Your Floor: Two Tiles to Love
Cement and quarry tiles are easy, lasting and unexpected
Paul Anater
July 13, 2011
I am a former designer, past Houzz contributor and current Marketing Director at The Reclamation Project, a reclaimed lumber flooring and furniture company in Pennsylvania.
I am a former designer, past Houzz contributor and current Marketing Director at... More
The first article in this series explored ratings for ceramic tile, using various types of tile for comparison. Two more options fall outside traditional tile categorizations: quarry tile and cement tile.
Neither material is a new category, although both are experiencing a resurgence in their use. Quarry tile was some of the earliest, mass-produced floor tile available, and cement tile first appeared in Southern France in the late 19th century.
Quarry tile is worth considering due to its resilience and relatively low cost — generally between $3 and $5 per square foot.
Cement tile warrants consideration for its long life and jaw-dropping, distinctive beauty. It usually retails for between $9 and $17 a square foot. Take a look:
Neither material is a new category, although both are experiencing a resurgence in their use. Quarry tile was some of the earliest, mass-produced floor tile available, and cement tile first appeared in Southern France in the late 19th century.
Quarry tile is worth considering due to its resilience and relatively low cost — generally between $3 and $5 per square foot.
Cement tile warrants consideration for its long life and jaw-dropping, distinctive beauty. It usually retails for between $9 and $17 a square foot. Take a look:
Cement tile
Pros: Beautiful patters and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Cost: $9-$17 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Cement tile is a through-body color tile. By that I mean its surface finish is the same through the entire piece of tile.
Pros: Beautiful patters and colors, highly resilient
Cons: Absorbs water, so be careful using it outdoors
Cost: $9-$17 per square foot
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, kitchens and baths
Cement tile is a through-body color tile. By that I mean its surface finish is the same through the entire piece of tile.
As its name suggests, it's made from pigmented portland cement and is cured in a hydraulic press.
It's great for use in high-traffic areas, but be careful when using it outdoors. If you live in a climate where temperatures go below freezing in the winter, cement tile's better used indoors.
Few materials offer the kinds of colors and patterns available in cement tile, so it tends to steal the show.
It's nearly as beautiful when used on walls as it is on floors. This kitchen is made by the bold pattern on the walls, don't you think?
Cement tile's vintage and avante garde at the same time. Few materials can make that claim.
aldonchem.com
Quarry tile
Pros: Holds up to just about anything
Cons: Limited options for colors and sizes
Cost: $3-$5 per square foot
Suggested uses: Indoor-outdoor, entries, kitchens and baths
Quarry tile is a high-fire, ceramic tile that's always unglazed. It's different from the glazed tile you're used to seeing because it's extruded rather than cast from a mold. Extruding clay to make tile is similar in a lot of ways to squeezing icing from a pastry bag.
Pros: Holds up to just about anything
Cons: Limited options for colors and sizes
Cost: $3-$5 per square foot
Suggested uses: Indoor-outdoor, entries, kitchens and baths
Quarry tile is a high-fire, ceramic tile that's always unglazed. It's different from the glazed tile you're used to seeing because it's extruded rather than cast from a mold. Extruding clay to make tile is similar in a lot of ways to squeezing icing from a pastry bag.
Quarry tile is an exceptionally resilient flooring material. It's the original "through body" tile; like cement tile, its surface finish is the same through the entire piece of tile.
summitville.com
There's no top glaze on quarry tile, so there's nothing to wear off in high-traffic areas. This makes it a great flooring material for entryways and kitchens.
wqttile.com
Quarry tile is all but impervious to water, so it's perfect for use outdoors or in wet areas.
If you're looking for a flooring material that is long-lasting, easy to maintain and different from what's expected, quarry and cement tile may be the product you've been waiting for.
More: How to Shop for Tile
How to Find the Right Stone Tile
If you're looking for a flooring material that is long-lasting, easy to maintain and different from what's expected, quarry and cement tile may be the product you've been waiting for.
More: How to Shop for Tile
How to Find the Right Stone Tile
We believe that the transition of a house into a home is a sense of history and a piece of the future. It tells... Read More
Related Products
Related Stories
Bathroom Design
5 Secrets to a Smooth-Running Family Bathroom
Pros say these are the must-have features for creating an efficient shared bathroom
Full Story
Working With Pros
Which Pro Should You Hire for Your Project?
Find out whether you need a contractor, an architect, an interior designer or another professional for the job
Full Story
Bathroom Workbook
How to Remodel a Bathroom
Create a vision, make a budget, choose your style and materials, hire the right pros and get the project done
Full Story
Bathroom Design
How to Prepare for a Bathroom Remodel
By Becky Harris
Ease the disruption of a bathroom renovation with these 10 tips
Full Story
Decorating Guides
15 Ways to Create Separation in an Open Floor Plan
By tidgboutique
Use these pro tips to minimize noise, delineate space and establish personal boundaries in an open layout
Full Story
Kitchen Workbook
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Follow these start-to-finish steps to achieve a successful kitchen remodel
Full Story
Remodeling Guides
How to Survive a Major Remodeling Project
By Eva Byrne
Get expert tips for improving your home while preserving your sanity
Full Story
Working With Pros
10 Questions to Ask Potential Contractors
Ensure the right fit by interviewing general contractors about topics that go beyond the basics
Full Story
Life
9 Secrets to Successfully Remodeling a House Together
By Laura Wheat
Learn how to put your stamp on a project while avoiding unnecessary conflicts
Full Story
Modern Architecture
How to Improve the Comfort of Your Midcentury Modern Home
By Colin Flavin
You can maintain the era’s signature style in your home while improving its thermal performance
Full Story
We offer cement tiles in over 200 different patterns! To learn more about us, visit tesselle.com or to view our cement tile collection click here!