Question:
> We are considering having ceramic tile installed in the foyer and kitchen > of our new home and have a few questions: > We have seen 11×11 to 13×13 tile. Is any one size look better than the other? > Glazed or Matte finish? The matte/stone look is more expensive while the > glazed (shiny) surface *looks* clean when wiped.
Generally in the average room either will look good. However the larger the tile the less ‘busy’ the room looks as there are less grout joints. In this case there won’t be much difference as the sizes are close. Have you looked at any 16"? As for the finish this again is your preference. We are currently doing quite a few installations using the Matte/Stone look in the 12" and larger tiles as it’s becoming increasingly popular. "Ascot" Tile of Italy has a very nice semi-glossy stone look tile in a 13" that’s been a big hit with many in my area. Here’s the web site, but I’m not sure it’s finished yet. http://www.ascot.it/king_pav_gb.html > Should we have plywood or backer-board installed under tile?
I would guess you’re on a wood subfloor due to your reference to plywood underlayment. If so remember you should have a minimum of 11/4" plywood in conjunction with at least a 1/4" Hardibacker underlayment atop that for a proper substrate. Of course the best substrate would be a 3/4-1" mortar bed over your plywood subfloor, which is probably 3/4" maximum now. > What are typical installation charges around the central NJ area? What does > this include (e.g. only labor and we buy *all* materials)? > Anything else we might need to know.
A good quality ’standard’ ceramic floor tile will generally run from $2-5 a square foot. Labor and base materials (thinset, grout, etc;) generally runs from $3-6 a square foot, over a concrete slab. This may or may not include demo (if any), an anti-fracture membrane, floor leveling, etc;. In the case of wood sub-floors, labor prices generally run from $6-10 a square foot because of the necessity of preparing a sub-strate such as a moratar bed, or installing some type of cement backer board underlayment. > THanks. > -Manish Sharma
– Al Brakovich
Response:
We are considering having ceramic tile installed in the foyer and kitchen of our new home and have a few questions: We have seen 11×11 to 13×13 tile. Is any one size look better than the other? Glazed or Matte finish? The matte/stone look is more expensive while the glazed (shiny) surface *looks* clean when wiped. Should we have plywood or backer-board installed under tile? What are typical installation charges around the central NJ area? What does this include (e.g. only labor and we buy *all* materials)? Anything else we might need to know. THanks. -Manish Sharma
Response:
I installed tile in the foyer and kitchen of my (former) house. It looked very nice, cleaned up very easily – but it was so slippery!! Coming in out of the rain, spills etc. were treacherous. They now offer the non-slip tile which I have in my new house (kitchen only). I bought the house this way, and if I could change one thing it would be the tile, it is very hard on your feet. If ever there is a next time, (hah!!) I would put down wooden floors, even in the kitchen. Jackie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We are considering having ceramic tile installed in the foyer and kitchen > of our new home and have a few questions: > We have seen 11×11 to 13×13 tile. Is any one size look better than the other? > Glazed or Matte finish? The matte/stone look is more expensive while the > glazed (shiny) surface *looks* clean when wiped. > Should we have plywood or backer-board installed under tile? > What are typical installation charges around the central NJ area? What does > this include (e.g. only labor and we buy *all* materials)? > Anything else we might need to know. > THanks. > -Manish Sharma
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.