The most durable of all indoor flooring materials are ceramic tile and stone. When properly installed either will last the lifetime of a house. This incredible durability combined with the natural beauty of stone and ceramic tiles make either one an easy choice when quality is important. The outstanding variety of tile types, colors, patterns, sizes, and textures make tile and stone an excellent option that will fit into any home with ease and grace.

Other than their durability, ceramic tile and stone are quite different. Stone is just what it sounds like: quarried slate, limestone, flagstone, granite, or marble. Ceramic tile is made from slabs of clay that are kiln-fired for hardness.

Glazed ceramic tiles have very hard, often smooth surface that rejects water and stains. The tiles come in many colors and finishes, with a surface that may be smooth or textured. With all these elements available it makes choosing just one style difficult because the variety is almost overwhelming!

Unglazed tile is unfinished, so it's either the color of the fired clay or the color of an added pigment. Either way, unfinished ceramic tile offers a natural, rustic look that warms any room. Unglazed tile doesn't scratch as easily as glazed tile - which doesn't scratch easily anyway - but because it doesn't have the hard surface glaze it is more susceptible to stains. It's usually treated with a sealer or wax to protect it against staining.

Ceramic tile is made in many different sizes, from 16-inch by 16-inch pavers down to tiny 1-inch mosaic tiles that are sold prearranged on a webbed backing. By mixing tile sizes and colors, many different and exciting patterns can be created.

Because tile and stone floors are heavier than other flooring material, a good sub-floor and strong floor joist are mandatory. Without a strong and level unyielding support base, ceramic tile can crack when weight is applied over weak spots.

Standard tile is what dominates the flooring stores. It's usually 1/4 inch thick and comes in a variety of colors, styles, and textures.

Quarry tile is a thicker and tougher than standard tile and is best suited for heavy traffic areas.

Pre-grouted tile comes pre-assembled from the factory in sheets of multiple tiles, designed for quick and easy installation.

Slate is a brittle material usually found in gray shades with tints ranging from blue to dark purple or black to various shades of dark red or purple depending on lighting conditions. Dark colored slate will fade when constantly exposed to sunlight so sunlight exposure should be a factor when considering slate.

Satillio is a hard, decorative floor tile that originated in Spain.

The sub-flooring is critical to the life span of ceramic flooring. Because unsupported tile is vulnerable to cracking, strong floor joists and an even sub floor is mandatory.

Cement board is a product that literally revolutionized the tiling industry. It's literally a board of concrete and ranges anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. This also adds weight to the floor, so you can see why strong floor joists are needed. You can lay cement board right on top of an existing sub-surface to essentially make it concrete. It resists shifting and is impervious to water. Your flooring store professional can help you determine if your sub-flooring and joists are strong enough for ceramic tile or stone.

Concrete is the best of all possible sub-surfaces for ceramic.

Gypcrete is a lightweight, self-leveling, concrete-like surface made of fine sand, gypsum and bonding agents commonly used in radiant floors. This is another excellent sub-surface for tile floors.

Because ceramic tile and stone is meant to be more or less permanent, removing them can be a challenging and time-consuming task. For this reason, it's wise to be sure ceramic tile or stone is the look you want for years to come.