Ceramic tile is an old material with a long history. Despite its age, however, it is still a very popular material in bathrooms and kitchens across the country, including Los Angeles. Ceramic tile is, of course, well suited to these moisture rich environments, and when it is installed properly, can last for an extremely long time without requiring much maintenance. Whether you want to enhance the look of your shower wall, install a durable and beautiful new kitchen floor, or just like the classic appearance of a tile counter or back-splash, this cost-effective material will do the job now and for years to come.
Benefits of Ceramic Tile in Los Angeles
Though there are certainly structures within Los Angeles that could rightly be considered "classic," there are far fewer old homes in southern California than there are in other areas of the country. In many cases, this is a good thing for L.A. homeowners since the materials used to construct their houses are likely to be newer. Unfortunately, the adage "they don't make them like they used to" is often truer than we'd like to believe. This is one of the reasons why, even though there are many modern materials around for use in the same situations, older materials like ceramic tile and hardwood flooring are often more desirable.
In Los Angeles, ceramic tile in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of the house lends the space it occupies a genuine air and a feeling of quality that many newer materials cannot. Though plastic tub and shower surrounds are easier to install and simple to clean, they simply don't carry the same sense of history as ceramic tile. Los Angeles residents will certainly appreciate the appearance of tile, but the fact that it can often last a lifetime without losing that appearance isn't too shabby, either.
Ceramic Tile Drawbacks
While technically one character heavy, when it comes time to clean, "grout" can certainly be considered a four-letter word. Stains in grout are very difficult to get rid of, and any grout that is more that a few years old is bound to have one or two marks of discoloration. Thankfully, the process of re-grouting is an inexpensive (albeit tedious) one, and newer grout products are generally more resistant than their predecessors, especially when properly sealed.
Los Angeles Ceramic Floor Tile
One of the best things about the surface of tile is that it is extremely durable in the face of moisture and dirt. In a heavy traffic area, a place where excessive moisture is expected, or near entry doors where grime tends to gather, few materials hold up as well as ceramic floor tile. Los Angeles is not exactly known for frequent precipitation, so tracked in mud and slush is far less of a factor. Nonetheless, a foyer or laundry room floor covered in ceramic tile will hold up to a lot of abuse and look good in the process.
Los Angeles Ceramic Tile Pricing
To install ceramic tile, Los Angeles residents can expect their bills to range between a few hundred dollars for a small job (like installing a back-splash) to a few thousand dollars for large jobs (like redoing an entire bathroom). In most cases, tile work doesn't go much higher than $3,500 (though there are always exceptions). To get the most for your money, be sure to talk to several contractors and get several different estimates. It's also a good idea to purchase extra tiles when the project begins, so if there are any problems down the road, you'll already have a material that matches exactly.

Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.