NYC Tile Selection

Picking the Perfect Tile for Your NYC and NJ Bathroom Walls

May 22, 2010

As anyone who’s tried to renovate their Manhattan bathroom knows, Bathroom (NYC) walls are tricky to cover. Due to heat and humidity wallpaper will certainly warp and peel; the same is true for interior paint. This makes tile your best bet, because it can stand up to constant moisture and is really easy to clean. Luckily, there are so many tiles for you to choose from that you’ll be able to find any color, texture, and shape to match your NYC or NJ bathroom renovation design. From handcrafted ceramic to natural stone, there’s a tile for even the most discerning professional or amateur NYC interior designer. Eco-conscious homeowners may even want to consider recycled glass or recycled leather tiles if they want to create a green NYC renovation project. You can also combine stone and metal tiles or glass and ceramic for a more textured look.

Here are some types of tiles used in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut bathroom renovation (NJ) projects:

Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles
Glazed ceramic tiles, which have a shiny topcoat over a ceramic base, are a popular choice for your NY & NJ bathrooms because they’re nonporous—which means they can be cleaned with a damp sponge. Porcelain, which is more durable than glazed ceramic, is also a popular choice in NY & NJ bathrooms. Porcelain is made from the same material from top to bottom—no topcoat—so even if the top layer chips or cracks, a mark isn’t visible. Because it’s so durable and relatively inexpensive, porcelain is one of the most practical tile choices for a NYC bathroom wall.

Glass Tiles
Glass tiles are perfect as a decorative border or as part of a mosaic. (They tend to be more expensive than ceramic or stone, so most homeowners don’t tile an entire wall with glass.) Since glass reflects light, these tiles brighten a NJ bathroom in ways other tiles cannot.

Jerusalem Stone Tiles
Jerusalem stone tile is a high-end natural stone tile that has become quite popular in New York, New Jersey and Manhattan bathrooms even though it’s porous. The soft grays, creams, and beiges of the tiles form the perfect backdrop to just about every design and the stone tiles work well as an accent or border for different types of stone, metal and glass tiles.

Natural Stone Tiles
Limestone, marble, granite, travertine and slate tiles are a luxurious choice for your Manhattan bathroom walls. Stone tiles will vary depending on the region and quarries they come from; they’ll have different colors and veining. The stone tile you choose, therefore, is entirely unique to your home. There are things to keep in mind: marble is porous and so prone to staining. Marble therefore requires more maintenance than other stone tiles like granite and must be polished every few years.

Metal Tiles
Combine metal tiles with ceramic, stone or glass for a distinctive and striking. Metal tiles are more expensive than other types of tiles and so they’re best used as accent pieces in combination with other less expensive tiles like ceramic or stone.

Recycled Leather Tiles
Recycled leather tiles are best used in a bathroom that isn’t subjected to a lot of moisture, such as a half bath. These tiles add an unusual look to your bathroom walls and, because they’re recycled, are perfect for eco-conscious homeowners.

While selecting the tiles for your home can seem like an overwhelming process, it doesn’t have to be. If you’re look to renovate your NJ or NYC bathroom, MyHome can help you design your perfect NYC or NJ bathroom, select your tiles, and perform the entire installation as part of our unique full-service program for NYC home improvement.