Ceramic and stone tiles such as granite, marble, slate, and limestone are a versatile, low-maintenance option for floors, walls, and countertops in the kitchen, bathroom, foyer, or other living areas in your home. With all of the options available, choosing the right tile for your home can sometimes be difficult. Each type of tile has its own distinctive appearance and style, whether it’s rustic, natural, elegant, or classic. With that in mind, here’s an overview of five of the most commonly used ceramic and stone tiles.

Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and patterns. They are typically used for floors, walls, and countertops in bathrooms and kitchens and as flooring in other areas of the home. Ceramic tiles are made of clay that is fired at very high temperatures to produce a durable material that is water, stain, and scratch resistant. Ceramic tiles are usually glazed in a shiny, satin, or matte finish, but may be left unglazed (usually referred to as quarry tiles). Ceramic tile sizes range from 1 x 1 inch to 18 x 18 inches. Smaller size ceramic tiles are used for walls with medium and larger sizes reserved for countertops and floors. Ceramic tile costs from $1 to 3 per square foot.

Granite
Granite tiles are ideal for kitchen countertops as well as floors and walls. Granite is a very hard and dense stone that is scratch, stain, and water-resistant. It does not conduct heat, which makes it perfect for kitchen countertops. Granite has a geometric pattern and comes in black, light and dark gray, green, brown, and tan colors. Several finishes are available, including polished, honed, sandblasted, and flamed. Granite tiles are sold in several sizes; the most common being 12 x 12 x 3/8 inch thick. Sizes larger than this, such as 16 x 16 inches or 18 x 18 inches, are ½ inch thick. Granite tiles cost between $5 and $10 per square foot, depending on color and availability.

Marble
Marble tiles have an elegant appearance. They are used for countertops, floors, and walls in bathrooms and kitchens as well as other rooms of the house. Marble scratches easily and is susceptible to staining; however, it can be polished to eliminate these blemishes. The most common colors are white, gray, brown pink, green, and black, generally with a light color background and darker veining pattern. The finish is either polished or honed (matte). A honed finish is typically used for floors to provide slip resistance, since marble can be slippery when wet. Marble tiles are not recommended for kitchen floors. Typical marble tile sizes are 12 x 12 x 3/8 inch thick and 12 x 1 x ½ inch thick. They cost approximately $6 to 8 per square foot.

Slate
Rustic in appearance, slate tiles have a rough texture that is naturally slip resistant, making it an excellent choice for floors in entrance halls, kitchens, and bathrooms. Although it is moisture resistant, slate stains easily, making it unsuitable for kitchen countertops. Slate also scratches easily and is prone to cleaving, so a sealant should be used. There is a wide variation in colors ranging from green to blue gray to purple and brown or tan shades. Slate is sold in rectangular or square shapes of various sizes and costs about $2 to $4 per square foot.

Limestone
Limestone tiles add an understated elegance to any room. They are used for floors, countertops, and walls, primarily in kitchens and bathrooms, and as flooring in other living areas. Limestone tiles are typically pale in color--off white to cream to golden beige and browns or pink--and either mottled or plain in appearance. They nearly always have a honed or matte finish and, like marble tiles, can be slippery when wet. They can also be sandblasted for a more textured appearance. Limestone tiles are sometimes confused with travertine tiles, another type of limestone similar to marble. Travertine tiles are characterized by fissures and small irregular holes on the surface of the tile that are not found in limestone. Limestone floor tiles are available in several sizes, the most common being 12 x 12 x 3/8 inch thick and 16 x 16 x ½ inch thick. They cost about $3 to $6 per square foot.

~Heleigh Bostwick

Growing up in Vermont, her education and work as a botanist and landscape architect, and now her job as a mom of twins, have all contributed to Heleigh’s “Green Living” lifestyle. She has a BA in Botany from Connecticut College and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.