The Best Tile For Walls? Ask Ann Sacks.

 

The Most Searched Wall Tile Question Answered: What Is The Best Wall Tile?

The easy answer is, "The tile that makes you happiest." The subjective part of that is, what makes you happy? Let's take a couple of minutes to qualify that answer and list a few things about tile that might make you happy. You would be amazed at far down that rabbit hole you can go. For the sake of keeping the journey short we will stick with: 

• Use: We will explore how and where the tile will be used to discover how durable and porous it can be. 
• Color: Trending versus timeless colors that will evoke a mood.
• Texture: Best with monochromatic palettes to add depth and complexity without changing contrast.
• Eco-Friendly: Tiles we can feel good about do the least amount of harm to the environment. From how the materials were brought up to the earth to the methods used to install them, they should be healthy for you and the planet.

Ann Sacks mission is to be the place where you feel most comfortable with beautiful tile and stone. Equally as brilliant is their vision to bring you, all under one roof, a world of unsurpassed artistry, craftsmanship, and quality in their choice of designers, materials, and styles. Their tile can actually bring you a deeper sense of joy once you know the story.

There was a time when tiles were multi purpose. What you used on the wall is what you used on the floor and everywhere else. Fast forward and now there is a spectrum of tile to choose from that includes size, weight, texture, porosity, glaze finish and color. Where you are planning to use tile becomes important to which you select from. Now homeowners are asking:

• Which tile is best for the wall?
• Which tile is best for the bathroom, kitchen, fireplace surround or outdoor living space?
• Which tile works best to transition from the wall to the vinyl flooring? 
• Can you tile without grout lines?
• Best tile for walls that will have hanging art?

Fortunately, there is a good answer for all of these questions. Ann Sacks is top notch for addressing them. Before we start taking a look at the best wall tile for any given space in your home, it is important that we understand the basic difference between wall and floor tile. To start with, wall tile tends to be lighter than floor tile. The primary reason being that it is much lighter making it easier to install. This is particularly important in residential design. It also brings labor costs down a bit. Wall tiles are not as durable as floor tile is. Floor tile can sometimes be used for wall tile but, wall tile is not a good option for floor tile which sees much more traffic and weight. The good news is, that wall tile is thinner allowing for more intricate design and detailed texture not seen in floor tile. 

Most of the time wall tile is suitable in ceramic, porcelain, glass, concrete or specialty. Unless you are Fred Astaire your wall tile shouldn't see much traffic. With that said, there are a couple of trouble spots where maintenance and environment might be something to consider. First, let's look at the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile.

CERAMIC: Ceramic tile is clay based mixed with water. Before firing, the tile it is molded for texture and shaped. When left in its natural state it is quite porous. That means it is water resistant but not waterproof. It is also very susceptible to staining and chipping. In its natural state, untreated or glazed, it has a beautiful rustic look. It is a perfect choice for Japandi, Scandi, Wabi Sabi, Artisan, Spanish and Global looks. 

Ceramic tiles are fired at 2000°F. This may or may not be done with the glaze. If a ceramic tile is fired once with the glaze it is characterized as Monocottura. The tile is typically made up of two layers, the bisque and glaze. The bisque is the body of the tile and does not necessarily match the glaze. This is why when a ceramic tile is chipped, it is often very noticeable because of the contrast between the bisque and the glaze. Best to have a through-tile construction if that is an issue for you. Most people are familiar with painting on a glaze and firing it. Another technique is taking a fired tile, applying color and design with a high tech inkjet printer, then finally adding a glaze to protect the design from wear and tear. 

It should be noted that ceramic tiles are water resistant and not waterproof. They may not be suitable for showers or steam showers most especially their floors. They are also not the best for high traffic areas or where strong weight can be pressed against them.

PORCELAIN: More difficult to cut than ceramic, porcelain tiles rank in durability next to quartz and diamonds. The clay used for porcelain is fortified with feldspar, kaolin and/or quartz. When fired at 2,200℉ - 2,600℉ vitrification occurs making it "waterproof". It's density and durability are part of what make it in high demand setting it apart from ceramic. Many porcelains are "through body porcelain" meaning the color goes through the body of the tile. When it chips, the color is continuous. Unlike ceramic, damage like this is not as visible. 

This makes porcelain tile a better option for steam showers, saunas, backsplashes for cooktops, backsplashes for wet areas, and exterior walls or cladding. The porosity refers to how much water is absorbed. The classifications are impervious (waterproof being the least absorbent), vitreous (like glass in characteristic), semi-vitreous and non-vitreous (extremely porous and absorbent). Porcelain is impervious or vitreous. This also makes it ideal for outdoor living spaces or cladding where thaw cycles are an issue. Unlike ceramic which can crack with freezing and thawing cycles, porcelain remains unaffected. An added bonus is that porcelain is scratch resistant too. Consider porcelain toilets and sinks. 

GLASS & SPECIALTY TILE: These tiles are the luxury tiles of them all. Truly meant to be an accent at a premium per square foot. Regardless of cost, they are truly the most spectacular as a statement or full accent wall. They also make great floor to ceiling fireplace surrounds. If you want to hang art consider using ceiling molding capable of holding the weight of framed art. Very classy. Very European in nature. Your options are endless when using them as wall tiles. Texture can range from subtle, just enough for the light to catch the grooves to qualifying as 3D. Glass tiles give a translucent and often times ethereal look. They have an ability to simultaneously reflect and capture light. Glass and heavily textured tiles would not be a first choice as a backsplash to a cooktop. Grease and dust collect quickly. Chemicals and tools used to clean this area can scratch and damage the tiles. 

The differences between ceramic and porcelain tile have been covered. We have talked about which walls might be more receptive to one material over the other, though in truth, most of the time either will work. Porcelain does outperform ceramic in steam showers, saunas and external cladding. In some cases, depending on your fireplace, it is a better choice over even quartz (it can be vulnerable to heat. Do not use a crockpot on it without a hot pad or trivet), for a surround that is close to the opening. Without the proper heat shields a TV mounted over a fireplace isn't always safe. Make sure to cover these points with your contractor. 

These are all characteristics that can make you feel good about your selections. Pay attention to your emotional response to texture and color. Go with your gut happiness once you have selected the material for your tile. There is one more area of happiness to explore when choosing your tile so that you can feel deeply connected to your decision. Eco-Friendly tile. Ann Sacks takes a firm stand on supporting environmental health. 

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Eco-Thinking

From energy efficient kilns to sensor lights in the showrooms. Ann Sacks is doing their part in reducing their footprint. It is no small wonder that this tile company would be eco minded considering they have been owned by Kohler Company for since 1989. Kohler has had a long time reputation for being progressive when it comes to environmental efficiency and innovation. Ann Sacks is helped out by keeping their headquarters in the environmentally friendly city of Portland, Oregan. 

When browsing the tiles look for the Eco-Thinking logo. While the entire operation is always looking for new ways to reduce its carbon footprint, these tiles are the MOST eco-friendly. Scraps and trimmings are repurposed. The formulas do not use traditional ingredients like arsenic or lead. Glazes that contain heavy metals like Cadmium are used sparingly. So if you don't see your color in the palette, it is likely for an environmentally friendly reason. Glass is recycled into stunning translucent tiles that appear more like tiger's eye crystal than typical glass. Want more proof that eco tiles are as beautiful as anything you have ever seen? Check out the collection [HERE]. 

When you purchase Ann Sacks tile for your home improvement project you know that your money is going towards making your home beautiful and maintaining the environment. Your investment also supports a healthy business model for the employees. There is much to be said about a company that has employee retention for decades. It takes liveable wages and good working conditions to create that kind of loyalty. The benefits to participating in Ann Sacks products don't stop at the company employees, they give back to the community they do business in. The least of which is donating their finished goods seconds to a local non-profit community enhancement organization. Every time you enjoy your fireplace surround by the fire, backsplash during a family gathering, and walk across your stunning floor after a long day, you can smile knowing that every penny spent went to support something good. Good for you. Good for the planet.