![]() ![]() Ceramic subway tiles traditionally come with a square edge, but other options are also available that may present a different look. The color choices for ceramic subway tile are virtually endless, but that’s not the only choice you need to make. Replace caulk when it starts looking moldy or grimy. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for sealers and frequency of application. But some crackle finishes and most unglazed ceramic tile, such as terra-cotta, need sealing to keep out water and dirt, as do cement-based grouts. Most glazed ceramic tile won’t need any more than cleaning with a mild, nonabrasive soap. The field should be finished with mold-inhibiting caulk wherever tile meets adjacent surfaces, such as walls, tubs, counters, or cabinets. Individual tiles or corners should not protrude from the surface. Lay tiles using a horizontal level line and a vertical plumb line as guides. Use corner trim or tile with bullnose edges to avoid exposed edges at the ends of runs. Shift your pattern left and right or up and down until there are no thin slivers or small pieces of tile in highly visible areas. The surface must also be free of oil, grease, dirt, paint, and old grout or adhesives.Īvoid awkward cuts by measuring the number of tiles needed, horizontally and vertically, to reach the ends of the walls, keeping joints uniform. Any warps, bumps, or springiness can cause tiles to crack. Whatever the material, it must be flat and solid. Ceramic tiles can be laid on concrete, plywood, drywall, or cementitious backer board. So, why are subway tiles so popular? In a nutshell, they’re tough enough to take a beating for decades-in fact, the adhesive, grout, and caulk used to install them will likely need replacing long before the tiles ever do. Manufacturers often use the term to describe any rectangular tile with a length twice its height, from 4-by-8-inch planks to 1-by-2 mosaics, and even some tiles (such as contemporary 2-by-8 strips) that don’t share the original’s proportions at all. Inevitably, the ever-growing popularity of subway tile has changed and expanded in its working definition. They’ve even made the leap from kitchens and baths to other hardworking spaces that benefit from durable, easy-care surfaces, such as laundry rooms, mudrooms, and fireplace surrounds. Today, tiles can be found in an infinite number of colors and finishes that can be paired with any style of décor. Over a century later, ceramic subway tile still stands as one of the most popular trends in kitchens and bathrooms. ![]() The easy-to-clean, stain-resistant, light-reflective, 3-by-6-inch glazed white rectangles quickly captured the public’s attention and moved into the bathrooms and kitchens of prewar homes for both practical and aesthetic reasons virtually overnight. Ceramic subway tile has been around-and everywhere-since it was introduced in New York City’s subway stations in the early 1900s. ![]()
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