Matt finish bathroom wall tiles

jon_ports

[FONT=&quot]My wife likes the look of some matt finish ceramic (not porcelain) wall tiles she has seen for use in our new bathroom.

I am concerned as to how well they might last, what they might be like to clean, and general longevity. Reading some other forums users suggest they might leach colour/turn porous over time even with appropriate installation/sealing.

Has anyone used these before – should they be avoided?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thanks all[/FONT]

cddc

Should be fine unless they are really cheap and nasty.

Will be a bit harder to clean, particularly if you live in a hard area than a gloss though.

keystone

cddc wrote: »

Should be fine unless they are really cheap and nasty.

Wot he said x 3.

In any event, management having made their requirements known who do you think you are to argue? :rotfl::rotfl:

Cheers

jennifernil

Ours (4 bathrooms/toilets and kitchen) are all matt finish. 23 years since installation and no problems with cleaning or wear.

3 types are Italian, the other 2 Pilkingtons, all good quality, installed with waterproof cement and epoxy grout.

har0ld

porcelain tiles, in a domestic environment, are only a fairly recent development and a glazed tile if of reasonable quality should be absolutely fine; in fact much easier to fit as many tub adhesives struggle to cure with porcelain and easier to cut and drill.
If in a hard-water area yes potentially harder to clean but then also don't show water marks as quickly!
A simple silicone or teflon based sealant/polish will reduce cleaning issues as with any tiled ceramic or glass surface - there are loads of products to choose from.

keystone

har0ld wrote: »

porcelain tiles, in a domestic environment, are only a fairly recent development and a glazed tile if of reasonable quality should be absolutely fine;

Don't think you read his post properly old son.

Cheers

pinkteapot

cddc wrote: »

Will be a bit harder to clean, particularly if you live in a hard area than a gloss though.

On the plus side, matt tiles look better for longer after being cleaned. Gloss tiles look lovely for the first few hours after being cleaned. Then they get water marks that are pretty obvious as soon as the bathroom is used.

We have matt finish tiles (albeit porcelain ones) and they don't show water marks as badly as gloss ones do.

tpt

you might be mixing up forum posts about natural stone as ceramics wont need sealing. The will still have a glaze, it will just be a matt finish one, lots of tiles are made this way to imitate natural stone.

If your sure they are ceramic they will be fine - look at the side of the tile, it will have a red, cream or white 'biscuit' backing and a thin glaze on top of that, or better yet ask the people in the shop your buying from, if they dont know, walk away!

What does sometimes make them hard to clean is if they are rough/pitted too as soap scum and dirt can key to this, many matt finishes are very smooth and are really more of a satin finish, and these can look lovely and be easy to maintain.