Bathroom Remodeling Guide: Where to Use Ceramic

Ceramic has been used to build and decorate homes for thousands of years. Archaeologists continue to discover ancient pieces of ceramic buried deep in the Earth. It’s a durable material that is also gorgeous to look at. Ceramic tiles can be used for flooring, backsplashes, or even to decorate your shower.

If you are in the process of remodelling your bathroom, you’ll want to consider using these unique and beautiful materials.

We’re going to talk about where you can use ceramic tile in your bathroom and the benefits of selecting this material for your renovations.

Durability

You’d probably think that ceramic tiles can be pretty delicate. But ceramic can be very strong and durable. Suppliers, manufacturers, and contractors use the Porcelain Enamel Institute abrasion test to rank ceramic tiles based on their hardness and durability.

The scale ranks from zero to five. Tiles carrying strength of one and two are often strong enough to handle use in a bathroom, especially for flooring.

However, if you have young kids or a large family, you might want to consider purchasing a stronger tile. Ceramic tiles are also water-resistant. It’s a perfect option to use in the bathroom.

Some tiles are heavier than others. You’ll need to reconsider your tile selection based on your project. If you are using ceramic tile for a backsplash or countertops, you’ll want to choose a lighter tile. Projects that include flooring can use a heavier tile.

Cleaning

Ceramic tiles offer another perk to those with busy families. It is extremely easy to keep your ceramic floors, showers, countertops, and backsplashes clean.

All you need is some warm water, soap, and a mop. Simply sweep or dust the tile every day while mopping or wiping down the counters once every few days.

Most heavy-duty cleaners and soaps will not damage the ceramic tile. You can also get a special grout to make cleanup even easier.

Ceramic is a non-porous material that does not stain easily. It’s also a great, hypoallergenic option for those with allergies. The hard tile does not trap irritants like dander, hair, or bacteria. You can also glaze your ceramic tile floors, countertops, or backsplash once you’ve finished the installation.

This will add another layer of protection from dirt, stains, and scratches. If you do manage to crack one of the tiles, it is easy to replace the one damaged tile while preserving the rest of the floor or countertop.

Staying Warm

Ceramic can stay cooler for longer periods of time. While this might be ideal during the summer, ceramic floors and countertops can create a chilly environment in the winter.

You can fight the cold by purchasing rugs and mats for your bathroom floors.

For those with a larger budget, an underfloor heating system can be installed between the floorboards and the ceramic tile. This will add an additional layer of heat in your bathroom and save your feet in the colder months.

Colours and Design

Ceramic tile comes in thousands of colours and designs. Traditional colours include shades of white, grey, and blue.

You can also find different patterns like floral, paisley, or stripes. You can get creative and use different styles of ceramic tile to provide a unique look. However, you’ll want to limit yourself to three different tile designs for your bathroom.

Coloured ceramic tiles paired with all white walls can provide a striking look in your bathroom. This design can make smaller bathrooms look larger. You can also purchase tile in different shapes, like hexagons or rectangles.

If you are concerned about recycling, you can purchase ceramic tile that has been leftover from previous projects. You can usually get this type of tile at a discounted rate as well.

Price

Ceramic tile can be more expensive compared to linoleum and carpet. However, the sturdy material is more durable and will last longer over time.

Choosing ceramic tile will also help you out in case of a water leak. Water can seriously damage linoleum and carpet while ceramic is water-resistant.

Ceramic tiles are also cheaper than natural stone tiles like marble, granite, and quartz.

Installation

It is possible for an amateur to install their own ceramic tile. However, it is a tedious process and if you can afford to hire a contractor, it’s best to hire a professional.

There can be a lot of factors that impact your final bill. This includes the type of tile you purchase, how much is needed, and the difficulty of the project itself.

If you do decide to go down the do-it-yourself route, you’ll need to follow the step-by-step process. This includes taking the proper measurements, cutting out the supplies, and purchasing materials.

You’ll need underlayment, grout, mortar, and the tiles itself. You will also need a tile saw and several other tools.

Find out more about home renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of bathrooms. We pride ourselves on being a premium bathroom renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote

Contact us

Bathroom Renovation vs. Bathroom Refurbishment

When delving into the realm of interior makeovers, face-lifts and general home improvements, one can easily find themselves tangled in terminology. So, to renovate or to refurbish? What’s the difference? Here’s a quick breakdown of both routes, with a couple, added bonus bathroom design tips!

A ‘Mish’ to refurbish?

At first glance, this word might sound like the doorway to a never-ending, tedious travel towards your new bathroom. However, the process is rather the opposite and much closer resembles the ease of the word rolling off your tongue. In fact, a refurbish has a lot more to do with the restoration of what you already have.

Rather than hack-away at your entire space, refurbishing acts as a general face-lift for your home instead. Sound more up your alley? Well, if you’re looking at refurbishing your bathroom, you’re most likely looking at things like redecorating and “adding” rather than resurrecting completely.

Redecorating

When redecorating your bathroom, one might opt for new light fixtures, a new paint job, some fancy new copper basin taps or even adding some modern cabinet doors to replace the existing ones.

Quick design tip: Refurbishing will naturally clean-up your space, but be sure to keep to a clean bathroom design too if you’re looking for a real “wow” transformation.

Retrofitting

This term isn’t nearly as retro-old school as it might sound. In fact, retrofitting falls under refurbishing and is often necessary to bring your bathroom into the modern age. This includes adding improvements mostly based around installations. Think heating, adding improved piping fixtures and anything which essentially makes what you already have, work better.

Quick design tip: Keep your light fixtures close to your bathroom mirror, and opt for timeless pieces which will blend with the rest of your home.

Next up, renovation station!

Rather than restoration, this term deals more closely with a complete bathroom re-work and resurrection. And yes, it can be just as daunting as it sounds. Don’t worry though, with the help of a team of trusted renovation experts, the efforts of heading this route can be most rewarding.

Okay, so plainly put, to renovate is the opposite of a face-lift. Instead, it is to commit complete surgery on your bathroom space.

When looking to renovate your bathroom, one might look at stripping everything clear and starting anew on a blank canvas. This leaves multiple options for an entirely new bathtub, flooring, walls, storage-space, shower, or even storage-space IN the shower! The possibilities are endless.

Quick design tip: When you are installing a new bathroom, pay close attention to the heights of things. Make sure they are both beautiful AND practical. Also, be aware of future water-damage when choosing materials to work with.

If done well, then no matter which route you go, both are bound to give you the boost your bathroom deserves. Happy designing!

Find out more about home renovations

Home Decor Interiors has over 20 years of experience and during that time we’ve renovated hundreds of bathrooms. We pride ourselves on being a premium bathroom renovator in the Western Cape. Let us help you customise or upgrade your dream home.

Contact us today for an obligation free quote

Contact us