There are tons of kitchen countertop materials to choose from and tile is one of them. It’s lightweight, easy to install, and inexpensive as compared to natural stones like granite and engineered stones like quartz countertops. But is it worth it? Here are all the reasons why you shouldn’t consider tile countertops.

They’re Thin

The most obvious con of tile countertops is that they’re very thin. These countertops are not meant to last that long and the fact that they are thin wafers of rocks makes this material even worse for kitchens. You want something that’s going to last you for a long time, something with a decent thickness like natural stone slabs or even man-made rocks like quartz and concrete.

Tiles are just too fragile to be deemed fit for kitchen countertops. You can’t get the same longevity as thick stone slabs and you’ll find yourself changing up parts of the tiles every single time there’s impact damage.

So, save yourself from this trouble and go for something that will last decently, instead of beautiful tiles that don’t have strength at all. Tiles are notorious for being extra delicate and if you put anything on the surface with too much force, then it will shatter, so you should go for a different material altogether because tiles are not worth it.

They’re Not Stain-Resistant

Another very common problem with tiles is that they’re not stain-resistant. This can be a huge issue, especially when you’re using them in the kitchen and there is a huge possibility of getting spills and stains all over your countertops.

The main reason why tile countertops aren’t stain-resistant is the fact that they’re porous, like natural stone countertops. They have pores or holes on the surface that allow water or any fluid, for that matter, to seep into the material and damage it. You might think that sealing tile countertops might do the thing, but that’s not what a lot of people think.

They tend to go for natural stones, even though they’re porous because at least the material is stronger than tile and if you have to choose a kitchen countertop material that needs to be sealed, then why wouldn’t you choose the stronger option out of the two? It’s like picking the lesser of the two evils. At least you’re getting the strength and longevity when choosing anything over tile and the countertops will perform better too.

It’s just not worth going through the trouble of getting tile countertops sealed, because the seams of the countertops can allow a clear passage for water and fluids to penetrate the material anyways.

Seams Can Be An Issue

Speaking of seams, tile countertops never look cohesive, because of these lines that appear out of nowhere. This is because tile countertops are an arrangement of tiles that are stacked on top of the foundation, like a puzzle and no matter how professional the installation is, the seams just won’t go away.

This can be off-putting for a lot of people because they want something that will look seamless and installed as a single unit, not tiles with a bunch of jagged lines everywhere you look.

Not Completely Heat-Resistant

Another thing that makes tile countertops a no-go is the fact that they’re not heat-resistant. As compared to natural stones like quartzite and granite countertops Rockville, tiles can’t hold their ground when it comes to heat resistance. If you put something really hot on the surface of the countertops, then you’ll be graced with black heat stains that look just as bad as they sound.

If you have lighter tiles, then that’s even worse, because the stains will stand out like a sore thumb. You can use trivets to protect the countertops from getting blistered, but is all that work worth it, when you can easily get a material that’s naturally resistant to heat? You might know the answer.

Can House Bacteria

Because tiles are porous, bacteria can also be an issue that can be alarming for a lot of people. Bacteria tend to thrive on surfaces that have pores. This allows the colony of disease-causing microorganisms to thrive and multiply.

This is bad because the bacteria can transfer itself from the countertop surface to whatever you put on it, whether it’s food, vegetables, etc. This is also another repulsive thing about the seemingly perfect tile countertops and it’s also why you shouldn’t go for them.

Hard To Clean

Tiles are generally easy to clean, but the hard part is getting into the nooks and corners of the seams to get the gunk out. The seams of tile countertops tend to dig deep and dirt, grime and even grease can settle into the grooves of the tile corners.

This makes the countertops look very unkempt and dirty and cleaning these small and hard-to-reach places is nothing worse than a nightmare. It’s really hard to get into the crevices and clean the dirt. So, tiles are not worth it when you have to slave over-cleaning.

Not Long Lasting

Tile countertops aren’t durable at all. They’re very thin and borderline fragile and can shatter upon the slightest of forces. This is not something you want to see in your kitchen countertops that are meant to last for a long time. There are a lot of materials out there that will not let you down in the durability game and they’re far better than tiles in every possible way.

So, tiles are not worth your money even though some tiles are very cheap like ceramic tiles, but they are also one of the most fragile tiles. So, do your research and you’ll be able to find something that fits your needs without disappointing you. If you like ceramics, you should choose porcelain slab countertops.

Hard To Install For A Newbie

Even though tiles are relatively easier to install than the heavy slabs of natural stone countertops, that still does not mean that it’s all a piece of cake. You can’t expect to install tile, especially if you’re a newbie, without making it look crooked.

Although people will prefer installing tile countertops on their own because professional installation charges can be a doozy, the results still aren’t as perfect as you might have anticipated. This is a downer because one of the best things about tile countertops is the fact that they’re easy to install, but you need to have the qualities and skills of a handyman to get the job done perfectly.

Edges Can Chips

The most fragile part of tile countertops is the edges. If you bump into the tiles, then you will notice the edges chipping right away. This is why it’s said that the edges of tile countertops are even more delicate than the material itself.

This is also the reason why you can’t get creative with edge designs when it comes to tile countertops because they’re prone to breaking if you manipulate the material too much. This is why tile countertops are an instant no-go.

Conclusion

Ceramic and porcelain tiles may be inexpensive and easy to install, but that doesn’t mean that they are the best options out there. You can always choose from other materials, which surpass a lot of qualities tile doesn’t have. If you like the water resistance of tiles, you should choose quartz countertops that are more durable and long lasting. Connect with quartz countertop contractors Potomac for designs and prices of quartz slabs.