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Cabinet Countertops |
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| Tile | ||
Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles have a glasslike outer layer that makes them long-wearing, highly heat resistant and nonabsorbent. Tile can be set on a mortar bed or over cement backerboard with thinset mortar. Tile is really hard. So fragile wine glasses and thin china won't fare well in careless households. You'll need cutting boards on tile surfaces, and because tile counters are made of many pieces, the surface is unlikely to be perfectly flat. Tile major short-coming is the grout between the tile, Left untreated, cement-based grout stains easily, and it can be hard to keep clean. The National Tile Contractors Association says a water-based acrylic sealer is less likely than solvent-based sealers to be eroded by household degreasers and cleaners. The smaller the grout joint, the less maintenance you have. Epoxy grout is one solution, It's good at resisting stains but epoxy grout yellows with time, especially when exposed to sunlight. Also installers charge more for using epoxy grout - many will not even use it because of the difficulty of applying. Tile is more impervious to heat than solid surfaces, but easier to chip and break, so extra tiles should be purchased and stored for replacement. PROS: Versatile, inexpensive, durable, high stain resistance. CONS: Tile requires constant maintenance and grout (especially a light color) needs regular cleaning. Also the surface is not perfectly flat. COST: Materials, including substrate, adhesive and border tile, from $6 and up per square foot. Installation adds $8-$10 per sq. ft. SOURCES: Aqua Mix List of tile manufacturers and distributors |
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Check out all of the possibilities, get a full description, and read about the Pros and Cons. |
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As
a countertop material, ceramic tile offers nearly as much design flexibility
as concrete. Tile is available in a huge variety of colors, patterns,
textures, sizes and prices, from mass-produced 4-in. sq. field tile to
hand-printed works of art. Home | Cabinets | Construction | Materials | Counters | Flooring | Contact Us | Employee Bios | Privacy Policy | Site Map 1001 SE Water Avenue ◊ Suite 110, Portland, Oregon 97207 © Copyright 2008. East Bank Interiors.
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