Pros And Cons of Tile Installation in Your Boulder Home

The invention of tile didn’t occur in our kitchens or bathrooms but in ancient Egypt. Back in the day, tiling was a form of art and even today, we appreciate and favor decorative tiles with pleasant paintings inside them. While tiling contributed a lot to the industrial revolution, it later became part of mass production. Manufacturing firms supplied the middle class with a huge amount of affordable ceramic for tile installation.

Today’s trends have breathed new life into tiling in which artists play around with patterns, colors and shapes to make Boulder homes stand out. More importantly, they need to serve their functions, whether as part of our home’s flooring, walls or backsplashes.

Whether you need cracked tile repair or a full-on tile installation in Boulder county, our skilled Boulder handyman technicians always approach their work with a positive can-do attitude.

What Are The Common Tile Types?

The right Boulder tile installation can change the way you view your home. While they’re not the cheapest flooring option, it’s worth spending some time learning about available options. Before you decide on your kitchen or bathroom makeover, we should see what’s out there that suits your needs. For tile installation, we offer a range of types:

Ceramic: This is your standard mixture of water, sand and clay. Ceramic can be glazed, as in coated with a protective finish, giving it either a matte or glossy look. (We recommend matte for natural floor designs and glossy for wall installations.) It’s overall very durable.
Porcelain: It’s more than just ceramic because it’s made by exposing clay to hot temperatures (~2400 degrees Fahrenheit). While many people think porcelain is fragile, it’s actually stronger than ceramic and is recommended for high-traffic areas when installed for flooring purposes. It’s perfect for both floors and walls, even mosaic patterns.
Laminate: Other than wood and stone, you might be frowning at laminate tiles! And you’re correct, it’s not real, it’s composed of particle boards supported by an extra layer. You’ll notice tile shapes to give you an impression like they’re real.
Cork: You might think this is made of wine bottle corks, but cork flooring isn’t new. And similarly to the former, the type of installation resembles tile installation.
Granite: As a heavy material, a certified handyman should inspect your floor first before granite floor installation and confirm that it can hold the weight. Otherwise, it's crack and scratch-resistant.
Glass: Sheets of glass are cut into tile shapes and fired in a furnace. There are more ways to treat it, and you can add color, but they’re often translucent or opaque. This process is often called fused tile.
Marble, Stone: Marble and stone are expensive and more complicated to work with and need specific sealants to make them non-porous. You can also find engineered faux versions of these.
Quarry: This reminds us of what's used for paving, and it's made of ground minerals similar to brick.
Engineered: It’s sometimes called agglomerate and aggregate and is made from marble bits and other rock materials in a base of epoxy.
Slate: It’s primarily made of natural stone sourced from the mountains. It’s a metamorphic rock and might include quartz, muscovite and calcite (just to name a few).

Common Areas For Boulder Tile Installation

Every Boulder home has tile installed somewhere, probably in the kitchen, bathroom or overall flooring system. That’s a good way to determine if it’s working well for you or whether a complete home improvement project will serve your comfort better.

Floor

There are many areas in your home that could benefit from a floor upgrade. Whether it's the bathroom, kitchen, entryway or laundry room. Mr. Handyman can inspect the existing flooring system and make suggestions in alignment with your needs.

Walls

We are happy to listen to your desired wall arrangement and make alternative suggestions, such as drywall repair and installation, another specialty of ours.

Countertops

Do your countertops look worn or old-fashioned? Whether you want them repaired or replaced, our team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of E Boulder, Broomfield & Erie can fix and install countertops throughout your home.

What Are The Common Styles?

Hexagon/Honeycomb: Its natural shape emits a timeless appeal to kitchens and bathrooms on floors and backsplashes
Terracotta: Natural color ceramic, earthy tones
Maroccan (Zellji): This is probably one of the most extraordinary patterns you will find within the tiling industry. Its Moorish artform denotes Morocco's unique architecture and complex geometric designs.
Heritage: It’s commonly known as porcelain mosaics, which may be installed to walls or floors. They’re popular in bathrooms for being non-slippery on surfaces.
Patina: Patina describes hand-colored porcelain/ceramic and is highly desirable for interior decorations due to its aged metallic look.
Terrazzo: This is a popular speckled design for marble and glass installations. It can be a more expensive style, depending on how you want it installed.
Art Deco: Art Deco is common for flooring and backsplashes, expressing bold patterns and sharp colors.
Dark Drama: It certainly doesn’t invite you into a dark vibe, instead, it exudes mystery and warmth that makes you feel safe.
Bold: Large format tiles express a spacious feel and are ideal for corporate restrooms and hotel bathrooms.
Subway: It probably reminds you of the subway stations in Manhattan from where this style originates. The white color is supposed to brighten up the day for city-dwellers and exude a clean look. It’s designed in a way so it’s easy to clean.
Listello, Border: This type adds an interesting element and pattern to an existing one. The border adds an extra accent to a space that you want to highlight.

We should mention that type focuses more on functionality, whereas style adds the extra flair and art to your desired Boulder tile installation.

Weighing Out The Pros & Cons

Weighing out the pros and cons highly depends on the type you choose and if it’s properly installed. You can count on our certified technicians that they will get the job done the first time. After learning about types and styles, we know that they have different characteristics, and it’s worth looking into their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of Tile Installation in Boulder

Easy to clean: Who doesn’t want something that’s easy to maintain? Whether it’s stains, dirt or grease on the floor or wall, you can easily wipe it off and no germs will harbor on it.
Water Resistant: Thanks to its protective layer, it can even bear high humidity.
Mold Resistant: The only risk for issues is when the grout lines aren’t done properly and water gets into the tiles. Whether it’s floor or wall tiles, the supportive floor boards or drywall will be susceptible to damage.
Durable: It’s high quality and hard to crack
Cost-Effective: Ceramic and porcelain are popular in households and it’s definitely more affordable than wood flooring but cheaper than carpet.
Hypoallergenic: It doesn’t trap dust or allergens and is resistant to abrasion. It’s pet-proof.
Non-Porous: That’s only when glazed properly
Versatile: It keeps you cool in the summer and you can get in-floor heating for the winter.
Endless Design Possibilities
Recycled Material Available for some types

Cons

Heavy: For flooring, an expert needs to inspect your home’s structural integrity first
Slippery if you opt for a glossy finish
Granite Flooring is difficult and expensive to install. Additionally, it requires regular expert maintenance
Glass is expensive despite recycled materials used and require expert installation
Engineered may have volatile organic compounds that’s not safe for you to breathe in
High Installation Cost for premium types

Alternatives

If you are still unsure whether you want to opt for tile, we have other cost-effective options that will serve their purposes to your Boulder home.

Laminate Floor
Wood Floor
Drywall
Wainscoting

Get Boulder Tile Installation Services by Mr. Handyman of E Boulder, Broomfield & Erie!

Whether you're in Boulder or a nearby area such as Lafayette, Broomfield, and Louisville, you can count on high-quality craftsmanship and outstanding customer service from the carpentry pros at Mr. Handyman. With years of experience in tile floor installation, they have the skill to tackle any project you throw at them, from minor cracks to major installations during a kitchen or bathroom remodel.

Give us a call today at 303-647-9132 to speak with our friendly customer service representatives about what we can do to enhance your Boulder home and make your life easier!