Ten Tile Myths and the Truth Behind Them
There are many myths about tile that can cause problems for homeowners when making decisions about tile in their home. In this article, we look at ten tile myths.
Tile Myth #1: Tile is not suitable for kitchen counters.
Second to flooring, kitchen countertops tend to get the most use of any horizontal surface in a home. As such, they should be durable, easy to keep clean, and aesthetically pleasing as a key design feature in the kitchen. Countertop materials include granite or other natural stone, quartz, butcher block wood, concrete, laminate, stainless steel, recycled materials, and tile and grout.
Tile countertops were popular in the 1970s and 80s but fell out of favor because they gained a reputation for being difficult to keep clean. The retro trend is back, though. Why would tile kitchen countertops be a practical choice now? What’s changed?
The answer is two-fold: larger tile sizes and improved grout technologies. Larger tile sizes mean fewer grout lines to clean. New developments in grout technologies, such as water resistance and stain proofing, have improved the ease of cleaning. Tile kitchen countertops are back on the table for consideration.
Tile Myth #2: Glass tiles are too fragile to use on floors.
Are glass tiles suitable for flooring? Fred Hueston, a stone and tile inspector at Stone Forensics, says, “I have seen glass tile used on hotel floors. It depends on the type of glass and the thickness, as well.”
The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation says the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard “A137.2 specifies that a manufacturer must clearly and definitely state the surface wear classification of a tile.” ANSI provides classifications used by manufacturers “to declare surface wear.”
There are six classifications for glass tile, beginning with Class 0, which is not suitable for any foot traffic. Class III glass tile may withstand “regular traffic with some dirt and/or abrasives present in limited quantities.” Class V can take “constant foot traffic” and “larger amounts of dirt and/or abrasives.”
The bottom line is that glass tile can be a suitable material for floors in some situations, provided that the manufacturer has declared it. Hueston recommends, “Always refer to the manufacturer for use.”
If you are interested in hiring Copher Tile & Stone to provide glass tile floor installation services, rest assured we will refer to the manufacturer to see that every detail is carefully executed from start to finish for your intended use of the floor.
Tile Myth #3: Thinset can be used to make tiles level.
In the tile industry, this method of installation is called spot bonding. Will White, Channel Marketing Director of Technical Support at CUSTOM Building Products, says in this Tile Letter article, that spot bonding is a very common but “unapproved and discredited practice of placing globs or dollops of bonding mortar under the tile” to create “pillars of mortar that suspend the tile in the air.”
Although spot bonding can result in a level, beautiful installation, the tiles will become cracked and broken with use. White cautions, “Don’t gamble on your tile installation with spot bonding. But understand that spot bonding is not really a gamble, since failure is not a matter of if – but when – the assembly will fail.”
A reputable contractor will not use the spot bonding method but will instead achieve a level installation by performing all the necessary substrate preparation. To learn about our processes, read our article, Does tile need an underlayment?
Tile Myth #4: All tile is stain resistant.
Although many types of tile are stain resistant, not all tile is. During the tile selection process, you can learn about the stain resistance of the material by the classification given to it by the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM). Here is what the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation says about stain and chemical resistance:
While stain and chemical resistance are not required, ceramic tiles generally perform very well in these categories. Testing for stain resistance is performed per ASTM C1378 and testing for resistance is performed per ASTM C650. Depending on the number of stains or chemicals that affect the surface, the tiles are classified from A (no effect) to E, where 4 or more stains or chemicals affected the tile.
When you contract with us to provide stain-resistant tile installation services, we can verify whether the type of tile you have your eye on will meet your expectations.
Tile Myth #5: Porcelain tile is impervious to damage.
Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic tile. Ceramic tile is made with courser clays and fired at lower temperatures. It has an absorption rate of 0.5% or more. Porcelain tiles are made with finer clays and fired at higher temperatures. Although porcelain tile is a higher-quality product with an absorption rate of 0.5% or less, and it is denser and harder than ceramic, it is not impervious to damage. It can be scratched or chipped.
If you consider staining to be in the same category as damage, know that porcelain tile can be stained. Glazed porcelain is highly resistant to stains, whereas unglazed porcelain is more susceptible to staining.
Refer back to number 3 in this list for a moment and consider this: Your porcelain tile may be the highest quality available on the market, but if it is not properly installed, your installation can (and likely will) be easily damaged.
Tile Myth #6: Vinegar is great for cleaning tile.
Although vinegar is an effective and eco-friendly cleaner for glass and other surfaces, when it comes to calcium-based stone tile and cement-based grout, vinegar can cause chemical damage. As an acidic substance, vinegar falls into the same category as acid-based cleaners.
Scott Carothers, Academic Director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, says, “Vinegar is a mild acid. Acids do not degrease and primarily work by attaching the minerals in the grout and many stones thereby creating damage over time. A neutral pH or specialty tile or stone cleaner should be used.” (Source)
Tile Myth #7: Stained grout should be replaced.
Although grout replacement will certainly resolve the problem of stained grout, grout color sealing may be a better option. According to The Stone and Tile Care Guide, by Surface Care Pros, grout color sealing is a game changer with many benefits, including:
- Grout will no longer be porous.
- Stain resistant – spills will lie on top of the sealer.
- Old grout will be restored to like-new condition.
- Grout will be uniform in color.
- Aggressive cleaners are no longer necessary.
Tile Myth #8: Tile floors are cold and uncomfortable.
With proper insulation and area rugs, “cold and uncomfortable” tile would be an overstatement, but for temperature-sensitive toes, heated tile floors guarantee that your floors will be the exact temperature you prefer.
Radiant heated tile floors are not only warm and comfortable, but also incredibly convenient. Features include:
- Programmable thermostats.
- Customized zone heating.
- Quick warm up.
- Using wifi to control your heating system on web and mobile apps or Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri, and more.
To learn more, read our article, Radiant Heated Tile Floors.
Tile Myth #9: Tile is slippery when wet.
Not all tile is slippery when wet.
Here’s a quick lesson in slip resistance testing.
In slip and fall cases, it is important to note that slipping takes two surfaces: the floor and the bottom of a shoe or foot. Billy Simmons, Certified Walkway Auditor and Owner of ITAC International, explains, “The Coefficient of Friction (COF) is a representation of the roughness of two surfaces in contact with each other. The Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) field test is used to determine the friction of the two surfaces sliding along each other.” Ideally, if a slip and fall accident happens, Simmons says it should be because of a “walking problem, not a slipping problem.”
Here is what the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation says about DCOF:
Unless otherwise declared by the manufacturer, hard surface flooring materials suitable for level 1 interior spaces expected to be walked upon when wet with water shall have a measured wet DCOF value of 0.42 or greater […]
NOTE: Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF) used to be the way slip resistance was measured in the United States. This testing method ended in 2014.
In The Spruce article, Tile Slip Resistance and COF Ratings, there’s a great explanation of what to look for in the fine print of tile you intend to purchase for your project:
Numbers can be deceptive, as some tile manufacturers still publish older ratings.
- Incorrect: A manufacturer says that its tiles are rated at ≥ 0.60 wet. Because it is specified as the earlier SCOF rating, the tile is still reporting earlier guidelines for safety.
- Correct: A manufacturer says that its tiles are rated at ≥ 0.42 wet. Because this is specified as the DCOF AcuTest, its wet ratings are using the current system.
This does not mean that ≥ 0.60 wet tiles are unsafe. It only means that they are up to spec with the earlier system. In fact, none of these ratings, current or past, address safety. They only list the results of scientific testing and let you derive meaning from them.
With all of the non-slip and slip-resistant tiles available on the market today, there is no reason why the new tile floor in your home should be slippery. For existing tile, slip-resistance treatments and coatings can be applied to achieve safe and satisfactory traction.
Tile Myth #10: Tile is waterproof.
Tile is porous. Certain types of tile have so little porosity that they are called waterproof. Most types of grout are porous, too. Even if a tile and a grout are both considered waterproof, it would be foolish to assume your shower is protected from water damage by these materials alone. Even the tiniest pinhole opening along joints can allow water to go where it shouldn’t.
Carothers explains,
This misconception is based on the idea that the waterproof tile only needs to be sealed at edges and corners. The whole premise hangs on the ability of the sealant joint to repel the water. While this may sound feasible and an effective use of funds, negating the waterproofing is a recipe for failure. The old phrase, “Water always wins, which is why we have the Grand Canyon,” holds true. Relying on the sealant joints as the critical and only feature of a waterproof installation is problematic.
With the right information, homeowners can understand why tile can be a durable, stylish, and practical choice for floors and surfaces in the home.
by Alice Dean
Copher Tile & Stone proudly stays up to date on tile installation with ongoing education with Mapei Technical Institute, Ardex Academy, the National Tile Contractors Association, Laticrete, and Schluter. Copher is a Certified Tile Installer (#1644).
