DURABILITY AND PRICE MAKE TILE ATTRACTIVE.

Byline: Karen Wolf Northwest Florida Daily News

Tile has come a long way since the day when your parents decorated the bathroom with those porcelain pastel squares.

Tile comes in a variety of patterns, colors, textures and styles, and is considered an important part of the floor decor in dining rooms, along patios and around fireplaces, among other areas.

``People are beginning to realize the value of it, not only for their homes' resale value, but (they) also know they won't have to replace it in two or three years,'' said Kristin Childers of Florida-based Floor Deco.

They're also discovering that ceramic tile is good in bathrooms, where there's a lot of moisture, and in kitchens, where there's heavy foot traffic.

While tile has been around for thousands of years, manufacturers are making the product more exotic and decorative than ever before. ``It comes in many styles and colors now,'' she says.

At the snazzy end of the design spectrum are exotic tiles, which are more textured and more slip-resistant than other versions. Some resemble hardwood floors and look especially nice in dining rooms, while others can resemble limestone.

Flagstone ceramic tile has threads of earth colors running throughout the squares, giving a Southwestern flavor. Others look rough but feel smooth. Larger tiles, sizes 16-by-16 inches, or 18-by-18, are hot sellers, Childers says. The larger tiles give the illusion of space.

On the other hand, some customers prefer basic tile, which is used frequently in rental properties or laundry rooms and goes with a variety of decors, she says.

Also, Spanish and Italian imports are big, says Childers, who sells those styles along with tile from Mexico.

Rick Robinson of Mary Esther, Fla., recently renovated his home with large-size ceramic tile. ``There's tile everywhere,'' he says.

``I like vinyl, but it's just as expensive as ceramic tile,'' he says. Unlike vinyl, however, tile is tough, will last forever and makes your home more marketable, he says.

``It really will outlast anything else,'' Robinson says.

The only drawback, he says, is that the tile gets cold. In the winter, ``if you walk on it in bare feet, it's like walking on cold concrete,'' he says. But the coolness will be a plus in the summer.

The interest in tile keeps installers busy.

``We're in a boom period right now, mainly because of the number of high-rises going up,'' says Tony Brocato, general manager of Ceramic Import in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. ``We just finished three and we've got three more to start.''

Condominium owners are interested in ceramic tile because it doesn't wear and tear as much as carpet, he says. That's important when you consider how many people use the units ``dragging in sand, water and dirt along the way.

``With the tile,'' he says, ``you just mop it.''

Limestone tile and limestone look-alike ceramic tile are both popular sellers, he says. The most popular sizes are in the 12-by-12 and 16-by-16 versions.

Brocato recommends that installation be done by a licensed contractor. Otherwise, the tile may pull away from its base, may not lie flat or separate from the grout.

Also, it's important to know what you're buying if you decide to purchase ceramic tile, Childers says.

Tile is graded between 5, for heavy commercial or residential use, to 1, for light traffic or residential bathroom floors. Childers doesn't recommend buying any tile under grade 3. ``It's weaker and doesn't handle as much pounding and traffic.''

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Photo: Besides lasting a long time, a tile floor adds value to a home - and it's cheaper than you think.