Why Porcelain Tile Is a Smart Alternative to Concrete Finishes
Not long ago, we had the opportunity to take a look at some new products on the market. There are a wide range of products needed for kitchen and bathroom installations. Today we’re looking at a unique and different type of porcelain tile that can be installed at the floor and walls of kitchens and bathrooms.
Just as a side note, it’s probably a good idea to mention that even though it’s common for tile to be installed at kitchens and bathrooms, it’s not necessary. You can build kitchens and bathrooms entirely without porcelain tile or ceramic tile. One of the biggest benefits to porcelain tile or ceramic tile is that it has a higher resistance to moisture. Wood materials, by comparison, are easily damaged by exposure to water and moisture.
There are four different finishes but two different types of visual design appearances shown in these examples. The pattern to the left shows the examples in a scallop or fish scale type of layout. Here you can see there are two dark color concrete finishes. We’re looking at examples at the middle left and middle right at the scallop section. The upper and lower examples show a light or medium gray concrete looking tile. Those particular tiles have exposed aggregate, like a ground and polished or terrazzo type finish. It’s not really the same as a terrazzo finish. There is a distinction.
Also, to make it all just a little bit more confusing, there’s also a similar type of exposed aggregate that leaves the aggregate in a non planar rougher texture. This is common at sidewalks or areas of aprons or ramps in the sidewalk. This alternate concrete finish will be done, at times, for a bit of aesthetic variety. It also has a functional purpose. When the aggregate is exposed in this way, it has a much rougher texture that helps with traction. That traction helps to reduce slippage when walking in these areas. Often these areas will either be accent or specially marked areas or areas that have a higher degree of slope or grade.
A closer view of the medium gray examples of the regular concrete looking finish (above) and the polished concrete or exposed aggregate concrete follows below. Real concrete can perform moderately well as a finish itself. It doesn’t necessarily have to be covered with tile to work from a functional perspective.
In the Washington DC metropolitan though, having interior finishes that are built with actual concrete is a bit rare. In other areas or in commercial or Industrial settings, floors may be built with concrete slabs. Even walls can sometimes be built with cast in place or even precast types of concrete. In those cases it wouldn’t necessarily help much to cover those areas with a porcelain tile or ceramic tile. This is especially the case when the desired aesthetic or visual finish is in fact the concrete itself. The tile still helps in very wet areas though.
Ceramic tile does help though in some other ways as well. Particularly, at planar joints, concrete will have a tendency to crack. Even when the concrete is built with high quality labor and very high quality materials, the concrete will crack naturally. It’s just one of the intrinsic characteristics of concrete as a building material. It has a tendency to continue cracking throughout its life. When installed well though, the cracks will likely be limited to just hairline cracks that do not cause structural concern. Also, control joints can be added to concentrate the tracking where desired.
Some of the other reasons that tile works better than concrete follow:
- Better impermeability
- Improved stain resistance
- Less maintenance in sealing
- Ease of cleaning
- Modular / partial replacement options
- Quantifiable slip resistance
- Membrane and heating compatibility
In a future blog article, here on our website, we will explain these seven reasons in more detail. There’s even more reason why tile performs better in kitchens and bathrooms, but we just figured we’d mentioned some of the top reasons to start. When you look at the tile in the picture above, you can see the exposed plaarr or flat surface of the tile and you can also see the edge. The materials used to create the tile have a medium gray color. You can see this at the exposed edge. If slate damage occurs to the exposed surface of the tile, it’s better to have a porcelain body substrate of similar color.
Dupont Kitchen & Bath Can Help
As dedicated and local DC metropolitan kitchen and bath builders and installers, we pride ourselves on turning your visions into reality. Your kitchen and bathrooms can reflect your unique style and be designed with personalized aesthetics. It can be a process from creative designs to the realization of your dream space. Specializing in kitchen and bath construction, we bring expertise and skills to every project. If you’re contemplating a renovation, upgrade, or modernization in the local market, we’re happy to be your team. Consult with us, and we can start together on a path to redefine and elevate your DC living experience.
You can visit our company website at https://dupontkitchenbathdc.com/
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