Is it possible to use Ceramic Tile in the bathroom???

[aquarele]

Is it possible to use Ceramic Tile in the shower, in the bathroom??? Can this Ceramic Tile be soaked with water??? The client wants to buy for the bathroom.....The client wants to buy for the bathroom.....Or can it be used only for home decoration??

[Anne]

A few years back I had an email exchange with Zazzle about this and they said you can use it for bathrooms. In the description it says it is not recommended for outside use. You can also read the reviews by customers, and they are happily using the tiles for bathroom and kitchen. 🙂

[aquarele]

Wow)))) Thanks for the answer))) And I thought I couldn't use it... I will tell clients that it is possible..))) Thank you again)))

[idraw]

@aquarele
Thanks for asking this question. Great question btw!
I remember it being discussed years ago on the old forum but the old  forum is passé so….
There is nothing specific about ceramic tile water resistance on Zazzle’s website, I just spent 15 minutes looking thru templates,help, forum query, zazzle general query about tiles. Zazzle please add to the product description. A customer SHOULD NOT have to ask a designer/creator, this should have years ago been clearly defined within the product description. Also note that z would sell more tiles if this were added to the description. I was searching for an answer just as a customer would, It was extremely  frustrating to not find an answer so I can’t imagine how much more frustrating it would be for an impatient customer, and btw no answer for my time wasted searching.  This is the description—
about this product

Size: Small (4.25" x 4.25")

Display your favorite photos, images, and quotes on this vibrant ceramic tile. You can use your custom tile as a trivet or to upgrade your home décor. Great for holiday, wedding, and office gifts.

• Dimensions: 4.25"l x 4.25"w; Thickness: 0.19"
• Weight: 3.75 oz.
• Made of white ceramic
• Full-color, full-bleed printing
• Not recommended for outdoor use. Protect from exposure to direct sunlight

[aquarele]

I agree with you that this parameter should be in the description of Ceramic tiles. I have just sent a question to the help center. The buyer can't make a mistake. The buyer makes repairs and does not have to redo the repair afterwards. It's too expensive. Therefore, the buyer asks me. I help as much as I can)))

[idraw]

@aquarele
That is above kind of you to try to help this customer by trying to find the answer for them.
Time wise this is not reasonable for you to have to attempt to dialogue with the customer about “product issues”, that  should specifically  be Zazzle’s job. Yes, it would be easier for you to reply saying contact customer service,Zazzle has customer support email and phone lines, but what if I as the customer thought aquarele had the answer to the question more quickly? (Not realizing the aquarele is not a paid zazzle employee)
Z, Consider  your customers, since this question has been asked more than once on the forums over the years. (see Anne’s post in this thread saying that she asked years ago)
Please update the tile description regarding usage around water, Zazzle, now that it has been brought to your attention  again.

[aquarele]

Yes, I understand that this problem is very old and that the buyer himself has to deal with the site, But my image will be there and I don't want my image to look bad in the bathroom and it would be unpleasant for a person to see it on a cracked tile....That's why I'm helping. Do you understand???)))

[idraw]

@aquarele
I said in my earlier post, thank you for posting this great question and bringing it to the attention of Zazzle. I give you LOTS of credit for not getting frustrated.
I am only trying to help, to get Zazzle's attention, to change/update the description.
All of these posts take time, whereas Zazzle should be handling this as soon as it is brought to their attention.
Here's my point, It is possibly a lost sale, and a lost customer, for both you and Zazzle. And me, in the future.
I sincerely hope you get definite verification from Zazzle soon, so that you can confirm for your customer.

BTW, a customer should NOT have to guess or assume that the tile can be used in a bathroom. It should be in writing, yes or no. Just like whether zazzle mugs can be used in a microwave or dishwasher. It's clearly stated in the description that they can be. (I remember years ago mugs would fade after so many uses in a dishwasher, I saw it firsthand for a friend who bought several of my mugs used one daily and dishwashered it to death. It may have been CP, or Z or both, but the issue got fixed regardless.) Poor mug didn't see it coming.

[aquarele]

idraw, thank you. For many years, Zazzle has not changed the description of ceramic tiles. I think it won't change now either. And I also think that the client is lost. If I were a client, I wouldn't risk my money, time and comfort. Moreover, this repair is for a child... I completely agree with you here)))

[idraw]

@aquarele
let's ask and get the description changed. It's a very reasonable request. I am with you on this, let's keep the customer happy. As an example, as I remember, the mug fading issue from many years ago got fixed because customers were not happy about the fading. I mentioned in my earlier post, but since I worked with both CP and Z at the time, not sure which one it was, maybe both had the issue. I remember it had to do with the ink and process being used. The dishwasher beat the image to death, but don't blame the dishwasher, it was only doing its job.

[aquarele]

How do I ask to change the description? My client found out all the information herself---"""It seems that it cannot be used as a shower wall, only for bathroom walls and kitchen accents with a backslash """ So it is possible in the bathroom, but not in the shower....Such information should be added to the description of ceramic tiles. These are not moisture-resistant ceramic tiles(((

[idraw]

Brava @aquarele 
Use @ Mark, or @Emma or @James (they really need to read this thread) with the  info you just posted where you said:
<quote>How do I ask to change the description?
My client found out all the information herself---
"""It seems that it cannot be used as a shower wall, only for bathroom walls and kitchen accents with a backsplash """
So it is possible in the bathroom, but not in the shower....
Such information should be added to the description of ceramic tiles. These are not moisture-resistant ceramic tiles(((
<end quote>

If only the customer would have given you the path or links where they found that info (which of course they should never have to do), regardless, they found it. Maybe they found it in statements in customer reviews, who knows?

[aquarele]

@ idraw I will try to do so. This is of course correct, so as not to get confused))) The customer refused such a purchase. I don't know where she got this information. So the question itself, at least for me, disappears. When these tiles were bought for gift boxes, it seems))) I wasn't even worried...any tile will do there, but here....in the shower....a very subtle point...and where it's thin, it breaks there)))

[idraw]

Adding a little bit extra to this tile discussion,
Customers are wise to use caution, considering the cost of removing the tile from the shower, replacing it if something goes wrong with it. And considering how abrasive cleaning agents can be on shower soap film and other crud.
Checking Zazzles Reno NV shop, it offers the same exact info as Zazzle dot com.
Being curious about which process they use, I reached into my "wayback brain" and was able to recall dye sub, or dye sublimation, which I would speculate Z is using. Of course they could possibly be using something more current.
If you want to learn more about dye sub, and dye sub on tile, you can google it, but really, in this situation it's a moot point, whatever z says is what counts.
Again,a huge thank you @aquarele  for bringing this to light for us sks,shopkeepers.

[ColsCreations]

This page has a lot of good information on two types of printing on ceramic tiles - sublimation and CPP.  This page has very detailed care & cleaning info for sublimation printed tiles.

Because Z's description says "Not recommended for outdoor use. Protect from exposure to direct sunlight" I believe you are correct in that they use sublimation printing. In this case proper cleaning is important, not because you could erase the print but because you could mar the finish, especially if it's glossy. But this would be true for any use-case, not just bathroom/showers. Unless Z's using some other unknown process, the issue has nothing to do with moisture resistance and everything to do with proper care.

Also side note - the reviews on these tiles are so good it really makes me want to buy one though I have no idea what I would do with just one tile LOL.

[aquarele]

@ColsCreations thanks for the links. It says: "We do not recommend using sublimated image tiles in shower cabins. " My client needs a ceramic shower tile. Thanks to ColsCreations for the discussion and your opinion. The topic is closed. The customer will not buy this ceramic shower tile.

[ColsCreations]

The source of her information is unknown and is also just her interpretation of whatever she heard/read. And then you're further interpreting that to "these are not moisture-resistant".

Ceramic tile is inherently very water-resistant. When glazed it can be considered as good as water-proof. This is one of the reasons it's such a common material in bathrooms (including in the shower/tub surround). Going back and reading reviews instead of just looking at the pictures as I did last night, one person mentions the "glossy white background" and another the "smooth glass-like surface" so I think that answers my question as to whether they are glazed and glossy or matte. Reviewers mention using them in the shower, as a border for their in-ground pool, and for their sauna wall.

I'd be surprised to find out that these are for some reason not suitable for such uses but any information not straight from a Z rep with the inside scoop on why that might be isn't reliable information.

[aquarele]

Maybe so. But my client refused such a purchase because of the information she found. I'm not ready to discuss tile quality hypothetically))) if it is no longer needed at the moment)))

[aquarele]

when Zazzle responds to me, I will inform it in this post and also to my client)))

[idraw]

Woohoo, aquarele you rock. I mean tile. Thanks!

[mylittleeden]

Not for outside as discoloration can happen due to sun and cracking could happen due to frost, it is the same as most ceramic titles.

[aquarele]

@mylittleeden thanks)))

[ColsCreations]

It's a ceramic tile. Explicitly stating it's OK for bathrooms/wet areas would be like having to include "OK for hot coffee" on the mugs.  Not saying it shouldn't be added to the product description,  I just feel like it's a known thing.

What I'd like to know, since it's not said in the description and can't be deduced from the User Reviews & photos, is are they glazed or un-glazed and if glazed, glossy or matte? I'm guessing they are glazed but the glossy or matte is something customers should know because they create different design aesthetics.

[aquarele]

Hi))) thanks for the feedback. I will definitely give your opinion to my buyer. My opinion is that the quality of ceramic tiles can be very different. The water absorption of the tile can be different. Glazed or not---it's a matter of taste...Of course, the Zazzle website should say in more detail what kind of product it offers. I realized that this is a very old story on the site ((((

[aquarele]

My client found out everything herself !!! She learned very useful information about ceramic tiles """It seems that it cannot be used as a shower wall, only for bathroom walls and kitchen accents with a backslash """ So it is possible in the bathroom, but not in the shower

[aquarele]

@idraw I received an official message from Zazzle customer support """ I am very sorry that there is no additional information on the tile on Zazzle and whether it can be used in bathrooms!
I know that these are decorative tiles, and therefore the pattern/imprint will be erased if detergent is used on them.
However, I have requested additional information to find out if it is possible to seal the tile and use it on the shower wall."""

[idraw]

• @aquarele 
  That’s really great news that you heard from z. I believe that you have handled this issue extremely well. 🏆 trophy to put your kudos in. 🙂
  BTW, Interesting that the reply correlated with what I said yesterday in my post about cleaning agent usage when I wrote “Customers are wise to use caution, considering the cost of removing the tile from the shower, replacing it if something goes wrong with it. And considering how abrasive cleaning agents can be on shower soap film and other crud.”
  I understand from reading the reply, that z is checking to see if additional sealant can be used. That’s a whole other layer of issues. Requires knowing what sealant was primarily used, what sealant would interact with it without negative reaction such as sealant cracking and crazing issues. If this means that the customer would possibly have to spend more time and money to seal tile after purchase not knowing the result, nope, I myself  wouldn’t do it.
  My take is that you,  (and your customer)  were exactly right in your decision. Can you imagine the furious review if and/or when the customer wrote about having to remove and replace the tiles? That would be a lost customer, forever., and also adding  in family,friends,social media contacts.
  On a tangent related to inaccurate descriptions, when necklace pendants were first introduced, SKs , shopkeepers, noticed that they were inaccurately  listed as silver, when they were actually at the time silver-plated. It definitely got changed, because the  shopkeepers caught the error bringing it to z’s attention repeatedly.
  Customers have the right and expectation that a description will be accurate and thorough.
  (Having been thru this myself with four major purchases in the last two years, a royal pita.)
  Again,thank you aquarele, really great  job in bringing this up and continuing to post your info.

[aquarele]

@idraw I noticed that you absolutely correctly wrote about abrasive cleaners))) Thank you all for discussing this important topic)))