Suggestions on ceramic tile for bathroom floor - 1960's house (vinyl, hardwood floors)

[Piazzollachick]

I need to remodel a small guest powder room in a 45 year old colonial home. I'm looking for floor tile that would retain the original mid-century feel of the house, but I'm having trouble finding it.

I envisioned a high quality ceramic floor tile in 4x4 squares, or maybe a 3x3 hex; white or colors. The sort that were common between say 1950 and 1990.

What I'm finding are a lot of bland, boring neutrals in faux stone or marble, and a couple of deco patterns here and there. When I see 4x4 squares in colors, the sales folks advise me these are wall tiles and won't work on a floor. (Is that true?)

I don't live in Tuscany, a zen garden, or a 1920's modern. I've been to most of the "better" tile stores in my area. Any suggestions?

[BigDGeek]

This is a great site with lots of recommendations:

tile

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by Piazzollachick

I need to remodel a small guest powder room in a 45 year old colonial home. I'm looking for floor tile that would retain the original mid-century feel of the house, but I'm having trouble finding it.

I envisioned a high quality ceramic floor tile in 4x4 squares, or maybe a 3x3 hex; white or colors. The sort that were common between say 1950 and 1990.

What I'm finding are a lot of bland, boring neutrals in faux stone or marble, and a couple of deco patterns here and there. When I see 4x4 squares in colors, the sales folks advise me these are wall tiles and won't work on a floor. (Is that true?)

I don't live in Tuscany, a zen garden, or a 1920's modern. I've been to most of the "better" tile stores in my area. Any suggestions?

A tile type that might work for you is the small hexagonal shaped ones that come on mesh, any good tile store should have this type, it is more than likely it will only come in white. That type tile was very common in older homes, I find it very charming.

[SoHoVe]

Originally Posted by Piazzollachick

When I see 4x4 squares in colors, the sales folks advise me these are wall tiles and won't work on a floor. (Is that true?)

Wall tiles are thinner and generally not suitable as flooring.

[texan2yankee]

If your house has hardwood floors you may want to consider hardwood instead of tile. We put oak hardwood floors in our small downstairs powder room and it looked very elegant with simple white fixtures and very modern, sleek faucet.

[Ceramictec]

Originally Posted by Piazzollachick

When I see 4x4 squares in colors, the sales folks advise me these are wall tiles and won't work on a floor. (Is that true?)

Originally Posted by SoHoVe

Wall tiles are thinner and generally not suitable as flooring.

a thin tile has nothing to do with it being on the floor, if a floor has a strong subfloor with
low deflection and proper tile substrate you can set 1/8" glass if you want.

the PEI wear rating has say on what and where you should use tile.
usually wall tile has a low PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) glaze/wear rating and is not suitable.

wall tile being a Class 1
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• PEI Class 1 Rating (No foot traffic) - Recommended for wall use only in residential and commercial applications.
• PEI Class 2 Rating (Light traffic) - Recommended for both wall use and bathroom floor applications.
• PEI Class 3 Rating (Light to moderate traffic) - Recommended for countertops, walls, and floors where normal foot traffic is expected.
• PEI Class 4 Rating (Moderate to heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential applications as well as medium commercial and light institutional.
• PEI Class 5 Rating (Heavy to extra heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential as well as heavy commercial and institutional applications.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

This is a great site with lots of recommendations:

tile

Thanks for sharing this web site. I may be re-doing a bathroom soon (1930s) and I love these choices!

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by Piazzollachick

I need to remodel a small guest powder room in a 45 year old colonial home. I'm looking for floor tile that would retain the original mid-century feel of the house, but I'm having trouble finding it. . . .

I don't live in Tuscany, a zen garden, or a 1920's modern. I've been to most of the "better" tile stores in my area. Any suggestions?

I love that you're considering the historic style your home. A lot of people nonchalantly use beige tiles for renovations without considering the integrity of the house. Please send us updates!

[pennquaker09]

I think Ann Sacks and Daltile carry the the flooring tiles in a hex pattern. It also comes in penny rounds and basket weave.

[Chango]

you could do linoleum (the real stuff, not vinyl) for a "period appropriate" appearance. It's just as pricey as tile though.