I’ll be completely honest. A salesman at a flooring store has a lot of product knowledge of how it’s supposed to preform but the best people to give you an honest opinion on construction products are the installers that have seen the different products installed over the years 1000 times
I agree with you 100%. It may not have been discussed clearly enough in this video, but this is my family's business which I have worked in for 20 years. We not only provide the materials, but we started as strictly an installation business so our primary background is the installation side first and foremost. We have handled and installed all different types of products and still install a variety of materials so I do not speak as a salesperson but as a business owner that oversees the entire process and is ultimately responsible for the final results.
@@RemodelWithRobert: Hi Robert, I am a GC with lot's of custom home experience, but I have a new challenge (new for me)... a client who wants a porcelain tile countertop with a "waterfall" island end. I've never done this and I have a question of how to blend the countertop nosing with the visible edge of the waterfall. If this is something you are willing to discuss, I'll send you a sketch to illustrate the issue.
@@joshd7565 - Josh, I agree with you a small bit. Although I don’t necessarily agree this is fool proof, it can be helpful. When I read your post, my immediate thought was that you never know the background of the person assisting you. If you are in doubt, ask. That’s what I do and I’m not embarrassed to do so. It’s your home and you want it done right. I’m not an installer nor a salesperson - it’s up to me to do my homework so when I go into a store I have some knowledge of what I’m wanting or thinking about - if the person seems knowledgeable about the products I’ll continue to ask (Did you ever install this type of flooring, countertops, cabinets yourself. If so, what’s your experience with whatever the product is. I find that helpful. I had a fabulous handywoman in Chicago. She told me this is mainly a man’s world but knowledgeable women are out there too. To do a great job, you need the right tools. That means brains as well. Know your stuff.
My name is Charlie Harwood, I am in the process of having my patio tiled. One of the contractors is recommending I put down ceramic tile. BUT after watching your video, it is my feeling ceramic tile would not be wise due to freezing in the winter here in Texas. THEREFORE, based on your information, I am going to use porceline tile for the patio. THANK YOU
Be CAREFUL when choosing tile for around wet places - pool, kitchen, and bathroom. One slip on these hard surfaces and you are going to break bones. (I learned the hard way) For kitchen, pool, and bathrooms , if you are going for a hard tile flooring, pick a tile that has a rough, slip resistance surface.
Thank you for the technical information. I replaced my flooring last year and went with a wood look porcelain from Daltile with a "hand scraped" texture. Not because of any thoughts of increased strength, but because the finish on the individual tiles had so much variation. I love the way they feel under foot.
I have a wood floor in my kitchen that is in bad shape. Instead of having it refinished, I'm thinking about having it replaced with wood-look tile. However, the floor was installed before the cabinets, so the cabinets and island sit on top of the wood. Do the cabinets need to be removed so the whole floor can be replaced, or do you just cut around the cabinets and leave the wood that is underneath them? Thanks for all of your great videos!
Very informative, I don't think you left anything out. I have porcelain tiles that have chips along the edge. My only gripe is that the grout looses it's freshness too soon and the tiles loose some of their appeal as a result. I chose a matt finish for the floor tiles and they aren't as attractive as polished ones, I goofed up.
I seldom like or comment on videos however this video was so informative and well done I couldn't not comment and like. This video was extremely well done and I am very appreciative of the time and effort it to to produce.
Robert, I absolutely love your videos. They are so informative and helpful! I would love to see a video talking about tiling shower floors and what tiles are best for that. I know the tiles should be smaller to help with the gradation to the drain but I struggle in understanding exactly what size the tiles should be and what finish they should have.
Very informative video! My question would be what type or particular recommendation of tile would you suggest for a high traffic/pet area that can be made to resemble genuine woodgrain floors?
That is not a straight forward answer. The thickness isnt necessarily an indicator of overall durability or quality. There may be cases where a thinner tile is better for transitions to other floors, a lighter tile may be easier to work with on walls than a heavier tile, etc. Look to some of the factors I mentioned in the video for quality indicators. I hope that helps!
Thanks Robert! Great video! Wanted to ask if the tile thickness matters for a good wood look porcelain tiles (like I have seen 7mm to 10 mm porcelain tiles)
Hi I appreciated your information I had learned a lot thank you can you do me a fever I am planing to change the floor in my kitchen can I put ceramic on top of wood floor ? Thank you so much for your advice Martha
Porcelain plates are so heavy. Therefore I use glass plates. I prefer lighter tiles. How much is the weight difference between porcelain and ceramic normally? I would then prefer ceramic. Maybe ceramic will also breathe better and still keep water away?
This was very helpful! Tha k you very much for the information! Now how would grout lines between porcelain and ceramic compare? I have read in different places that ceramic tile grout lines are harder to clean or more susceptible to stains. Could you elaborate more on this based on your experience? Thank you so much!
Where does marble tile fit in? We found a really nice mable tile and bought a single piece to take home and compare. When we got home we noticed it was covered in little scratches. Made us wonder how it would hold up to chairs and dirt. Is there a grading on how scratch resistant a tile is? I'm guessing polished is not the way to go. Secondly, we're replacing our tile because the sewer backed up into the bathroom and just outside. It was considered a class III hazmat spill so all affected tile had to be removed. And ofcourse the bathroom was continuous with most of the down stairs. So with this in mind, being inpart a bathroom, would porcelin be better for it's low absorbtion?
Those little scratches are pretty typical for marble as it is a relatively soft stone. I would recommend either porcelain or ceramic over marble for most people as they are much less maintenance than marble is. I think either of those would work well for your bathroom.
Robert, Will it look strange if I do hardwood in bedrooms and wood looking porcelain tiles in the rest of home? They are both in line of vision and did not know if they fight each other being wood types. Any faux pas here?
What is your opinion of Crossville Velvet Almond tile for bathroom and shower. It says porcelain, but I don’t see a certification for it. Maybe it’s ceramic?
I just want to know the pros and cons. The when yo use each or the other. Does he ever get to that part? And then I want to know the floor prep procedures for them.
I would not suggest tile over an engineered wood floor. Tearing it out is not a fun process but if you are going to put tile in, I highly recommend getting back to your subfloor for install.
Please do not tile over hardwood. Wood shrinks and swells with weather and humidity change. It will inevitably cause your tile floor to crack horribly.
Hi Robert! This is great info thank you. I’d love to see a video from you about the difference between through-body and color body tile. Also, would love your insight on choosing tile for a commercial vs residential applications. Thank you! Loving your tile series videos.
Great video. I want tile for bedroom bath and dining room and kitchen. Had my heart set on porcelain but thinking it will be too expensive. I have linoleum and carpet so Don’t they need to put something down before installation?
Thank you for your video. I read one can fix a chipped or cracked tile. I had dal tile Sl83 almond tiles installed in 2012 with a dawn color grout. I had dropped a glass that shattered and chipped the tiles. After being out of town caring for my dad, upon my return, I've noticed other chips and a cracked tile. I'd like to save my floors and find a professional to do the job. What/whom would you recommend?
Hey Robert! Thanks for spending the time to create this video. It' easy to make the right choice now that you've provided this GREAT information. Peace
I am considering porcelain tiles for my kitchen countertops. What are your thoughts on porcelain tile for countertops? Secondly what are your thoughts about concrete countertops… for an island? In terms of durability and food safety.
I prefer solid slabs over tiles in general for the elimination of grout lines but I have seen some very nice porcelain countertops. Concrete countertops can look really cool if you like more of an industrial look. They are very heavy products and need to be properly sealed, especially if it is an area where any food is being prepped.
I appreciate your videos, Robert. They're always informative. Do you have any advice for someone like me, who has purchased a new home from a developer & construction is beginning next month? The porcelain flooring I selected is fairly high-end and I asked that it be done in a pattern I saw in a stunning model home recently (2 rows of the same 12x48 tile to every 1 row of the same tile in an 8x32). My question: I'm already worried the installer may not do it correctly. Am I wrong to feel that way? Did I pick a pattern that's too complex? And how do I try to ensure the job is done as well as possible without being able to be there and watch what the installer is doing? Thanks!
I certainly understand your concern with making sure that it is installed correctly with it not being a completely standard pattern. I would encourage you to try and have some involvement when the job starts if possible so that you can confirm that with the contractor/builder as it starts. We usually have our clients present for the beginning of the job to verify that the product is the right style and color before it gets installed, but also to verify the direction they wanted it to run, pattern, etc. Hope that helps and good luck!
@@RemodelWithRobert how much weight can both withstand. I'M planning to have very large aquariums in my basement 150gallon to 300 gallon which can be 2500lb or more. I also live in canada and temps can go up to -40 sometimes -50 C. is there anyway to make it less cold to step on during those cold winter months?
Hey brother can we discuss more on tiles...now a days ceramic or porcelain tile look too closer nd sometimes customer don't know how to find...I am manufacturer from morbi , india
thanks for your video. What products should be used for polished porcelain tiles? I know we shouldn't use harsh ones but not sure which ones to use? Thanks
Tile is a great option if you are looking to get rid of the carpet. Keep in mind, it will be colder, harder, and louder than the carpet. However its pretty low maintenance. Your other alternative to look at would be the floating floors like waterproof vinyls and laminates. Ive done videos on those as well. Good luck!
Either product will work. It is more important for you to use the right drill bit for ceramic/porcelain tiles. You also want to make sure if you are supporting any kind of weight that you try to place at a stud
Interesting, I stumbled across your video as I was looking for pottery. We deal with various clays all the time and what you say about Porcelain is sort of true. What makes porcelain is the percentage of Kaolin clay or China Clay. This is the white clay body generally from China though other deposits have been found. it can be fired to a very high temp as the clay body won't melt therefore fusing or vitrifying the claybody (fuzing all the particles together to create the low porosity) . It does have a low poursity under 1% generally but in saying that you can get Porcelaneous Clay bodies now that are technically Not porcelain, but a stoneware that has about the same poursity as porcelain. The glazes that you have on the surface of the tiles are the thing you want to consider if you are worried about chipping as they are basically frits with silica/trace elements etc or melted glass for the lay person. The red tile you showed is basically a terracotta or earthenware, it has the highest porosity (About 12% sometimes even as high as 16%of all clay bodies as it will melt before it fully vitrifies. This is due to the iron in the clay body, giving it the colour red (Like rust) but also acting as a flux that will lower the temp the clay can withstand before structural failure.)
So interesting! The differences you mention are in respect to the fact that porcelain and ceramic in pottery are completely different to that of ceramic and porcelain in tiles, and the terms are not synonymous in what they refer to, standards of measurement, etc.
I was gifted 2 large tiles of porcelain and I wanted to turn it into a table top for a podcast. I noticed that the tiles are not shiny, it has a matt finish. Is there anything I can do to give it a shiny reflective surface?
Can porcelain be used as the entire 2nd level flooring (about 1000 sq ft). A bit worried about the weight on wood structure, will porcelain be too heavy?
How do you clean matt porcelain tile? Can you use the same products as glazed ceramic tile? Can an crosswave floor cleaner be used to clean it? Would that scratch it?
Hi Rob, Really Appreciate what you are doing to help everyone. Quick question, please. Can we use quartz ( big slabs ) for our Shower walls in the master bathroom,please advise. Thanks
Hi Robert were Doing a shower remodel and I’m curious of your thoughts on the popular cloe tile for shower walls? I believe it is ceramic and that scared me due to hearing that it isn’t as durable in wet environments. Watching your video now I’m second guessing if it is actually something i shouldn’t completely disregard because I LOVE the tile :) let me know thoughts thank you!
Cloe, from Bedrosians? Beautiful tile and it will be fine in a shower. The installation is what will dictate how the shower turns out, in terms of the waterproofing.
Hi Robert, thanks for the info. I have a matte porcelain encaustic tile install that has faded from the skylight in only 4 months. Do you have any suggestions on either bringing the darkness back or fading the small area that was covered by the bath mat to even it out? Tiles were sealed at time of install. Thanks!
I would contact whoever you purchased the tile from as well as the installer so that you can make sure to get the specific directions for that product and verify the install process was followed correctly. That does not sound like a normal situation for a porcelain tile. If it is a true encaustic tile, something with the sealer could be off. However, I never want to speak to a product or install that I wasnt part of as there are lots of variables involved I am not privy to.
I'm having an issue with my ceramic tile. I built a new townhome and a few days ago my ground floor tile was pushed up from the ground and cracking in about 15 or so tiles. I first noticed the rising of the tile months ago but then the other night it literally cracked and sorta pushed up from the ground. Although I'm out of warranty for the tile the warranty manager said the tile was defective due to some moisture absorption issue. The tile manufacturer is going to replace all the tile and have it installed. Does that sound right to you? a google search said it could possibly a leaking plumbing issue from the ground causing the ground to swell. I told the warranty manager and she quickly dismissed that idea. She says it's because of defective ceramic tile that is absorbing moisture and making it expand. From casual observation/untrained eye it appears to look dry and not very expanded to me. I was wondering what you thought. Thanks for any input you share.
Both could be true. If they have a known defect and are replacing it for you then there must be a legitimate issue the manufacturer is acknowledging. However, it is also possible that there is an issue with moisture in the slab for it to have affected a specific area. It is easy enough to do a moisture test on the slab before a reinstall and may be worth having just to be safe. If a basic moisture meter shows any signs of concern then go from there.
Great video on breaking down the difference. I’m shopping some tiles in Santo Domingo, but the tiles are manufacture in India and they call it vitrified tile, glazed and polished vitrified tile. By any chance you have some information of it ? That you can help me understand more about the product ?
Without going into the technical nuances, vitrified tiles are a clay and silica composite tile with a lower porosity than the traditional ceramic. Porcelain tiles can be categorized this way as well as tiles that are explicitly labelled this way. Long story short, denser and less porosity than ceramic. Generally has a different look and texture from ceramic tile as well. Hope that helps
I realize now that I didn't explain the difference in the video. My apology. A truly rectified tile has been machined so that the edges and dimensions are perfect from tile to tile, which gives the ability to install with tighter grout joints. This still requires a great deal of precision by the installer. On the other hand, a lot of tiles that have square edges will still have a great degree of inconsistency in dimensions from tile to tile and in some cases you will even see that a single tile does not measure consistent from one side to the other meaning it is actually out of square. This keeps from getting as tight of a joint even though the tile edges are totally flat on the side.
In my opinion most people don't need to buy a rectified tile as there are non-rectified tiles that can be installed with 1/8 or 1/16 inch grout joints if the rest of the product is otherwise made well and consistent. However, the tighter the grout joint the more inconsistencies will be exposed on install.
Hi Robert! Great video! So glad I stumbled through your channel! Can you advice what’s better to use for a non vented gas fireplace? I’d like to spruce up our fireplace at home with some tiling. Thank you!
Thank you, great info 👍🏽 I’m installing polished porcelain 24x24 tiles with ardex sanded Grout (no sealer). You mentioned to seal the grout 28 days later after the grout has cured. 1)does the polished porcelain tiles need to be seal too and 2)if it’s just then grout that needs to be sealed, how do apply the sealer? The ve heard some people paintbrush the sealer into the grout lines.
i laid tile all over the upstairs of my house. the tiles were sealed, i used a grout that the color worked for the rooms and tile. However, I have house cats and they pee and puke on stuff and the floor. If you've had had cats and cat pee, trust me, you want to seal the grout. I would NEVER get the smell out if the grout weren't sealed. At any rate, I went with a concrete sealer colored for my tile for the sealer. I used a very small paint brush to apply the sealer. Extremely time consuming but that amount of effort was completely worth it. Worked fantastic. I will say that it adhered to the tile itself. We had to get one of those commercial floor polishers. There is a polishing pad that did a pretty good job of getting the concrete sealer off the tiles. A lot of work I agree but I love my floors. We are soon going to install 100% waterproof flooring in the 3 bedrooms, again . . . cats.
Hi. Thanks for making this video and sharing your knowledge. Its so hard to tell apart ceramic from porcelain. I have been reading about tiles and watching a lot of videos here about tiles. Im very confused about what the term "vitrified" tile means. I have seen this term used a lot in India and the tiles look similar to porcelain tiles or marble tiles. I just did a google search and saw that vitrified tile is made with a combination of silica and clay and that they are different than both porcelain tiles and cermaic tiles. Just never seen them here in the US or perhaps theyre known as something else? Just curious to hear what your thoughts are. Thanks again though and hope I can figure this out :)
I just saw another video saying that "Vitrified "tiles are Porcelain tiles and that the term is only used in India and not by any international classification standard. Anyway feel free to reply if you have anything to share ... Thanks again.
@@RemodelWithRobert how heat resistant is porcelain or ceramic, will they break if i place a hot skillet on it? Also, will it chip if i drop a cast iron skillet off the counter?
Installed properly the tile should not lift up without some type of subfloor leak, foundation issues, etc. Under normal circumstances it should stay solidly bonded to the floor once correctly installed.
Absolutely stellar breakdown of the 2 different tiles. Looking to have a 1000 sf floor done and this video helped Immensely.
I’ll be completely honest. A salesman at a flooring store has a lot of product knowledge of how it’s supposed to preform but the best people to give you an honest opinion on construction products are the installers that have seen the different products installed over the years 1000 times
I agree with you 100%. It may not have been discussed clearly enough in this video, but this is my family's business which I have worked in for 20 years. We not only provide the materials, but we started as strictly an installation business so our primary background is the installation side first and foremost. We have handled and installed all different types of products and still install a variety of materials so I do not speak as a salesperson but as a business owner that oversees the entire process and is ultimately responsible for the final results.
EXACTLY!
Great
@@RemodelWithRobert: Hi Robert, I am a GC with lot's of custom home experience, but I have a new challenge (new for me)... a client who wants a porcelain tile countertop with a "waterfall" island end. I've never done this and I have a question of how to blend the countertop nosing with the visible edge of the waterfall. If this is something you are willing to discuss, I'll send you a sketch to illustrate the issue.
@@joshd7565 - Josh, I agree with you a small bit. Although I don’t necessarily agree this is fool proof, it can be helpful. When I read your post, my immediate thought was that you never know the background of the person assisting you. If you are in doubt, ask. That’s what I do and I’m not embarrassed to do so. It’s your home and you want it done right. I’m not an installer nor a salesperson - it’s up to me to do my homework so when I go into a store I have some knowledge of what I’m wanting or thinking about - if the person seems knowledgeable about the products I’ll continue to ask (Did you ever install this type of flooring, countertops, cabinets yourself. If so, what’s your experience with whatever the product is. I find that helpful. I had a fabulous handywoman in Chicago. She told me this is mainly a man’s world but knowledgeable women are out there too. To do a great job, you need the right tools. That means brains as well. Know your stuff.
My name is Charlie Harwood, I am in the process of having my patio tiled. One of the contractors is recommending I put down ceramic tile. BUT after watching your video, it is my feeling ceramic tile would not be wise due to freezing in the winter here in Texas. THEREFORE, based on your information, I am going to use porceline tile for the patio. THANK YOU
I'm a tile installer in south texas, all of this information is correct.
Thanks for watching and for your support!
Be CAREFUL when choosing tile for around wet places - pool, kitchen, and bathroom. One slip on these hard surfaces and you are going to break bones. (I learned the hard way)
For kitchen, pool, and bathrooms , if you are going for a hard tile flooring, pick a tile that has a rough, slip resistance surface.
Oops, typo, "that"
Thank you for the technical information. I replaced my flooring last year and went with a wood look porcelain from Daltile with a "hand scraped" texture. Not because of any thoughts of increased strength, but because the finish on the individual tiles had so much variation. I love the way they feel under foot.
Daltile has some great looks!
Robert, thanks for the information I was seeking. Grout and density were my two questions I had not been able to find answers to. Impressive. 👍🏾
Explanation was easy to understand and very informative. Thank you.
Thanks Robert! Very helpful
Hi may I ask to you what is the best floor tiles for the house 🏠
carpet
I have a wood floor in my kitchen that is in bad shape. Instead of having it refinished, I'm thinking about having it replaced with wood-look tile. However, the floor was installed before the cabinets, so the cabinets and island sit on top of the wood. Do the cabinets need to be removed so the whole floor can be replaced, or do you just cut around the cabinets and leave the wood that is underneath them?
Thanks for all of your great videos!
You can leave the cabinets on the floor.
Very informative, I don't think you left anything out. I have porcelain tiles that have chips along the edge. My only gripe is that the grout looses it's freshness too soon and the tiles loose some of their appeal as a result. I chose a matt finish for the floor tiles and they aren't as attractive as polished ones, I goofed up.
Can you seal over a Matt finish tile flooring to make it shine
Looking for tile flooring with anti slip properties for a wet room
I seldom like or comment on videos however this video was so informative and well done I couldn't not comment and like. This video was extremely well done and I am very appreciative of the time and effort it to to produce.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much you have the best video on UA-cam on the difference between them! Can you do one of Granito and Ceramic tiles?
Maybe a video on natural stone versus ceramic/porcelain?
Ty! Just got stone look porcelain tile installed but there are some “dirt spots” on them that we can’t take off.
Robert, I absolutely love your videos. They are so informative and helpful!
I would love to see a video talking about tiling shower floors and what tiles are best for that.
I know the tiles should be smaller to help with the gradation to the drain but I struggle in understanding exactly what size the tiles should be and what finish they should have.
Thanks so much. I'll see what I can put together!
I’m located in Michigan and am wondering what would be the best tile for exterior home for siding a house
how do you clean porcelain tile? Can you use a Bissell crosswave and hard floor cleaner?
What is the best tile size suitable for kitchen floor... 👍
Very informative video! My question would be what type or particular recommendation of tile would you suggest for a high traffic/pet area that can be made to resemble genuine woodgrain floors?
Good job Rob. I want to know, what is the best thickness a tile should be?
That is not a straight forward answer. The thickness isnt necessarily an indicator of overall durability or quality. There may be cases where a thinner tile is better for transitions to other floors, a lighter tile may be easier to work with on walls than a heavier tile, etc. Look to some of the factors I mentioned in the video for quality indicators. I hope that helps!
Thanks Robert! Great video! Wanted to ask if the tile thickness matters for a good wood look porcelain tiles (like I have seen 7mm to 10 mm porcelain tiles)
Great video...clear, concise explanations...with very helpful details. Thank you!
Thanks for watching and for the kind words!
My kitchen wall is red and countertop is black with veins. What types and colors of backsplash tiles fit these colors? Thank you!
Curious what color backsplash ideas you got & which one you chose. I’m doing a laundry room refresh with similar colors!
keep it simple..Opt for white backsplash.
What type of wood tiles should I use for an indoor car garage?
How does one price out compared to the other? Which is less expensive? By how much?
Hi I appreciated your information I had learned a lot thank you can you do me a fever I am planing to change the floor in my kitchen can I put ceramic on top of wood floor ?
Thank you so much for your advice
Martha
Porcelain plates are so heavy. Therefore I use glass plates. I prefer lighter tiles. How much is the weight difference between porcelain and ceramic normally? I would then prefer ceramic. Maybe ceramic will also breathe better and still keep water away?
Which is better for walls porcelain or ceramic?
This was very helpful! Tha k you very much for the information! Now how would grout lines between porcelain and ceramic compare? I have read in different places that ceramic tile grout lines are harder to clean or more susceptible to stains. Could you elaborate more on this based on your experience? Thank you so much!
Any video about what is good for patio flooring ? Wont porcelain tiles chip outside ?
Where does marble tile fit in? We found a really nice mable tile and bought a single piece to take home and compare. When we got home we noticed it was covered in little scratches. Made us wonder how it would hold up to chairs and dirt. Is there a grading on how scratch resistant a tile is? I'm guessing polished is not the way to go.
Secondly, we're replacing our tile because the sewer backed up into the bathroom and just outside. It was considered a class III hazmat spill so all affected tile had to be removed. And ofcourse the bathroom was continuous with most of the down stairs. So with this in mind, being inpart a bathroom, would porcelin be better for it's low absorbtion?
Those little scratches are pretty typical for marble as it is a relatively soft stone. I would recommend either porcelain or ceramic over marble for most people as they are much less maintenance than marble is. I think either of those would work well for your bathroom.
Robert, Will it look strange if I do hardwood in bedrooms and wood looking porcelain tiles in the rest of home? They are both in line of vision and did not know if they fight each other being wood types. Any faux pas here?
Nice video very informative, thanks!
which tile are you holding in the video @ 3:57? Love that tile.
This was extremely helpful, thank you!
Great video, thank you. What tile would you recommend installing in the garage over concrete slab?
What is your opinion of Crossville Velvet Almond tile for bathroom and shower. It says porcelain, but I don’t see a certification for it. Maybe it’s ceramic?
Thank you for all the detail. Great video!
I just want to know the pros and cons. The when yo use each or the other. Does he ever get to that part? And then I want to know the floor prep procedures for them.
I need new flooring desperately. I plan on buying porcelain tiles. Thank you.
thanks for your input. i have an old existing but intact engineering hardwood flooring, can i tile over that woodfloor?
I would not suggest tile over an engineered wood floor. Tearing it out is not a fun process but if you are going to put tile in, I highly recommend getting back to your subfloor for install.
Please do not tile over hardwood. Wood shrinks and swells with weather and humidity change. It will inevitably cause your tile floor to crack horribly.
Hi Robert! This is great info thank you. I’d love to see a video from you about the difference between through-body and color body tile. Also, would love your insight on choosing tile for a commercial vs residential applications. Thank you! Loving your tile series videos.
Great video. I want tile for bedroom bath and dining room and kitchen. Had my heart set on porcelain but thinking it will be too expensive. I have linoleum and carpet so Don’t they need to put something down before installation?
It’s so much helpful I’m building a house and I want floor tiles for the whole house thank you for all this explanation....
Best option for a pet home? Ceramic or porcelain?
Thank you for your video. I read one can fix a chipped or cracked tile. I had dal tile Sl83 almond tiles installed in 2012 with a dawn color grout. I had dropped a glass that shattered and chipped the tiles. After being out of town caring for my dad, upon my return, I've noticed other chips and a cracked tile. I'd like to save my floors and find a professional to do the job. What/whom would you recommend?
Is it recommended to install ceramic tiles inside a shower without grout?
Hey Robert! Thanks for spending the time to create this video. It' easy to make the right choice now that you've provided this GREAT information.
Peace
pls. what is good porcelain or ceramic.thank you
Yes I’m right.Which more fragile?Pls let me know as I’m building my house.
It's great to help with understanding these two types of tiles.
Can you use a steam mop on ceramic and porcelain? Which one is more durable
You can use a steam mop, a true porcelain is the stronger product overall but you will clean the floor in the same general way.
I am considering porcelain tiles for my kitchen countertops. What are your thoughts on porcelain tile for countertops? Secondly what are your thoughts about concrete countertops… for an island? In terms of durability and food safety.
I prefer solid slabs over tiles in general for the elimination of grout lines but I have seen some very nice porcelain countertops. Concrete countertops can look really cool if you like more of an industrial look. They are very heavy products and need to be properly sealed, especially if it is an area where any food is being prepped.
I should revise my comment, porcelain countertops… not tiles.
Great info and well presented !! i'd like to hear you speak about installation of tiles ..Thanks !
Which is better for heat resistence around wood stoves?
ceramic
I appreciate your videos, Robert. They're always informative. Do you have any advice for someone like me, who has purchased a new home from a developer & construction is beginning next month? The porcelain flooring I selected is fairly high-end and I asked that it be done in a pattern I saw in a stunning model home recently (2 rows of the same 12x48 tile to every 1 row of the same tile in an 8x32). My question: I'm already worried the installer may not do it correctly. Am I wrong to feel that way? Did I pick a pattern that's too complex? And how do I try to ensure the job is done as well as possible without being able to be there and watch what the installer is doing? Thanks!
I certainly understand your concern with making sure that it is installed correctly with it not being a completely standard pattern. I would encourage you to try and have some involvement when the job starts if possible so that you can confirm that with the contractor/builder as it starts. We usually have our clients present for the beginning of the job to verify that the product is the right style and color before it gets installed, but also to verify the direction they wanted it to run, pattern, etc. Hope that helps and good luck!
@@RemodelWithRobert Thanks for the advice, and yes, it certainly does help!
@@RemodelWithRobert how much weight can both withstand. I'M planning to have very large aquariums in my basement 150gallon to 300 gallon which can be 2500lb or more. I also live in canada and temps can go up to -40 sometimes -50 C. is there anyway to make it less cold to step on during those cold winter months?
@@griffith.was.a.victim8273heated floors?
This video is much informative for me & now i can make a diff bw ceramic and porcelain, can you please make a video on granite and granite tiles???
Hey brother can we discuss more on tiles...now a days ceramic or porcelain tile look too closer nd sometimes customer don't know how to find...I am manufacturer from morbi , india
Do you have a store location in Florida
thanks for your video. What products should be used for polished porcelain tiles? I know we shouldn't use harsh ones but not sure which ones to use? Thanks
Our sump pumps failed and we had to rip out our padding, carpeting, baseboards, etc. Looking at the possibility of tile flooring. Any thoughts?
Tile is a great option if you are looking to get rid of the carpet. Keep in mind, it will be colder, harder, and louder than the carpet. However its pretty low maintenance. Your other alternative to look at would be the floating floors like waterproof vinyls and laminates. Ive done videos on those as well. Good luck!
what the best kind of tile to drill through for towel racks, etc.
Either product will work. It is more important for you to use the right drill bit for ceramic/porcelain tiles. You also want to make sure if you are supporting any kind of weight that you try to place at a stud
Very informative! Thank you so much for the share!
Did I miss the part about PEI?
I may have missed it, but what brand/color is the ceramic piece of tile?
Do you discuss handmade tile?
Interesting, I stumbled across your video as I was looking for pottery. We deal with various clays all the time and what you say about Porcelain is sort of true. What makes porcelain is the percentage of Kaolin clay or China Clay. This is the white clay body generally from China though other deposits have been found. it can be fired to a very high temp as the clay body won't melt therefore fusing or vitrifying the claybody (fuzing all the particles together to create the low porosity) . It does have a low poursity under 1% generally but in saying that you can get Porcelaneous Clay bodies now that are technically Not porcelain, but a stoneware that has about the same poursity as porcelain.
The glazes that you have on the surface of the tiles are the thing you want to consider if you are worried about chipping as they are basically frits with silica/trace elements etc or melted glass for the lay person. The red tile you showed is basically a terracotta or earthenware, it has the highest porosity (About 12% sometimes even as high as 16%of all clay bodies as it will melt before it fully vitrifies. This is due to the iron in the clay body, giving it the colour red (Like rust) but also acting as a flux that will lower the temp the clay can withstand before structural failure.)
So interesting! The differences you mention are in respect to the fact that porcelain and ceramic in pottery are completely different to that of ceramic and porcelain in tiles, and the terms are not synonymous in what they refer to, standards of measurement, etc.
Thanks jon favreau that was helpful!
Hi ceramic can install in basement always flood
Is it okay to store a large order of porcelain tile on an outdoor patio in FL for six months? I would place it on a plastic tarp and cover it.
The cardboard boxes that the tile is packaged in are more likely to be damaged to be damaged but the tile itself should be just fine.
Very helpful video, I learned a lot. Thanks!
I was gifted 2 large tiles of porcelain and I wanted to turn it into a table top for a podcast. I noticed that the tiles are not shiny, it has a matt finish. Is there anything I can do to give it a shiny reflective surface?
No not really. The exterior design or what you see on a tile is extremely thin it will scrape off. Nice idea on making into a table top though.
What’s the best tile for shower areas?
Hi, the best is natural stone. Then you can use rustic tiles. They are an-ti slip
Can porcelain be used as the entire 2nd level flooring (about 1000 sq ft). A bit worried about the weight on wood structure, will porcelain be too heavy?
The same question I have
This video was very helpful, thank you.
Which one is stronger ?
How do you clean matt porcelain tile? Can you use the same products as glazed ceramic tile? Can an crosswave floor cleaner be used to clean it? Would that scratch it?
Good night, what country you .....
Ceramic tile super water resistant?
Does the same apply to ceramic vs porcelain backsplash?
Same holds true. If you are looking at a product that is specifically a wall tile more often than not it is a ceramic.
Hi Rob, Really Appreciate what you are doing to help everyone. Quick question, please. Can we use quartz ( big slabs ) for our Shower walls in the master bathroom,please advise. Thanks
Yes you can absolutely use those slabs on shower walls, I would just make sure you find someone who can properly install them.
@@RemodelWithRobert sorry, please advise what needs to be done for that. what precautions. Thanks
Hi Robert were
Doing a shower remodel and I’m curious of your thoughts on the popular cloe tile for shower walls? I believe it is ceramic and that scared me due to hearing that it isn’t as durable in wet environments. Watching your video now I’m second guessing if it is actually something i shouldn’t completely disregard because I LOVE the tile :) let me know thoughts thank you!
Cloe, from Bedrosians? Beautiful tile and it will be fine in a shower. The installation is what will dictate how the shower turns out, in terms of the waterproofing.
Hi Robert, thanks for the info. I have a matte porcelain encaustic tile install that has faded from the skylight in only 4 months. Do you have any suggestions on either bringing the darkness back or fading the small area that was covered by the bath mat to even it out? Tiles were sealed at time of install. Thanks!
I would contact whoever you purchased the tile from as well as the installer so that you can make sure to get the specific directions for that product and verify the install process was followed correctly. That does not sound like a normal situation for a porcelain tile. If it is a true encaustic tile, something with the sealer could be off. However, I never want to speak to a product or install that I wasnt part of as there are lots of variables involved I am not privy to.
I guessed it wrong!😂
I'm having an issue with my ceramic tile. I built a new townhome and a few days ago my ground floor tile was pushed up from the ground and cracking in about 15 or so tiles. I first noticed the rising of the tile months ago but then the other night it literally cracked and sorta pushed up from the ground. Although I'm out of warranty for the tile the warranty manager said the tile was defective due to some moisture absorption issue. The tile manufacturer is going to replace all the tile and have it installed. Does that sound right to you? a google search said it could possibly a leaking plumbing issue from the ground causing the ground to swell. I told the warranty manager and she quickly dismissed that idea. She says it's because of defective ceramic tile that is absorbing moisture and making it expand. From casual observation/untrained eye it appears to look dry and not very expanded to me. I was wondering what you thought. Thanks for any input you share.
Both could be true. If they have a known defect and are replacing it for you then there must be a legitimate issue the manufacturer is acknowledging. However, it is also possible that there is an issue with moisture in the slab for it to have affected a specific area. It is easy enough to do a moisture test on the slab before a reinstall and may be worth having just to be safe. If a basic moisture meter shows any signs of concern then go from there.
Who was your builder?
Thankyou every informative explained well and thank for the added information about grouting that come with the concealer
Great video on breaking down the difference. I’m shopping some tiles in Santo Domingo, but the tiles are manufacture in India and they call it vitrified tile, glazed and polished vitrified tile. By any chance you have some information of it ? That you can help me understand more about the product ?
Without going into the technical nuances, vitrified tiles are a clay and silica composite tile with a lower porosity than the traditional ceramic. Porcelain tiles can be categorized this way as well as tiles that are explicitly labelled this way. Long story short, denser and less porosity than ceramic. Generally has a different look and texture from ceramic tile as well. Hope that helps
When then should you buy rectified tile?
I realize now that I didn't explain the difference in the video. My apology. A truly rectified tile has been machined so that the edges and dimensions are perfect from tile to tile, which gives the ability to install with tighter grout joints. This still requires a great deal of precision by the installer. On the other hand, a lot of tiles that have square edges will still have a great degree of inconsistency in dimensions from tile to tile and in some cases you will even see that a single tile does not measure consistent from one side to the other meaning it is actually out of square. This keeps from getting as tight of a joint even though the tile edges are totally flat on the side.
In my opinion most people don't need to buy a rectified tile as there are non-rectified tiles that can be installed with 1/8 or 1/16 inch grout joints if the rest of the product is otherwise made well and consistent. However, the tighter the grout joint the more inconsistencies will be exposed on install.
Hi Robert! Great video! So glad I stumbled through your channel! Can you advice what’s better to use for a non vented gas fireplace? I’d like to spruce up our fireplace at home with some tiling. Thank you!
As long as it is properly installed either product should work fine, though porcelain will be the overall stronger product
Thank you, great info 👍🏽 I’m installing polished porcelain 24x24 tiles with ardex sanded Grout (no sealer). You mentioned to seal the grout 28 days later after the grout has cured. 1)does the polished porcelain tiles need to be seal too and 2)if it’s just then grout that needs to be sealed, how do apply the sealer? The ve heard some people paintbrush the sealer into the grout lines.
i laid tile all over the upstairs of my house. the tiles were sealed, i used a grout that the color worked for the rooms and tile. However, I have house cats and they pee and puke on stuff and the floor. If you've had had cats and cat pee, trust me, you want to seal the grout. I would NEVER get the smell out if the grout weren't sealed. At any rate, I went with a concrete sealer colored for my tile for the sealer. I used a very small paint brush to apply the sealer. Extremely time consuming but that amount of effort was completely worth it. Worked fantastic. I will say that it adhered to the tile itself. We had to get one of those commercial floor polishers. There is a polishing pad that did a pretty good job of getting the concrete sealer off the tiles. A lot of work I agree but I love my floors. We are soon going to install 100% waterproof flooring in the 3 bedrooms, again . . . cats.
Hi. Thanks for making this video and sharing your knowledge. Its so hard to tell apart ceramic from porcelain. I have been reading about tiles and watching a lot of videos here about tiles. Im very confused about what the term "vitrified" tile means. I have seen this term used a lot in India and the tiles look similar to porcelain tiles or marble tiles. I just did a google search and saw that vitrified tile is made with a combination of silica and clay and that they are different than both porcelain tiles and cermaic tiles. Just never seen them here in the US or perhaps theyre known as something else? Just curious to hear what your thoughts are. Thanks again though and hope I can figure this out :)
I just saw another video saying that "Vitrified "tiles are Porcelain tiles and that the term is only used in India and not by any international classification standard. Anyway feel free to reply if you have anything to share ... Thanks again.
Fantastic videos, thank you!!
Thank you. So helpful!
Can you use this tiles on a countertop?
Yes, both ceramic and porcelain can be installed as countertops
@@RemodelWithRobert how heat resistant is porcelain or ceramic, will they break if i place a hot skillet on it?
Also, will it chip if i drop a cast iron skillet off the counter?
Solid information; very helpful.
Very insightful thank you .
I really appreciate your videos. They are so informative and helpful. Thank you
Does porcelain lift up after few years?
Installed properly the tile should not lift up without some type of subfloor leak, foundation issues, etc. Under normal circumstances it should stay solidly bonded to the floor once correctly installed.
@@RemodelWithRobert Thank you so much Sir! 🙏😊😊❤️