Honed or polished carrera tiles (12' x 12') for master bath floor

threeapples

12 years ago

which make most sense and will look nicest for a historic look in a very simple master bath? thanks!

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Comments (13)

KevinMP
12 years ago
My house was built in 1826 and after a lot of thought, I went with honed. I used calacatta gold though in 9" x 18". You can check out the pictures below.

Here is a link that might be useful: My remodel with honed
PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
12 years ago
Honed. No comparison.........
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I have a Restoration Hardware vanity with their honed carrera marble top. So far, no stains, but I do not use much of any products in there that might stain. The crate said that the top has been sealed. You definitely want to seal marble. I would imagine that some more harsh products (like hair color, etc) would certain stain marble. You also need to worry about etching, which is (as I understand) caused by products that are not pH balanced (certain cleaners, etc). As a result, I specifically selected some hand soap that is pH balanced. When installing a new mirror a few weeks back, I was wearing a new pair of dark denim shorts. Leaning over the vanity, I ended up rubbing off a LOT of blue dye onto the marble top. I was very concerned that the stain might be permanent, but it wiped off with just water on a rag. Overall I am really pleased with the look of the vanity and have not had any problems (with staining or etching). The vanity is stunning, especially the marble top. I intend to continue to be careful with the marble and hope for the best, although I know at some point I will likely get a stain or etching.
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I should have added: Marble can be tricky, as some of it is very porous, some can even be a bit translucent. Use a thinset that matches the color of the tile. Usually white thinset. That will prevent gray thinset from shadowing through the tile. Backbutter the marble tiles to ensure you get a full coating of thinset on the back of each tile. Some thinset here ant none there could also result in a mottled or striping look with the finished tile. Marble can wick water, so the after tiling it may have a mottled appearance for a few days as the thinset cures and the tile dries. Polished marble can be scratched by sanded grout. Depends on the care of the installer. However, thinner grout joints (less than 1/8") should lead you to use unsanded grout. A dark grout can stain the edges of light colored marble, leading to a "dirty look" aroudn the perimeter of the tile. Mongo
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Oh, there are lots of local tile stores, but my contractor knows someone at Dal and I was going to get a particularly good deal, so now I'm going to have to take a deep breath and go pay looking and pay more and I'm getting to that point where I just want it to be easy. Rectangular is definitely a contemporary look, just not one I personally love, except when it's small enough to get called subway tile, if that makes sense. It's funny, for one bathroom, what we're actually looking to do is a contemporary version of the one minette99 posted a picture of in this thread http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bath/msg060043154774.html. I have cobalt blue 1" square blue glass tiles and I'd like to do big white squares part way up (instead of her subways), the blue glass tile, a more contemporary white trim and then very pale blue walls. The vanity will be natural maple with slab doors, black silestone countertop and American Standard green tea faucets. So I thought big white tiles set diagonally on the floor, with some of the blue glass pieces used as dots, the same white tiles done stacked on the walls. But hmmm on possibly the difficulty of finding the true white tile with a high enough COF and also thinking about what Susan said about it looking dated very quickly. I'm probably headed back to the stores.
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mydreamhome
12 years ago
I vote honed as well. I would also have to worry about slipping issues with the polished--my DH is forever hopping out of the shower because he forgot to grab the new bottle of shampoo or needs a new razor blade. I would consider honed to be the already well broken-in look of polished & roll with it!
threeapples
Original Author
12 years ago
wow, absolutely gorgeous bathroom--nice job! i love the honed granite. is it a good finish for kitchen counters?
i'm doing honed marble floors now, thanks to all of you!
KevinMP
12 years ago
It's leathered antique brown granite. I couldn't find a slab of Calacatta that matched the tile, so I has to find a non-marble option.
athensmomof3
12 years ago
Honed definitely, but I might do a larger tile for a master bath. 18 x 18 would look a little more luxurious
dvarnell
12 years ago
I think both are pretty; polished is definitely a more formal, "luxe" look. It just depends on your overall look, other selections.
mjtx2
12 years ago
For our new house master I'm using a fantastic honed marble look-alike porcelain tile, 16x16, and I'll tell you why. Last house we did an extensive master bath remodel with three different kinds of white marble. It was amazing and the complements were off the charts. I loved how it looked but I *hated* how it lived.

I had water etching all over the place, even after sealing three times. Honed will help with that I think, but I believe even honed will etch. Honed also isn't as stain resistant, so you have to think about that, too. And it was indeed slick and we had to have rugs everywhere. Honed might help with that. But the tile we're using is an amazing replication of a honed marble, and I'm picky (won't even consider the marble-look solid surface counters because they're not realistic). Or you could find a granite look-alike tile.

As I'm out there looking for granite for the kitchen I keep seeing all this gorgeous marble and lots of different opinions from granite suppliers and fabricators on using it in a kitchen, mostly negative. It tempts me every time. I absolutely love the stuff. And I'll never use it for a practical application again.
threeapples
Original Author
12 years ago
Mjtx2, what's the name of your look-alike?
I can't find 18 x 18 online at a decent price. Anybody have a lead?
dvarnell
12 years ago
Marble systems has some of theirs come in 18 x 18. I looked at the Avalon collection which I think is polished but they have a honed version as well that comes in 18 x 18.
athensmomof3
12 years ago
I put 18 x 18 venatino in my guest bath. Reasonably priced as I remember but can't remember how much. Got it at Topcu Atlanta. It is beautiful and goes beautifully with the Alabama white marble we had left over from the kitchen and made into a vanity top.

I'll take a picture and post it if I can remember when I head over there tonight with all these light fixtures!
mjtx2
12 years ago
Sorry, I don't know the name, but I'm going to email my flooring salesperson and ask her, and I'll post what she says here. I've seen it at another tile store, too.
mjtx2
12 years ago
Okay, I got the information. It's Carrara Blanco porcelain tile by Roca Tile Group.

http://www.rocatilegroup.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=category&id=101:carrara

Honed or polished carrera tiles (12' x 12') for master bath floor

Comments (13)

KevinMP

Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech

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Honed or polished carrera tiles (12' x 12') for master bath floor

Comments (13)

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