Your Floor: Two Tiles to Love
Cement and quarry tiles are easy, lasting and unexpected
The first article in this series explored ratings for ceramic tile, using various types of tile for comparison. Two more options fall outside traditional tile categorizations: quarry tile and cement tile.
Neither material is a new category, although both are experiencing a resurgence in their use. Quarry tile was some of the earliest, mass-produced floor tile available, and cement tile first appeared in Southern France in the late 19th century.
Quarry tile is worth considering due to its resilience and relatively low cost — generally between $3 and $5 per square foot.
Cement tile warrants consideration for its long life and jaw-dropping, distinctive beauty. It usually retails for between $9 and $17 a square foot. Take a look:
Neither material is a new category, although both are experiencing a resurgence in their use. Quarry tile was some of the earliest, mass-produced floor tile available, and cement tile first appeared in Southern France in the late 19th century.
Quarry tile is worth considering due to its resilience and relatively low cost — generally between $3 and $5 per square foot.
Cement tile warrants consideration for its long life and jaw-dropping, distinctive beauty. It usually retails for between $9 and $17 a square foot. Take a look:
by Avente Tile
»
Cement tile
Pros: Beautiful patters and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Cost: $9-$17 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Cement tile is a through-body color tile. By that I mean its surface finish is the same through the entire piece of tile.
Pros: Beautiful patters and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Cost: $9-$17 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Cement tile is a through-body color tile. By that I mean its surface finish is the same through the entire piece of tile.
by Avente Tile
»
As its name suggests, it's made from pigmented portland cement and is cured in a hydraulic press.
by Avente Tile
»
It's great for use in high-traffic areas, but be careful when using it outdoors. If you live in a climate where temperatures go below freezing in the winter, cement tile's better used indoors.
by Avente Tile
»
Few materials offer the kinds of colors and patterns available in cement tile, so it tends to steal the show.
by Kenny Grono
»
It's nearly as beautiful when used on walls as it is on floors. This kitchen is made by the bold pattern on the walls, don't you think?
by Filmore Clark
»
Cement tile's vintage and avante garde at the same time. Few materials can make that claim.
by aldonchem.com
»
Quarry tile
Pros: Holds up to just about anything
Cons: Limited options for colors and sizes
Cost: $3-$5 per square foot
Suggested uses: Indoor-outdoor, entries, kitchens and baths
Quarry tile is a high-fire, ceramic tile that's always unglazed. It's different from the glazed tile you're used to seeing because it's extruded rather than cast from a mold. Extruding clay to make tile is similar in a lot of ways to squeezing icing from a pastry bag.
Pros: Holds up to just about anything
Cons: Limited options for colors and sizes
Cost: $3-$5 per square foot
Suggested uses: Indoor-outdoor, entries, kitchens and baths
Quarry tile is a high-fire, ceramic tile that's always unglazed. It's different from the glazed tile you're used to seeing because it's extruded rather than cast from a mold. Extruding clay to make tile is similar in a lot of ways to squeezing icing from a pastry bag.
Quarry tile is an exceptionally resilient flooring material. It's the original "through body" tile; like cement tile, its surface finish is the same through the entire piece of tile.
by summitville.com
»
There's no top glaze on quarry tile, so there's nothing to wear off in high-traffic areas. This makes it a great flooring material for entryways and kitchens.
by wqttile.com
»
Quarry tile is all but impervious to water, so it's perfect for use outdoors or in wet areas.
If you're looking for a flooring material that is long-lasting, easy to maintain and different from what's expected, quarry and cement tile may be the product you've been waiting for.
More: How to Shop for Tile
How to Find the Right Stone Tile
If you're looking for a flooring material that is long-lasting, easy to maintain and different from what's expected, quarry and cement tile may be the product you've been waiting for.
More: How to Shop for Tile
How to Find the Right Stone Tile
Ideabook updated on Oct. 30, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
Denise, if you want to see how cement tiles are made check out this short video we captured while visiting a factory:
Thanks, again for a great post!
http://www.Aliciatappdesigns.com