Afraid of ceramic
 

We love the look of ceramic tiles for our kitchen. But I have heard some horror stories of them breaking after installation. We even broke the samples we brought home easily. Is there a more durable tile that looks like ceramic? I hate the thought of those sticky vinyl sheets, but that might be where we are going. My floor has 16" joists, but does have a little bounce to it.

Ridiculous !!!

Where are you getting your samples? What on earth are you bringing home as samples that break so easily? Raw samples being dinked around with are ten times more vulnerable to damage than tiles that are properly installed.:) Think about it.:)

We brought home an actual 12x12 porcelain tile from BigBoxStore as a "sample" It doesn't have the manufacturer on it anywhere. It was laid on the floor and we walked on it. I'm sure they won't break as easily when installed properly, just made me second guess porcelain. We have two boys and two big dogs.

Correction: Wife said it was porcelain not ceramic.

There's your problem right there. What did you prove by walking on it in that manner? So now you condemn all tile because you broke a sample by walking on it?

Tell your wife porcelain tile IS ceramic tile.:yes:

Not condemning...just learning.

When we bought our house the original owners were nice enough to leave the extra tiles in the garage. The ones that had been installed in the bathrooms since the 70's were fine. The one I tossed in my trunk to match - broke. What Bud said.
I would be much more concerned about your "bounce". If you have issues down the road it will be much more likely because deflection than the tile itself.

All info is correct here so far as I can tell, however, if you want the LOOK of ceramic grouted tiles, they make vinyl tiles (CVT) that are thick and groutable and nearly indestructible. :)

DM