Home

[debic]

On 3/13/2015 athenian said: We have had our tiled counters for twenty years (our kitchen is like those "horribly outdated" ones on HGTV).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.

[poppinfresh]

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!!!!!!!!

[wagirl]

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.

[Q4u]

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...

[GCR18]

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.

[misspammie]

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.

[raven-blackbird]

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

[Kalli]

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

[Jackielee]

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!!

[JeanLouiseFinch]

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.