When we were building our house, there were SO many options for finishes and it was pretty overwhelming to decide on every single little detail. Flooring was one of those! If you are looking into new tile, here is an overview of the pros and cons of different kinds of tile before you decide what to install:
Terra Cotta
PROS: can last a long time if you get good quality tiles, beautiful look
CONS: difficult to assess the quality of the tiles, difficult to install by yourself, must seal thoroughly
Slate
PROS: beautiful, can last a long time, dark color conceals dirt
CONS: individual tiles can break due to softness and tendency to split, difficult to install by yourself
Terrazzo
PROS: lasts a long time and can be refinished repeatedly, elegant look
CONS: can be slippery, expensive, difficult to install
Concrete
PROS: extremely durable and can be made to look like other materials
CONS: should be installed only by professionals
Marble
PROS: beautiful look, available in many patterns and colors
CONS: expensive, easily stained and cracked and therefore requires high maintenance, difficult to match tiles–it is recommended that you have your contractor lay out the tiles before the install them so you can make sure you like how they look together
Travertine
PROS: feels softer to your feet, available in many different colors and patterns
CONS: scratches and stains easily, doesn’t shine very well