like the default setting for anyone wanting a clean, timeless look without emptying their … Read more

I remember staring at the pool tile aisle at the big box store years ago, feeling utterly overwhelmed. So many colors, so many textures. My contractor, bless his heart, just pointed and said, “Pick somethin’ pretty, they’re all the same.” I wish it were that simple. That’s how I learned the hard way that not … Read more

I remember the first time I tried to seal my brand-new ceramic tile bathroom. I’d watched a million YouTube videos, read all the glossy magazine articles, and felt like a seasoned pro. Then came the spill. A rogue bottle of hairspray tipped over, and before I could even grab a towel, it had left a … Read more

I remember staring at my patio, a cracked, sad mess of old concrete that looked like it had lost a fight with a grumpy badger. I was determined to fix it, and everyone, literally everyone, said, ‘Porcelain tiles are the way to go!’ So, I went to the tile store, ready to drop some serious … Read more

I remember the first time I got a truly stubborn stain on my kitchen tile. It was a greasy mess from a splattered curry, and my go-to cleaner just wasn’t cutting it. In a panic, I grabbed the strongest thing I had under the sink: a bottle of ammonia. I’d heard whispers about it being … Read more

I remember the first time I watched a tile setter work. It was mesmerizing, like watching a surgeon with a trowel. He moved with such precision, laying down those stone pieces like he was playing a high-stakes game of Tetris. But as I stood there, admiring the flawless lines, a thought niggled at me: are … Read more

I remember standing in my kitchen, water everywhere after a dropped glass of juice. My heart sank as I watched my toddler, who was toddling right behind me, start to slide. We’d just installed those gorgeous, glossy porcelain tiles, and suddenly, “slippery” wasn’t just a word; it was a full-blown panic attack. So, are porcelain … Read more

I remember staring at a wall of tiles, completely bewildered. The salesperson was droning on about ‘ceramic’ and ‘porcelain,’ and honestly, it all sounded like gibberish. I just wanted something that wouldn’t crack if I dropped a can of soup on it in the kitchen. It felt like a total scam – how different could … Read more

I remember staring at a wall of ceramic tile samples, trying to figure out why some looked identical but had wildly different price tags. It felt like a scam. Were they all just lining their pockets by slapping fancy names on the same old stuff? I was in the market for a new bathroom floor, … Read more

I remember staring at the endless rows of tile in the home improvement store, feeling like I was drowning in a sea of sameness. Shiny, matte, textured, smooth – they all looked like… well, tile. My contractor kept saying, ‘just pick one, they’re all the same,’ but my gut told me that couldn’t be right. … Read more

I remember the first time I saw a Swiffer Wet Jet in action. It looked like magic. A few sprays, a quick swipe, and voilà – gleaming floors. I bought one immediately, convinced it was the holy grail for my perpetually dusty kitchen and bathroom ceramic tiles. Fast forward a few months, and my opinion … Read more

I remember staring at a wall of tiles, convinced they were all the same. Glossy, matte, stone-look – sure. But ‘grades’? My contractor just nodded and pointed. “This one’s good,” he said, like I was supposed to instinctively know why. I ended up with some fancy-looking tile that chipped within a year. That’s when I … Read more

Look, I’ve been down this rabbit hole. You’re scrolling, you see these gorgeous mosaic tile backsplashes, subway tiles, something with a bit of character, and you start wondering: are mosaic tile squares irregular? Because honestly, nothing kills a DIY vibe faster than a perfectly uniform, factory-perfect look when you were aiming for ‘artisanal chic’. I … Read more

I remember my aunt’s kitchen. Beige ceramic tile, grout lines darker than a week-old coffee stain, a splatter pattern on the backsplash that told tales of a thousand fried eggs. It was the 90s, and it felt like the height of kitchen chic. Fast forward to today, and the whispers about trends have me asking: … Read more

I remember the first time I laid eyes on LVT. It was in a friend’s kitchen – sleek, modern, and surprisingly affordable. They raved about how easy it was to clean and how it was waterproof. Sold, I thought. Fast forward a year and a half, and my own kitchen floor looks like it went … Read more

I remember the first time I walked into a showroom filled with gleaming slabs of marble and endless rows of tile. It felt like stepping into a jewelry box for your house. But then reality hit: the price tags. I’d just bought a fixer-upper, and my budget was already screaming in protest. I ended up … Read more

I remember staring up at my neighbor’s roof after that monster hailstorm. His house, with its fancy ceramic tiles, looked like it had gone ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer. Pitted, cracked, and frankly, a mess. Mine, a simple metal roof I’d agonized over choosing, had barely a ding. That was my first real lesson … Read more

I once spent a weekend wrestling with these tiny little squares, convinced I was about to transform my sad-looking backsplash. The box said ‘easy peel-and-stick,’ and I pictured myself done by lunchtime. By Sunday night, my hands were raw, half the tiles were crooked, and I was seriously considering just painting over the whole mess. … Read more

I remember standing on my neighbor’s roof, the sun beating down, inspecting a patch of algae that was slowly but surely eating away at his asphalt shingles. He’d just had them replaced a few years prior and was already dealing with this mess. It got me thinking about the big question: are ceramic roof tile … Read more

I remember staring at samples, trying to pick out tile for my kitchen backsplash. So many choices, so much marketing talk about ‘durability’ and ‘elegance.’ Frankly, I felt overwhelmed and pretty sure I was going to pick the wrong thing. Now, years later, I’m here to tell you about the real deal with porcelain tile. … Read more