Best ceramic tile pros near Eastman, GA

You can lay tile directly on a plywood countertop, but if it’s a high-traffic surface in a kitchen, it’s better to add a moisture-resistant base. Plywood is susceptible to moisture, so if dampness seeps through from the surface around the sink or where you prep food, it can cause the plywood to warp, leading to grout damage, cracked tiles, or mold growth under the surface. 

Porcelain tiles can last 60 years or longer. With high-quality tiles and proper installation, your porcelain tiles may even outlive you, making them well worth the initial investment.

To help your porcelain tiles last longer, you should clean and maintain them regularly. You don’t need any harsh chemicals to get the job done. Rather, use a cloth, hot water, and mild detergent. And don’t forget to learn how to clean floor tile grout, as that’s just as important as tile maintenance.

You can, in theory, tile your fireplace hearth with most tiles. However just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. For example, it’s much better to use unglazed tiles because glazed tiles are more resistant to cracking under extreme heat. Porcelain is more heat-resistant than ceramic, but you can still design the hearth as you like by putting the most heat-resistant tiles directly under the fire and, if it matches your style, add more decorative tiles further from the center of the fire. 

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are made from clay, but porcelain tiles are fired in a kiln at a higher temperature. This makes them more durable, but it also means porcelain is more expensive than ceramic at $3 to $5 more per square foot.

Even with the higher price point, many people choose porcelain over ceramic because there are more color and design options.