Marble look alike porcelain tiles in bathrooms

If cost isn't the issue, get marble. Look-alikes well...look like but aren't. Resealing isn't a big deal. And if you are lazy about keeping up it isn't the end of the world. Most people don't reseal and just feel guilty but live with it. You aren't spilling tomato sauce in the bathroom. It is a low-stain type area. And if you get behind, as I recently did, all you have to do is mix some Oxyclean in a bucket, use some elbow grease and scrubs the tiles and grout, wipe it all down, and then reseal and keep dry for a day or so. Polished tiles will help, too, versus honed. Honed is asking for trouble on the floor if you think you'll be a bit lazy about sealing. That's my two-cents. Highend people don't like look-alikes for anything. I got a Ceasarstone countertop, for example, in my kitchen, that is basically grey. It is a composite and I wanted it to look like a composite because I like the qualities of the material itself and its look--I didn't attempt to get it to mimic marble or soapstone or quartz because it isn't. If I wanted those, I'd have got those.

Marble tiles look richer than porcelain because they have more depth of color and character. If you want to restore the polished look of marble after decades of wear, you can have a specialist hone, polish and seal (like when it's time to sell). You would be surprised how weathered, water and chemical damaged tiles can be refreshed. To maintain a new or refreshed look, experts recommend you squeegee your marble surround after each shower, which takes a couple of minutes, and re-seal every month or two, which takes 15 minutes. You also need to avoid cleaning agents that have acid. Apparently ammonia and water is a safe cleaning solvent. Marble "enhancers", applied like sealers or as a 2 in 1 product, also enhance the color and give a wet look.

If you choose porcelain, why not pursue an alternate finish not trying to imitate marble? There are many examples of beautiful tile that wear more trouble free than marble. But having something that looks a bit like marble seems inferior to the beauty of the natural stone with a bit of upkeep.

OMG. I can only imagine getting my partner to spend several minutes squeegee-ing tiles (or the tempered glass for that matter) after each shower. Hanging up towels was a triumph, I don't think I can push it much further. Are there really couples who both squeegee every time, every day?

Kylewest, you don't have to maintain marble... you can just professionally hone & polish before you sell. I only mention what the experts say.. possibly for the four months to six months an apartment is on the market. For couples, I think the second person to use the bath has the obligation to squeegee;)

Don't get something that's pretending to be something else. Just don't.

I meant to say please, but I forgot.

If you neighbors have marble it's a very very bad idea and will bite you on the resale.

While we're discussing sealing, I find the grout needs it more than the stone. Without sealing, the grout becomes a petri dish for slime after 1/2 a year or so of average use by a couple. The sealing really helps the grout stay clean I find. But if I can stick to a 12 month schedule I'll be proud of myself. The last "cycle" was 30 months.

Coming from someone that installs tiles on a daily basis, I happen to love porcelain tiles. Every year they get better and better.

You sure do need to maintain marble, that is very necessary, it is very porous and porcelain is not.

Tiles which fade or develop a grimy look over time are in the long run undesirable
as bathroom floor or wall tiles. That is why I do not use marble.

http://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/home/products/tile/wall.aspx/d=5254/title=Carrara_Blanco

Yes, I HATE cleaning grout lines! I am not sure if there is a way to avoid scrubbing.

The reason why I am thinking of using look alike is because of the following link (Rex tiles are from Italy):

http://www.ppltile.com/ceramic-tile/rex-ceramiche-i-bianchi-18x18-polished-tile.html

I haven't seen the real thing yet. Just for curiosity I want to see it in person.

I agree the porcelain tiles are getting better and better in terms of design. The wood look alike is just amazing.

I like the way everyone didn't answer this guy's question but told him to do what he basically doesn't want - to maintain stuff. The only thing that's allowed to be high maintenance in my life is me, and in any case after you're dead and gone someone else gets your pad or tears everything out anyway. Try Stonepeak http://www.stonepeakceramics.com
their Plane range looks pretty nice - I've seen an entire kitchen done in it.