Get matched with top marble and granite pros in Tioga, PA

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. 

Granite and marble compare well against each other in terms of price, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Deciding which one is better depends on your personal style and preference. Both materials resist damage like chips and cracks well. You should seal both material types against staining and etching, but they’re still susceptible if oil, wine, coffee, tomato sauce, or juice are left on the countertop long enough. As material and installation costs range similarly, the deciding factor is your budget, design, and preferences.

You may be wondering what travertine is. Travertine is a natural stone found in mineral spring deposits and mined from a rock quarry. Manufacturers cut the stone into slabs and then into tiles or pavers.

The stone is tumbled in rubber or plastic-coated barrels to give it a rustic look or brushed with a wire wheel to give it texture. Additionally, polished travertine is finished with glossy sealants. In most cases, holes or pits are filled with color-matched resin, epoxy fillers, cement, or sanded grout.

The tile spacing you should use will depend on the tile and where you’re installing it. Choosing the right tile spacers to maintain a consistent gap between your tiles is tricky. Generally, tile spacing shouldn’t be less than 2 millimeters on walls and 3 millimeters on floors because of stress relief requirements. Getting it wrong can result in uneven tiles and early repairs.