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Pros and Cons of Ceramic Tile Kitchen Countertops

Remodeling a kitchen? While there are many countertop materials to choose from, tile can possibly fulfill all of your needs.

When looking to replace a countertop or remodel a kitchen there are several things to consider. The price, style and functionality of the surface material all need to be taken into account. According to Better Homes and Garden Magazine (www.bhg.com) here is a list of pros and cons associated with tile to aide in your decision.

Pros

  • Tiles won't scratch, stain or get scorched from hot pans.
  • Chipped or cracked tiles are cheap and easy to fix.
  • Provides a huge choice of colors and patterns to match kitchen style.
  • Can be cut and designed in several shapes and sizes.

Cons

  • The grout between tiles can stain and be difficult to clean.
  • Ceramic's hard surface and finish can dull knives.
  • A higher gloss finish will show more scratches and scrapes.
  • Tile can crack and chip more easily than other options so avoid dropping anything heavy onto the counter.

Side Notes

Now that the pros and cons have been laid out, here are some other considerations to keep in mind.

Solid color tiles are the most inexpensive, so if you want a patterned tile, consider intermixing the two to keep costs down. Some of the most effective kitchen designs are pulled off with this look. For example, a solid color tile back splash has a uniform, clean look, but can be accented with your favorite patterned tile pieces. Creating a focus point set into the solid back splash really makes a statement and can be used to influence the design of the rest of the kitchen.

When it comes to grout choices, go with an epoxy or acrylic grout since they don't stain as easily as other grouts. The majority of grout stains will scrub clean with scouring powder and bleach.

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