Ceramic Tile Flooring in the Basement

Costs
Durability
History
Maintenance

Pictures
Popular Basements Topics
Pros and Cons
Questions and Answers

References
Related Articles

Looking for a beautiful, moisture-resistant alternative to carpet, vinyl, or linoleum for your basement flooring? Then ceramic tile, with its stain-resistant qualities and reasonable price tag, is a fantastic option. Better yet, ceramic tile allows you to create a unique design that fits with any home’s style. Here is some more information.

Costs

For glazed ceramic tiles, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1-$20 per square foot, depending on the quality and design of the tiles themselves. Installation costs another $5-$10 per square foot. Get a price quote for cost information in your area.

Pictures

Finished Basement

Pros

Tile comes in many shapes and colors, making it possible to create your own design.

Glazed tile is moisture- and stain-resistant—great for basements.

Tile is easy to clean and a perfect flooring choice for kids and pets.

Cons

Tile can be very cold and hard under the feet.

Glossy finishes are slippery when wet.

The grout in between the tile can discolor and is difficult to maintain.

Durability

Ceramic tile is considered a very durable flooring option for the basement, even more so if it’s glazed to avoid moisture damage. Grout, however, can discolor and become hard to maintain over time, affecting the overall durability of the flooring.

Maintenance

Tile flooring definitely ranks right up there as one of the easiest flooring materials to maintain. Simple sweeping and mopping can keep tile floors looking like new without much effort. In addition, most cleaners, abrasive or otherwise, don’t harm tile.

Common Questions and Answers

What is ceramic tile made out of?

Ceramic tile is made from clay, cement, or other inorganic, non-metallic metals formed through a firing process.

Can a tile floor be placed over an existing floor of another material?

Yes, as long as the flooring is smooth, level and clean with a tight bond to the subfloor. If any of these criteria are not met, then the existing flooring should be taken out before installation.

History

Tile floors can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome, where they were used to show off a family’s wealth. They then saw an increase in popularity in the 12th century, when Cistercian monks began making ceramic tiles of their own. It wasn’t until tile-making technology improved at the end of the 19th century that production began on a larger scale.