The 4 Best Tiles for a Water Resistant Bathroom
Selecting tile for your bathroom is a big deal. You’ve probably been thinking about it since you decided to remodel your bathroom. Maybe you’ve already set your heart on your favorite.
Before you buy that tile and start installing it, be sure you’ve made a choice that will not only look great but stand up to your bath-hating pets, daily steamy shower, or the kids’ tidal waves.
At Daltile, we do in-depth testing on our tile so you know exactly which type of tile works best for your bathroom. We test coefficient of friction, moisture absorption, breaking strength, scratch hardness, chemical resistance, and abrasion resistance. You can find the test results in the “Technical Data” section of the specs on each product page. This will give you a general idea of appropriate applications of each kind of tile.
Here are a few ways to use tile to increase the water-resistance of your bathroom.
BATHROOM FLOOR TILE
Your bathroom floor has to stand up to wet conditions, frequent cleaning, and look good while doing it. Get stylish tile in your bathroom and still get the water-resistance that you need with porcelain and ceramic tiles.
Try one of the hottest and most enduring looks for the floor: cement look. One of our favorites is our award-winning porcelain tile, Cotto Contempo, which combines the old world feel of Cotto pavers with distressed cement.
Wood is an unexpected look that stands up to the conditions of the bathroom environment. These porcelain and ceramic wood look tiles have a genuine look that is made with the latest scanning and printing technologies.
BATHROOM SHOWER TILE
Shower tile doesn’t have to be boring to handle multiple uses every day. In fact, the Kimona Silk series inspires the senses with its spa-like feel and functions well all over the bathroom. It’s also a ColorBody™ porcelain tile, which means that the color of the body of the tile is similar to the surface of the tile so chips or scratches are not as apparent.
Be sure to check out our recommendations to ensure you’ve picked a tile rated for the shower.
BATHROOM WALL TILE
Not only does a fully tiled wall make your bathroom more water-resistant, it is a stunning design statement as well. Consider natural stone, which can often go on the floor and/or the wall for a continuous design. Granite or marble make distinguished additions to your bathroom. Choose traditional 12 x 12 tiles or opt for larger formats or different shapes for a unique application.
You may also want to consider extending your mosaic across an entire wall. With the right tile and pattern, this wall can become the center of your bathroom. Mosaics allow you to custom pick your colors and patterns, or you can select professionally designed mosaic patterns–ready to install.
Ask about the ratings on wall tiles to ensure they can be installed in the bathroom.
BATHROOM BACKSPLASH TILE
Backsplash is a necessary element of any bathroom. It keeps water damage at bay. But why not take it to the next level and make it more than just functional? A beautiful backsplash can be anything from a mosaic to more traditional tile. It can be natural stone, glass, or metallic.
Try something different like a linear glass tile that lends durability and texture to your bathroom. Or a unique shape like diamonds, brick-joint rectangles, or penny rounds. The backsplash is a great place to add a splash of color or an interesting finish without overwhelming the room.
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