topic Re: Tiled Countertop? in Home

Tiled Countertop?

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 10:18:32 GMT

I'm playing around with some ideas for redoing our kitchen backsplash and counter. Does anyone have a tiled counter as opposed to a typical Formica or granite style? Has it held up well? Do you have any specific recommendations or warnings? My biggest fear is that a can of soup or something will fall from an upper cabinet and crack a tile.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

ID2 — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 10:39:59 GMT

This is just my personal opinion. Whenever I see a tiled countertop I just think it looks very inexpensive, which it is! Looks like the home owner couldn't really afford a real counter and went to Home Depot, bought some tiles, and there you go....a countertop!

Re: Tiled Countertop?

Meezerpleezer — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 11:14:11 GMT

We were house hunting and saw a beautiful home. The kitchen had tiled countertops in white. All I could think of was a) the counter top is my work surface and if I drop anything hard on it, the tiles could break, b) what a pain it would be to keep the grout clean, c) no flat surface to work or write on, and d) the cost to replace all the countertops. I lost interest and we moved on...

Re: Tiled Countertop?

NWOL — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 12:16:27 GMT

I would not worry about the tiles cracking but I would worry about having to clean the grout all the time. I've had tile in bathrooms and kitchen for 20 years and the grout is a real pain.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

Still Raining — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 12:30:32 GMT

I had a tile countertop in my last house and it was not a good thing. Since it is not a smooth surface, wiping up or brushing off something like flour is a nightmare. It catches in the grout trough so to speak. I would never have one again. It never cracked though.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

candys mine — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 12:30:43 GMT

A tile counter would drive me nuts. Any crumbs or liquid spilled would gather in all the grout. An uneven surface to work on. There would be so much upkeep just to keep it clean. Just think raw chicken juice and trying to get that all cleaned up. I like my work surfaces smooth.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

candys mine — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 12:31:50 GMT

P.S. I love tile back splashes!

Re: Tiled Countertop?

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 14:34:53 GMT

Thanks for the input, I'm glad I asked! A tiled back splash is also up for consideration. If we end up tiling at all, that's where it'll go. Thanks again.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

jaxs mom — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 14:40:11 GMT

It's not that easy to break kitchen tiles. Personally I like tile a heck of a lot better than formica. I never work directly on the counter anyway, always on a cutting board or if I'm rolling out dough a very large silpat. I really like tile, it's a lot more attractive than formica is, which looks totally cheap and ugly to me and it's easy to keep clean. I've had formica stain, but never had tile stain.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

athenian — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 14:46:45 GMT

We have had our tiled counters for twenty years (our kitchen is like those "horribly outdated" ones on HGTV). It has never chipped, the grout has stayed white with an occasional bleach pen use, I have never broken anything by dropping on it, and I can put hot pans on it. It is just now beginning to lose its gloss. It works for us.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

debic — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:30:46 GMT

On 3/13/2015 athenian said: We have had our tiled counters for twenty years (our kitchen is like those "horribly outdated" ones on HGTV). It has never chipped, the grout has stayed white with an occasional bleach pen use, I have never broken anything by dropping on it, and I can put hot pans on it. It is just now beginning to lose its gloss. It works for us.

This is my Mother's counters as well. I thing the one's that break were the little tiles that were in multiple shapes and sizes. I've seen a lot of them chipped.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

poppinfresh — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:55:11 GMT

I have a tiled counter top in my kitchen that my DH installed before we were married. He was sooooooooo proud. Can I tell you how much I hate it? I have not chipped it or cracked it and God only knows I am far from careful with it. My thinking was if I chipped it or cracked it, we would have no choice but to replace it all and knowing my DH, he wouldn't ever want to tile it again because it would be too much work. The grout cleaning is a pain on a daily basis..it is an uneven surface, I don't like the look and I could go on and on. Backsplash? I would have in a heart beat...but no tile on counters for me please!!!!!!!!

Re: Tiled Countertop?

wagirl — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:02:34 GMT

IMHO--I think tiled counter tops look old fashion. Had them in my shower and that bathrooms counter tops and had to clean the stupid grout pretty often which I HATED!!! Now I have formica tops-----from the mid 80's when hubby built the house that I HATE even more. I'd go with granite or quartz ---anything but tiles. But the back splash would be ideal for tiles.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

Q4u — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:03:18 GMT

I have had tile in all of the homes we've lived in, floor and kitchen.

My last home had cream tile with cream grout and it was a nightmare to clean. I had to use a brush and foaming bleach to clean the counters all the time or the grout darkened. I also had the same coloration on the floors downstairs. Another nightmare because the only way to clean the grout was to sit on my rear and do the same thing I did with the kitchen counters, so if you're considering tile, make sure the grout is at least a dark or darker color.

The edges to the tiles tend to chip. If the floor is not done correctly and is not even, eventually the tile will crack.

Before we moved, we put down laminate flooring and changed the tiles in the kitchen to granite. Both were exceptional! Love them although laminate is a little harder to maintain a shine.

The house we have now has granite (again, I love it.... I use a cutting board, clean it with Granite cleaner and reseal every year)... we also have real wood flooring, and it's a joy to keep clean and shiny.

JMHO...

Re: Tiled Countertop?

GCR18 — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:04:55 GMT

My sister had a tile countertop in her last house. She chose brown tiles with brown grout. The tiles were 4x4. She went to a tile specialty store and paid a ridiculous amount, but she had a small countertop. She had no issues with breakage or the grout. I wasn't a fan of the look.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

misspammie — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:05:40 GMT

biggest pain would be the grout. I used to clean it by putting paper towels down on it and then spraying with Clorox, real pain in the butt to do and it needed done often. go another way, I suggest.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

raven-blackbird — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 01:47:12 GMT

If you get a porcelain tile, you'll have a very strong tile..........we have tile and have had it for about 25 years..........I'm switching out to quartz this summer though..........I will tell you what I tell my clients.........IF you're going to go with tile, look at a 12'x12 tile..........you'll reduce your grout lines (always a plus), and give yourself more solid surface area.................................................raven

Re: Tiled Countertop?

Kalli — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 03:20:46 GMT

Wouldn't choose tile for my kitchen counter. Don't care for the look and think it would be difficult to keep clean.

Re: Tiled Countertop?

Jackielee — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 03:26:39 GMT

I agree. I also think that tiled counters look old fashioned. I used to have tile countertops in my kitchen which we replaced with granite a few years ago. It was hard to keep the grout clean but it never chipped and nothing ever broke on it when dropped and we had those counters for 20 years. Love my granite counters so much more!!

Re: Tiled Countertop?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 04:34:33 GMT

We've ruled out the tiled countertop. Thanks to all who commented.

We went out tonight to just look at a bunch of things and came across an acrylic product that's smooth and looks like stone, but is seamless and can be repaired if something falls on it and damages it in anyway.