Red clay tile or porcelain (for personal residence)?

Question

OK, I am convinced that porcelain is better than the cheaper red clay tile for rentals, but what about for your own residence, assuming you're going to be more careful with the floors than renters would be? Does it make much difference in the resale value what kind of tile you use? I was thinking cheaper red clay would give me a lot more design choices than the more expensive porcelain. Thanks.

J Scott · Answer

My guess is that the choice of material in this case won't make a difference in resale value; more importantly will be the quality of the work and the look/design that you use...

Bienes Raices · Answer

thanks, this thread has given me a lot of food for thought

Brad Polvorosa · Answer

I agree with Jon. Install what you like, and dont be cheap. Unless you are using really high end materials, labor is a large part of the "installed" cost. If re-sale is a factor, stay somewhat neutral with the colors. You didnt mention what area of the house, other finishes to coordinate with it, etc.

Scott Hubbard · Answer

My vote is for stone like travertine.  I picked up a  a batch of imported 18" travertine from home depot for 1.88 /sq ft and threw in free delivery (that stuff is really heavy).  I also got 10 percent off on top of that.  The customer who ordered this was unhappy with the coloration and I was the beneficiary.

There are some drawbacks such as proper cleaning and having a quality installer is important too, but it is very durable and looks really good.

My recommendation to everyone is to make friends with the staff at your home depot or lowes and have them keep an eye on clearance and overstock.  I never pay more than 80 cents / sq ft for 18" ceramic and rarely pay more the 1.20 for porcelin.  Regular price is for the other guy.

Will Barnard · Answer

Perhaps you are also misinformed. There are a wide range of options in the higher quality porcelain tiles, they do cost more, but the quality is much better.

That said, there are also different grades of ceramic tile. The real cheap stuff (red clay type ceramic tiles crack and brake easier, are thinnner, and of low quality, lower durability. There are some thicker and higher quality cermaic tile options to choose from.

Bottom line, for your own home, what do you like an d what is your budget? Answer those questions for yourself and then choose the right one for you. If budget is not a huge concern, you also have travertine options which is really high quality and you have many options to choose from.

Jon Holdman · Answer

Why limit yourself to $1/ft?  In the grand scheme of things, the price of the tile is only one small fraction of the cost.  Cement backer board, morter, grout and labor are pretty much independent of the cost of the tile itself, and easily add up to several dollars.  Labor alone, even if you do it yourself, is a large component.  Buy what you REALLY like.

Bienes Raices · Answer

^ That is what I was thinking. If I choose the red clay I'll have a wider choice for around $1/sqf (or less), but if I use porcelain I either have to pay a lot more or be limited to the few low end color/designs.

Red clay tile or porcelain (for personal residence)?

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