Pros + Cons of a TILED COUNTERTOP
Design by: GRT Architects
Photography: Nicole Frazen
A tiled countertop is a not a new design trend, but rather taking a spin on an very old concept and brining it to life again. Tiling your countertop can give an incredibly appealing look to your kitchen, but you have to ask yourself if it is worth it! Lets dive in…
Tiled countertops is a countertop design solution that been around for many, many years. Design wise, it was hugely popular in the 70’s and 80’s, and like all design trends this one has come back around - and it a fabulous way. A tiled countertop can give that design punch that you might be looking for in your space with the wide variety of colors you have to play with. There are a few tiling options, you can use a porcelain, ceramic or Zellige tile - all highly durable with pros and cons of each. A glazed, rectified porcelain tile is the best pick. Being a rectified tile you are able to joint the tiles closer together (less grout to get dirty). This also means the surface will be overall more flat and easy to clean. Porcelain tile is also the most durable in terms of properties, it is made up of different material and fired in a kiln at a higher temperature making it the most durable option. Opposed to a Zellige tile where it’s characteristics is a un-uniform edge, this gives a more rustic overall look and a bit harder to keep clean. A huge benefit of tiled countertops is the poppy color and bold design, so if you are considering this option I would consider using this for a secondary countertop and use a different option for your main worktop countertop space. Here are a few overall pros and cons to consider.
PROS (+)
-Less expensive than traditional countertops
-Glazed ceramics are non porous and will not stain
-More texturized surfaces to wipe down = harder to clean daily
-Gives a beautiful and characterized look to the space
-Very durable; hot cookware can be set on top with no worry
-Lots of bold color color options. Many more than any other forms of countertops.
-Ability to do a different patterns
-Gives a rustic, old world look with the right tiles
CONS (-)
-Harder to clean with grout lines; grout does stain.
-Grout lines should be sealed to maintain it’s life. The smaller the grout line the easier to maintain. A rectified tile (straight) tile you will be able to get a closer joint. A Zellige or handmade tile has natural irregularities to the shape and requires a larger joint.
-Not all tile lines have detailed trim options (edgings and copings). This means that you would have to find a tile line that has these options, or find a very skilled tile installer to work with tricky details that you might have.
