Tile affects more surface area than almost any other material in a renovation — floors, shower walls, backsplash, feature walls. Getting it right means understanding a few things that don't come through in small showroom samples: how material performs under daily use, how size and pattern affect the feel of a room, and how grout lines either work with or fight the tile you've chosen.
The Main Tile Materials
Porcelain
The workhorse of modern renovation — and the right choice for most applications. Porcelain is fired at higher temperatures than ceramic, making it denser, harder, and less porous. It handles moisture, heavy foot traffic, and temperature fluctuations well. It's appropriate for floors, shower walls, bathroom walls, and exterior applications where ceramic isn't.
Large-format porcelain (24"×24", 24"×48", and up) has become the dominant trend in contemporary bathrooms and kitchens precisely because fewer grout lines mean a cleaner, more expansive look. Italian porcelain in particular has a reputation for quality and design variety that most domestic production doesn't match.
Typical investment: $8–$22/sq ft (material); $12–$20/sq ft installation
Best for: Almost everything — floors, shower walls, feature walls, exterior.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are fired at lower temperatures and absorb slightly more water than porcelain, which makes them appropriate for walls and low-moisture floors but not ideal for wet shower floors or exterior use. They're easier to cut (useful in complex layouts) and typically less expensive than porcelain.
For backsplashes, feature walls, and above-grade bathroom walls, ceramic is a perfectly capable choice. For shower floors and high-traffic areas, porcelain is the better long-term decision.
Typical investment: $4–$14/sq ft (material); $10–$18/sq ft installation
Best for: Walls, backsplashes, low-moisture floors.
Natural Stone
Marble, travertine, slate, and limestone each bring something a manufactured tile can't replicate — genuine variation, depth, and a surface that develops character over time. Natural stone is porous and requires sealing, and each type has specific maintenance considerations:
- Marble — Elegant veining, but sensitive to acids (even some cleaners). Etches and scratches more easily than porcelain. Extraordinary in a low-traffic bathroom or as a feature element.
- Travertine — Warm, earthy tones. Has natural pores that need to be filled and sealed. Classic Mediterranean look that reads well in traditional and transitional designs.
- Slate — Dense, naturally slip-resistant texture. Handles wet applications well. Earthy colour palette — greys, blacks, greens, and rusts.
- Limestone — Softer than marble, matte finish, subtle variation. Needs diligent sealing in wet applications.
Typical investment: $15–$40/sq ft (material); $15–$25/sq ft installation
Best for: Feature applications, bathrooms with lower traffic, homeowners who appreciate the maintenance trade-off for the look.
Mosaic Tile
Small tiles — typically 1"×1" to 2"×2", sometimes penny-round or hexagonal — mounted on mesh backing. The high grout-line ratio means natural slip resistance, which makes mosaic a smart choice for shower floors where larger tiles can feel slippery. They're also commonly used as accent strips, niche liners, and feature walls where pattern and texture are the point.
Typical investment: $12–$35/sq ft (material); $18–$30/sq ft installation (grout-intensive)
Best for: Shower floors, decorative accents, feature walls.
Size Matters More Than People Expect
Tile size has a significant effect on how a space reads:
| Tile Size | Effect on Space | Grout Lines | Best Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 6") | Adds texture, can feel busy | Many — need consistent grout colour | Shower floors, accents, small spaces |
| Medium (6"–18") | Versatile, works in most rooms | Moderate | Bathrooms, backsplashes, kitchens |
| Large (24"×24" and up) | Opens up space, fewer grout lines | Minimal — very clean look | Master baths, open-concept floors |
| Plank (12"×24", 12"×48") | Wood-like, directional | Running bond or staggered | Wood-look floors, feature walls |
One practical note on large-format tile: it requires a very flat substrate. Lippage (where tile edges don't sit at the same height) is more visible with larger tiles. Proper floor preparation — levelling compounds, uncoupling membranes — is essential before installation. We use Schluter Systems for substrate preparation and transition profiles on tile installations.
Grout — The Decision People Underestimate
Grout colour can make or break a tile installation. A few things worth knowing:
Matching vs. contrasting grout — Grout that closely matches the tile colour creates a seamless look where the tile pattern reads as a surface. Contrasting grout emphasizes the pattern and individual tile shape. Neither is right or wrong — it depends on what you want the eye to see.
Light grout shows dirt — White and light grey grout in a high-traffic floor will show staining within a few years. Epoxy grout (more expensive, but virtually non-porous) or a mid-tone colour are practical alternatives. In shower applications, epoxy grout is worth the premium.
Rectified tile needs tight joints — Rectified tiles are machine-cut to precise dimensions and can be installed with very thin grout lines (1/16"). Non-rectified tiles have more size variation and need wider joints to account for it. Your tile choice constrains your grout line options.
Tile for Heated Floors
Porcelain and ceramic tile work well with electric radiant heating systems — they conduct and hold heat efficiently. Natural stone also works. The key requirement is that the heating element needs to be embedded in the setting bed before tile is installed — it's not something that can be added after the fact. If heated flooring is on your list, it needs to be decided before tile installation begins.
How We Help You Choose
Our showroom carries tile samples across materials, sizes, and finishes — but more importantly, we help you think through the combination. Tile doesn't exist in isolation: it needs to work with the vanity, the glass enclosure, the countertop, and the grout colour all at once. We'll lay out your selections together so you can see how they read as a system before anything gets ordered.
Tile is also one of the areas where installation quality matters as much as material quality. Poorly installed tile — inadequate substrate preparation, inconsistent setting, bad grouting — fails prematurely regardless of what was spent on the tile itself. Our installation teams have been doing this for decades.
Come In and See the Selections
Tile decisions are hard to make from a screen or a 4-inch sample. Our showroom lets you see full-size formats, combinations, and grout pairings in person.
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