Outdoor Kitchen Countertop Tile
by Lela Cooper
QUESTION:What type of tile can I use to build an outdoor kitchen countertop? I want one that is not fragile and requires little maintenance, not porous. Ceramic? Porcelain? Or is a natural stone best?ANSWER:Lela, for outdoor kitchen tile countertop durability... nothing will beat granite.Ceramic tile and porcelain tile can certainly work, but both chip and crack much more easily than granite. One advantage to porcelain over ceramic is that the color is consistent all the way through, so if you do chip it, the color will be the same and not a drab gray like ceramic. Another issue is freezing and thawing cycles. Some tiles don't do well in harsh winter areas. This occurs more often with ceramic tile, but can happen with any porous material. Porcelain is very dense, non-porous and typically has fewer problems in this regard. However, porcelain is more expensive than ceramic. Maintenance If you are going to do tile, the porosity of a particular tile is not the main factor determining the degree of maintenance required (freeze thaw is structural issue and not maintenance).... it's the grout. Grout is the most common cause of problems with tile installations, especially on a countertop with all the edges and corners. Grout must be sealed to retard staining AND moisture that causes cracking, crumbling and general breakdown. Also, since grout is rough, it collects dirt and is more difficult to clean than any tile. Thus, grout is the weak link in an outdoor kitchen countertop and is where you'll spend most of your effort on maintenance and repairs. Furthermore, if you have to seal the grout, sealing the granite tile too is not much extra work. Also, consider that you can get granite that is not porous and does not need to (really cannot) be sealed if you really want to compare all factors. However, these are mainly blacks, blues and greens, which you may not want in the hot Houston sun unless it is shaded. Remember, with all granite and natural stone, you can test a sample granite tile color to see how porous it is, how necessary it is and how often you need to seal it. Cost Granite tiles will cost the most, but again are the most durable, then porcelain tile and last choice would be a ceramic tile countertop. I have no scientific data to back me up, but if you plan to be in this house for 5 or more years, I'd bet that you'll spend more on maintaining and repairing a tile countertop than if you installed a granite slab. A full slab granite outdoor kitchen counter top is the most durable and will require the least maintenance of any surface. If you test the porosity and choose wisely, it will require almost no maintenance beyond proper cleaning. That's my best recommendation. But if you want to keep the cost down up front, then go with the ceramic tile. Again, since the grout presents the major maintenance issue, you won't be gaining much for the extra cost of installing granite tile. Hope this helps and have fun with your project!
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