Should I Buy Concrete or Terracotta Tiles?

About Concrete Tiles

• Concrete tiles are made by pouring concrete into a tile-shaped mold and allowing the mixture to set up or harden. The concrete used for tile making may have other materials in it, such as crushed stone, pigment for coloring or recycled content that decreases the weight of the tile. Specifying concrete tiles should include noting what additional products or chemicals it may contain and verifying the safety of their use. Ask the concrete product manufacturer to provide a material safety data sheet for their concrete mixtures. Concrete tile can be colored during the mixing process or stained after it is installed. Polishing and sealing after installation can serve to protect the concrete from soiling and add a polished, glossy look to the floor.

About Terracotta Tiles

• Terracotta tiles are fired clay tiles made from an earthy, red-brown clay often referred to as earthenware. The Italian for “earth baked” is “terracotta.” However, terracotta clay is used by many cultures, including those in Mexico, the Southwest United States and a number of countries of the Mediterranean. Terracotta tiles can be purchased in various sizes and various finishes incorporating squares, rectangles and shapes such as diamonds and stars. Purchasing the tiles unsealed allows the homeowner to choose a level of gloss for the tiles. Pre-sealed and hand-painted tiles are installed “as is.”

Using Concrete Tiles

• Concrete tiles are an excellent choice for a contemporary design scheme. As a decorating material, concrete tiles provide an opportunity to explore a vast variety of floor textures, colors, sizes and shapes. The concrete tiles can be made to look like a stone or terracotta tile. In fact, concrete tiles can be made to look like almost anything using techniques such as stamping, scoring and coloring. Sealing the concrete tile can prevent fading and wear to the pattern and color.

Using Terracotta Tiles

• Terracotta tile can add a level of craftsmanship to a home and speak of a commitment to traditional building techniques and workmanship. Undecorated terracotta tiles in the traditional red-brown color provide a warm, rustic feel in a home or outdoor area and are a quintessential material for conveying a simple, country decorating scheme. Hand-painted terracotta tiles in colors and patterns can lend a strong visual statement to any room setting the stage for decorating in particular era, style or theme. Examples of patterned terracotta tile include: figural, whimsy, murals and geometrical shapes. Traditional Mexican, Italian and Southwestern decorating styles often use terracotta tiles.

Terracotta and Concrete Disadvantages

• Both surfaces are hard and unforgiving when items are dropped or someone falls. Terracotta can chip and crack when a hammer, appliance or other heavy object hits its surface; concrete less so. Terracotta tile is not a completely flat surface but tends to round toward the edges and corners, providing a softer look. Concrete tiles, on the other hand, are flat and square, providing an orderly, more machine-made appearance unless the mold used has been designed otherwise.