WHY all the ugly ceramic tile?

[PR1234]

We've been in the process of looking for a new home. SO many of the homes have that awful ceramic tile in the entire home. WHY??? As many homes as we have looked at, I've never seen one of those houses that looks warm and inviting....even with rugs on them. I understand having it in the kitchen and baths, but the entire house...UGH!
My question....what do we have to do to put other flooring down? Does that have to be jack hammered up first?

[elizabeth52]

Everyone's taste is different. I actually prefer all tile or wood. It is Florida and tile is so much cooler than carpeting!

[TNLAKEPANDA]

In the winter all that tile flooring makes the house very cold. Hard wood is much warmer. Carpet is ok if it is good quality. They put more tile so they can charge more and you end up paying double for the tile work.

[perrjojo]

Why tile? Because the gritty Florida sand will settle in your carpet and scratch up your hard wood. Why not tile? It's just a matter of personal preference and tile is very popular in Florida.

[Miles42]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the tile look.

[ahayward65]

Tell your salesperson you do not want a house with tile, not sure if any come with wood floors but at least with carpeting it will be easier to put in the floor of your choice. You could also look at preowned that have upgraded their flooring already. Many advantages to a preowned home.

[PR1234]

In the winter all that tile flooring makes the house very cold. Hard wood is much warmer. Carpet is ok if it is good quality. They put more tile so they can charge more and you end up paying double for the tile work.

I SO agree!!! Not trying to offend anyone and I do realize some people have allergies, but it's not like we are at the beach here or anything!

We would like hardwood and good carpet, and know we will probably have to put in ourselves. Just trying to figure out what the process is to do that over ceramic?

[sunnyatlast]

We've been in the process of looking for a new home. SO many of the homes have that awful ceramic tile in the entire home. WHY??? As many homes as we have looked at, I've never seen one of those houses that looks warm and inviting....even with rugs on them. I understand having it in the kitchen and baths, but the entire house...UGH!
My question....what do we have to do to put other flooring down? Does that have to be jack hammered up first?

So true!!! Even the hospital rooms here are more inviting and residential looking, as they have warm-colored wood laminate flooring!

[cquick]

I actually requested the same tile throughout my whole house. I have no "transition" bumps and I just love the "Florida" look of my house. We do have a couple room size rugs, but I like the easy clean of all tile.

[kstew43]

I actually perfer tile......that being said......some of the color choices on the new spec's had to have been on a special buy....because they are just awefull.....

and lets talk granite.......what were they thinking using those colors in the kitchens......

I'm not that picky but.....wow...... some homes are just way out there and i don't think will appeal to the average buyer......... its gonna take a special buyer for those colors....

but as my mom always said.....theres a seat for every ass....

[bonrich]

Tile is sweeping, mopping, cleaning grout lines. Carpet is just run the vacuum cleaner. Hard on the feet and legs standing and walking on tile everywhere. Nothing like walking barefoot on a nice rug instead of cold hard tile. Then putting down area rugs that move and shift, something to trip over, and now you have added one more cleaning chore. Just my opinion after seeing tile and hearing comments from owners that have tile throughout.

[Barefoot]

.... theres a seat for every ass....

I think we may have another TOTV classic.
So many places this expression can be used.:icon_wink:
Sort of like "Boy Howdy".

[jnieman]

I have seen on the flip this house shows on TV where they put down the laminate over the tile. I do think you should call Floormasters and check with them though. We have laminate and some tile in the kitchen. Ours is a very high quality (thick) laminate with a styrofoam coating that is a vapor barrier and helps with the sound of your heels so they don't click. I like our laminate, but not all laminate. It pays to have the higher quality laminate. You do need to keep your air conditioning on most of the time if you have laminate at least we do. Otherwise the floors get sticky and damp. Our floor is 4 years old and still shines like new and is easy to clean. With tile you do have to deal with the dirty grout lines and may need to have it professionally cleaned once or twice a year. At least that is my experience.

[Barefoot]

I see houses advertised as having "all tile throughout" as an enticement.
I find homes that have it seem to echo. Plus it's hard on knees and hips.
But obviously easy to keep clean, which is a big benefit.
Laminate or hardwood also seems easy to clean but a little warmer and more welcoming.
Ask kstew said, there's a seat for every ass!

[graciegirl]

In the winter all that tile flooring makes the house very cold. Hard wood is much warmer. Carpet is ok if it is good quality. They put more tile so they can charge more and you end up paying double for the tile work.


The carpet we had in our first home here was decent builder quality. In our second home it is top quality. We asked them to duplicate a model home when we built three years ago and the model home had a tone on tone diagonal pattern carpet. I liked both carpets and they clean well. Our first home here was built in '07.

They put more tile in spec homes because tile is very sought after. That is what a lot of people ask for here. Many people have pets and it is easier to keep clean. All tile floor is a positive selling point and you will see it advertised as such on homes for sale here.

Back home or in Tennessee hard wood is warmer because it is installed over a subfloor. Here it is installed over a barrier that is installed over the concrete slab. The up side it isn't cold very long here.

We have carpet in the bedrooms, hardwood in the great room and dining room and tile in the rest of the area. I think they use great contractors and very good products.

[UpNorth]

Some of the so called "hardwood" we've seen looks fake and plastic. Nothing like the hardwood floors we were used to up north. The sales pitch is that these are "engineered" hardwoods - much like Steak-Ums are engineered steaks. No thanks. I'll take natural tile instead. At least it looks real....

[Deseylou]

I hate carpet
I can't wait to put in tile or hardwood
If you've pulled up carpet and seen what lurks beneath!!!!

[Jullie]

Love our tile, easy to take care of. Carpet you need to stretch it too often in Florida.

[MSGirl]

I actually hate granite! After having it for over 10 years in my old home, I found it to be high maintenance! My new home has laminate and it's so much better than granite for now! Will keep it until I decide if there is a better option out there! Quartz? Poored cement? I love hardwood floors over tile as well! Sand is a concern. Although we do not live at the beach, the ground is a sand mixture!

[MSGirl]

Freudian slip- poured concrete, not poored

[dewilson58]

Why tile? Because the gritty Florida sand will settle in your carpet and scratch up your hard wood. Why not tile? It's just a matter of personal preference and tile is very popular in Florida.

:bigbow:

[janmcn]

Slipping and falling on a tile floor can be more dangerous for elderly people.

If more and more people refuse to buy these spec homes with amenities they don't like or want, perhaps TV will go back to allowing people to design their own homes.

[graciegirl]

Slipping and falling on a tile floor can be more dangerous for elderly people.

If more and more people refuse to buy these spec homes with amenities they don't like or want, perhaps TV will go back to allowing people to design their own homes.

but...that does not appear to be happening.

[CFrance]

We've been in the process of looking for a new home. SO many of the homes have that awful ceramic tile in the entire home. WHY??? As many homes as we have looked at, I've never seen one of those houses that looks warm and inviting....even with rugs on them. I understand having it in the kitchen and baths, but the entire house...UGH!
My question....what do we have to do to put other flooring down? Does that have to be jack hammered up first?
Why??? If SO many homes have all tile, obviously it's popular here.

[CFrance]

Some of the so called "hardwood" we've seen looks fake and plastic. Nothing like the hardwood floors we were used to up north. The sales pitch is that these are "engineered" hardwoods - much like Steak-Ums are engineered steaks. No thanks. I'll take natural tile instead. At least it looks real....

Steak-Ums. That's just funny!

[Bonny]

I have carpet in my living room and bedrooms. Everything else is tile, kitchen, dining room, nook, hall and bathrooms. I like the warmth of carpet in the living room.
When we built this house 10 1/2 years ago I did choose a high quality carpet for the carpeted areas. I got Karastan and it still looks beautiful.

[George Bieniaszek]

.....theres a seat for every ass....

My neighbor up north in CT was a General Manager for a car dealership. I once asked him what do they do with "that" car that is the wrong color, wrong options, etc etc etc that just sits on the lot for a long time.

He said the exact same thing to me and it made me laugh when you posted that quote :1rotfl:

[NYGUY]

....perhaps TV will go back to allowing people to design their own homes.

but...that does not appear to be happening.

And doubt it will happen with only 2 or 3 years to go.

[George Bieniaszek]

Some of the so called "hardwood" we've seen looks fake and plastic. Nothing like the hardwood floors we were used to up north. The sales pitch is that these are "engineered" hardwoods - much like Steak-Ums are engineered steaks. No thanks. I'll take natural tile instead. At least it looks real....

I agree. Just a personal preference, I don't like laminate or "engineered Hardwood" or whatever you call it. Steak-Ums HA HA, I have another one that I scratch my head on -- Imitation Seafood that you see on occasion at a salad bar!! What the heck is that???

[sunnyatlast]

When buyers think carpet holds dirt, they've probably not really hand scrubbed the tile grout lines with a brush to see what kind of dirt grinds into grout and sits in it, even with weekly, meticulous washing of the floor by hand.

[Marlo]

Slipping and falling on a tile floor can be more dangerous for elderly people.

If more and more people refuse to buy these spec homes with amenities they don't like or want, perhaps TV will go back to allowing people to design their own homes.


It wouldn't do any good when you build. We built a new home, they only allowed carpet in certain areas, they would only lay the wood OR tile floor where THEY wanted it not where I wanted it. We did vinyl because I wasn't going to put tile or wood where they wanted it because it would have ruined the flow and made the rooms look smaller. They wouldn't let me install wood in the kitchen or any other "wet" room only tile. We did carpet in the living/dining area and bedroom and when we're ready we'll replace it with hardwood. I hated having tile anywhere because it's so hard to remove if you want to install something else. Just the experience we went through and we were one of the last ones to be able to custom build. When you're building and paying for a home you would think the custom means the way YOU want it not the way TV say you have to do it. Regardless, we love it in TV, love the home and lot just wish we'd been able to have more say in the installation layout.

[NYGUY]

Steak-Ums. That's just funny!

I like steak-ums:boxing2:

[TheVillageChicken]

We've been in the process of looking for a new home. SO many of the homes have that awful ceramic tile in the entire home. WHY??? As many homes as we have looked at, I've never seen one of those houses that looks warm and inviting....even with rugs on them. I understand having it in the kitchen and baths, but the entire house...UGH!
My question....what do we have to do to put other flooring down? Does that have to be jack hammered up first?

I had the tile removed...no jackhammer required...came up easily.

[MSGirl]

graciegirl, I love your colors!! Where did you get your drapes or fabric for those drapes? LOVE!

[graciegirl]

When buyers think carpet holds dirt, they've probably not really hand scrubbed the tile grout lines with a brush to see what kind of dirt grinds into grout and sits in it, even with weekly, meticulous washing of the floor by hand.


This home is three years old this month. Just shot a picture of the tile and grout lines unsealed in entry. Use a Swiffer after vacuuming. I think it is holding up well.

Sorry. I printed a sketch I am working on for art class too and it won't go away.

[graciegirl]

It wouldn't do any good when you build. We built a new home, they only allowed carpet in certain areas, they would only lay the wood OR tile floor where THEY wanted it not where I wanted it. We did vinyl because I wasn't going to put tile or wood where they wanted it because it would have ruined the flow and made the rooms look smaller. They wouldn't let me install wood in the kitchen or any other "wet" room only tile. We did carpet in the living/dining area and bedroom and when we're ready we'll replace it with hardwood. I hated having tile anywhere because it's so hard to remove if you want to install something else. Just the experience we went through and we were one of the last ones to be able to custom build. When you're building and paying for a home you would think the custom means the way YOU want it not the way TV say you have to do it. Regardless, we love it in TV, love the home and lot just wish we'd been able to have more say in the installation layout.


I guess because "they" had to warranty it. PLUS...I have heard this dozens of times from the "old" times. They would allow many more choices and then the buyer had an unexpected cash reversal and the home didn't close and The Villages then owned the VERY individualized home that no one else would want. The Villages have learned as they've gone along.

[perrjojo]

I hate carpet
I can't wait to put in tile or hardwood
If you've pulled up carpet and seen what lurks beneath!!!!m

I agree. Carpet fills with all kinds of fuzzy, gritty, furry things . I have a darker tile with same color grout and no grout cleaning needed. :a040:

[Shimpy]

To each his own. I've been in Florida most of my life and except for my first home in Miami all I've had is tile.......except for now here. I hated how tile would chip if something dropped on it, and especially how dirty the grout got in traffic areas. My last home in Boca Raton was to cost $1000 to restore the grout and it probably wouldn't have stayed clean for more than a year or two. I'll take the softness and warmth of carpet anyday. If you are new to Fla. and this is all new to you then you'll probably like tile. As they say......You pays your money and takes your choice.

[rubicon]

We have tile everywhere except our three bedrooms. I hate the traffic patterns and so we tossed back and forth as to what we were going to do with the bedrooms. Wood floors were out because of moisture concerns. I know hey can test and I know they can treat but its Florida My wife didn't want tile, I did. We compromised and did it my wife's way and replace carpet with carpet but installed top quality from the concrete up. Its holding up better.

We do not feel that tile is a problem maintaining and periodically call our tile guy to come in and give our tile a face lift.

it all works because we all make it work. enjoy your home

[rdhdleo]

We have tile everywhere except our three bedrooms. I hate the traffic patterns and so we tossed back and forth as to what we were going to do with the bedrooms. Wood floors were out because of moisture concerns. I know hey can test and I know they can treat but its Florida My wife didn't want tile, I did. We compromised and did it my wife's way and replace carpet with carpet but installed top quality from the concrete up. Its holding up better.

We do not feel that tile is a problem maintaining and periodically call our tile guy to come in and give our tile a face lift.

it all works because we all make it work. enjoy your home

May I ask who your tile guy is? Thank you!

[Shimpy]

We compromised and did it my wife's way

Rubicon...........Compromised?????? You sound like me.

[PR1234]

Oh my other pet peeve looking at TV houses. Here they are called 'preserve' homes and you get charged extra. Back in Michigan we call them swamps!

[graciegirl]

Oh my other pet peeve looking at TV houses. Here they are called 'preserve' homes and you get charged extra. Back in Michigan we call them swamps!


YUP, we all went through that. It is an up charge to back on a street too..

The bottom line is that homes here are selling like hot cakes. And the prices are going up all the time. When we first came here seven years ago we saw a house we loved and dilly dallied around....for a half an hour. Poof it was gone. We bought the house next door to it and those folks became our best friends. But I still ALWAYS liked their house better than ours.

[Barefoot]

Oh my other pet peeve looking at TV houses. Here they are called 'preserve' homes and you get charged extra. Back in Michigan we call them swamps!

A lot of people will pay extra to back on a swamp with mosquitos and gators, rather than have a "kissing lanai".
There's a seat for every ass. :)

[Happydaz]

Some people like tile and have it in their whole house. Some people like wall to wall carpeting. Others prefer engineered hardwood or laminate wood floors. It is really a matter of personal preference. The one thing I notice about some people, particularly as they get up in years, is that they think their preference or opinion is the only correct one and they belittle other people's choices because they are different from theirs. Who says tile is bad? Who says engineered hardwood is no good?. Who says wall to wall carpeting isn't a good choice?

[Madelaine Amee]

Some people like tile and have it in their whole house. Some people like wall to wall carpeting. Others prefer engineered hardwood or laminate wood floors. It is really a matter of personal preference. The one thing I notice about some people, particularly as they get up in years, is that they think their preference or opinion is the only correct one and they belittle other people's choices because they are different from theirs. Who says tile is bad? Who says engineered hardwood is no good?. Who says wall to wall carpeting isn't a good choice?

Nice post Happydaz .................... and so very true!

[patfla06]

I like carpet. Easy to vacuum, warm and helps absorb sound.
If I had pets I would have tile or engineered wood.

One thing I don't like is cleaning a lot of tile and tripping over
area rugs. Just my personal choice.

I think everyone has a different preference.

When our new carpet gets older we will definitely upgrade to
Better carpet!

[Barefoot]

Some people like tile and have it in their whole house. Some people like wall to wall carpeting. Others prefer engineered hardwood or laminate wood floors. It is really a matter of personal preference. The one thing I notice about some people, particularly as they get up in years, is that they think their preference or opinion is the only correct one and they belittle other people's choices because they are different from theirs. Who says tile is bad? Who says engineered hardwood is no good?. Who says wall to wall carpeting isn't a good choice?

You're absolutely right Happydaz. It's all about personal preference. There is no right or wrong answer.
But I do think that people were just stating their preference and giving their perspective .
I don't think anyone was deliberately trying to belittle the choices made by other people. We really are a nice group of people.

[Vladimir]

Whether its tile or carpet its better than the linoleum our parents had in our home when we were young...we all remember linoleum don't we?

[graciegirl]

Whether its tile or carpet its better than the linoleum our parents had in our home when we were young...we all remember linoleum don't we?

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608033774486947516&pid=1.7

[Wandatime]

A lot of people will pay extra to back on a swamp with mosquitos and gators, rather than have a "kissing lanai".
There's a seat for every ass. :)

Barefoot, I do believe you like that saying :icon_wink:

[JoMar]

I always find it interesting that people take positions that their tastes are the only good tastes....if you don't want tile there are homes that have carpet, if you want a location and it has tile either tear it out or cover it up, but why take shots at people that prefer something you don't.

[mtdjed]

Oh my other pet peeve looking at TV houses. Here they are called 'preserve' homes and you get charged extra. Back in Michigan we call them swamps!

Well, its your choice. House with a house 12 feet away. House with a swamp behind that costs more.

[Bonanza]

When buyers think carpet holds dirt, they've probably not really hand scrubbed the tile grout lines with a brush to see what kind of dirt grinds into grout and sits in it, even with weekly, meticulous washing of the floor by hand.

I've lived in Florida for over 30 years with tile everywhere but the bedrooms.
Never have I ever had to scrub the grout and we've always had dogs.

I can't imagine what would be going on in a house that the grout would be so dirty.
Even with dogs, we've never had a problem where the grout was discolored had to be scrubbed.

[Bonanza]

We've been in the process of looking for a new home. SO many of the homes have that awful ceramic tile in the entire home. WHY??? As many homes as we have looked at, I've never seen one of those houses that looks warm and inviting....even with rugs on them. I understand having it in the kitchen and baths, but the entire house...UGH!
My question....what do we have to do to put other flooring down? Does that have to be jack hammered up first?

I SO agree!!! Not trying to offend anyone and I do realize some people have allergies, but it's not like we are at the beach here or anything!

We would like hardwood and good carpet, and know we will probably have to put in ourselves. Just trying to figure out what the process is to do that over ceramic?

Oh my other pet peeve looking at TV houses. Here they are called 'preserve' homes and you get charged extra. Back in Michigan we call them swamps!

I always find it interesting that people take positions that their tastes are the only good tastes....if you don't want tile there are homes that have carpet, if you want a location and it has tile either tear it out or cover it up, but why take shots at people that prefer something you don't.

It would appear that you have many issues with the houses here. I sense an "attitude." Most people today choose porcelain tile, not ceramic. With porcelain tile, the color is throughout so that if you do get a chip, it usually won't show unless the chip is significant. It is also very easy to replace one tile. With engineered wood or real wood floors, there is always a maintenance (sanding, waxing, etc.) issue depending upon the foot traffic. If you have pets, that can be a real issue with scratches and scuffs. With carpet, you will always have the traffic pattern in and out of the kitchen and hallways or from the bedrooms to the bathrooms. Tile is usually easy to remove but is a very dirty/dusty job.

Incidentally, it is not flooring that makes a house "warm and inviting." You are seriously mistaken. It's the decorating . . . the window treatments, the pictures and wall hangings, the fabrics which are used, interesting table top items, etc.

There is a difference between a "preserve" and a "swamp." Why the negativity? A preserve means that the property will never be built upon and will always be natural with wildlife, and knowing nothing will ever be built in the specified area. It is always worth the extra premium. A swamp is wet and will always be wet and probably with insects which are attracted to the wetness and dampness.

[Medtrans]

This post made me feel bad. We just bought a new home with ceramic floors throughout. I think it looks nice, something we have never had, and I can't wait until we can live our dream in this house next year (and our upcoming 2-week visit at Christmas). The words "so ugly" seem so harsh. it's a personal preference. There are plenty of homes that are not tiled throughout. In fact in our house-hunting I think we saw more homes that weren't tiled throughout. I can't wait for Christmas and get down there (from Chicago) and plant my feet on my "ugly" ceramic floors!

[PR1234]

Again, sorry if I offended anyone....I'm just frustrated with having to spend upwards of $400-$500,000 and then having to remodel it all! To 'me' the tile seems cold, if you enjoy it....then sure don't let my opinion make you feel bad!
Now that hubby and I are getting a little older and have gone through (as of Tues) 6 operations this year. I had to take up ALL area rugs in our house that I had in kitchen and baths. When someone is on crutches,cane or a walker....those rugs can be treacherous!

[PR1234]

Also, as far as the 'Swamp' we will probably be buying on one of those too! As Barefoot says we would rather be kissing mosquitoes and alligators than another lanai.....so don't take that personally either ;-)
After living in TV as snowbirds for 8 years, wouldn't want to be anywhere else....just don't like the houses. I'm sure all of your houses are lovely though!

[kstew43]

My neighbor up north in CT was a General Manager for a car dealership. I once asked him what do they do with "that" car that is the wrong color, wrong options, etc etc etc that just sits on the lot for a long time.

He said the exact same thing to me and it made me laugh when you posted that quote :1rotfl:

milford connecticut......born and bred.....what a conincidence......

[sunnyatlast]

This post made me feel bad. We just bought a new home with ceramic floors throughout. I think it looks nice, something we have never had, and I can't wait until we can live our dream in this house next year (and our upcoming 2-week visit at Christmas). The words "so ugly" seem so harsh. it's a personal preference. There are plenty of homes that are not tiled throughout. In fact in our house-hunting I think we saw more homes that weren't tiled throughout. I can't wait for Christmas and get down there (from Chicago) and plant my feet on my "ugly" ceramic floors!

I gathered that the o.p., when saying "ugly" ceramic floors, was referring to garish colors/textures/sheen(?) of tile being used in new construction homes. I haven't seen that….most tile I've seen here is very neutral, and the matte finish tiles look nice. It's just that many of us have seen people tear out brand new flooring and put the cold, hard tile/grout even in the bedrooms. That is what looks "cold", even with area rugs.

As for the look of the tile in used homes here, I've seen too much of it having grout lines in traffic areas markedly darker and dirtier than the surrounding areas, and that doesn't improve with mopping and hand washing the tiles. Basically, grout like that never looks clean.

The other thing homebuyers and owners object to, which is information sellers need to know, is that many of us came here to escape the cold and be able to walk around barefoot in our homes here without feeling cold all over again. Cool tile floors are okay in the summer here, but not in winter. Cold feet=Cold All Over.

The other reason is a barefoot reason too. It's the feeling of grit when walking barefoot on bare floors in the house. We have cleaning service every 2 weeks and I vacuum twice a week in between. I can feel grit under foot the day after vacuuming, and it feels like we need to vacuum again (daily). The way grit gets into the house is mainly from the golf cart in the garage, close to the entryway. We have rugs inside/outside the doorways, but grit still tracks into the house because it's in the entry rugs.

Yes, everyone has a right to their own taste--elegant, understated, tacky, or garish. That's their business. But I think what the o.p. brought out clearly was the foolishness of having to tear down to the slab and throw out expensive floorings when buying a new house, or a used one with lots of money already spent on upgrades. He/She is telling sellers what they and other buyers are seeing.

Realtors and Sales Reps give feedback to sellers, and the thread contents are good info for sellers and homeowners thinking of changing their flooring, which is not a cheap venture.

[CFrance]

I think the OP has learned from the responses that a definitive statement about a subjective topic has to be addressed more gently. Perhaps she was feeling frustrated over the lack of housing with flooring she prefers and came on a little more strongly than she normally would have.

I happen to love our tile floors and ripped out the carpet to put them in. We also had them up north at our MI location, which was in sand dunes. I don't find them cold; I find them "beachy'!! :)