Congoleum Dura Ceramic

I have been thinking about installing Dura Ceramic in my kitchen over an existing vinyl inlay. Has anybody had any experience with Dura Ceramic - good or bad that they can share with me? This seems like a pretty cool product and the salesman says that he has put it down in many kitchens and bathrooms with no troubles.

I googled it and came up with this from 2004.

/ceramic_tile/messages/15491.html

That's about all I know about it. Looks like 50/50, I would do more research on it if I were you.

Tom

We recently installed DuraCermic in our kitchen and two bathrooms. I have been happy with the product however, I haven't been happy with the lack of infromation as to how to clean or seal the product and the grout. If any one has any ideas let me know. It was installed Oct. 07.thanks

Don I would strongly suggest you do as Tgeb has suggested and do some thorough research before you go ahead with this product. Look for statements of curling and debonding edges as well as shrinkage after installation.

Curling edges? Peeling? What are you guys talking about? This is a hard 3/8" thick tile. I have seen this product used in a high traffic Social Security Office and after several years the tiles still look great. The grout installation work looked sloppy in spots, but that was an installer issue. I have also seen it on applied on not so smooth concrete showroom floors and it was holding up fine. I our own home we have 4 large dogs, 5 cats, sand, and kids with cleats and have had this on our kitchen floor for more than 3 years. Once cleaned it looks great again. No scuffs from sliding the kitchen table chairs acrossed it. My wife hate the regular tile at the entry ways, she can get it clean. We plan on installing one of the darker warmer colors in our family room next week (just use an area rug in the seating area.)
I did hear from the sales rep that early version of the DuraStone had some sort of problem (?) but now it is just as good. If you ever do have to replace a tile you can use a hair dryer to heat it up to break loose the adhesive under it (not the grout) and lay a tile right back in its place. Talk to an experienced installer OF THIS PRODUCT (Not any tile installer). Pay him to do it or pay for advice on how to do it.

Jeff, this stuff isn't 3/8 thick. Maybe just a little less than 1/4 at best. And as for it being "hard", it is just a plastic film that covers an embossed VCT tile. In fact you cut it the same as VCT. All they have done is come up with a name to rebrand VCT as an alternative to actual ceramic.
Take a piece of DuraCeramic, and you can peel off the top layer quite easily. This from an "experienced installer".

Nice try Jeffrey. BUSTED! Wouldn't be the first time people with a vested interest try to influence the general unsuspecting public in to some second rate product.

Me. I like the real thing.

I installed this stuff in my kitchen and laundry/mud room a few months ago and already have about six tiles that need replacing. I chips and scratches easily. And one tile the laminate bubbled up. I would never recommend it to anyone.

DuraCeramic is closer to 1/8" thick NOT 3/8". I have installed plenty of it in the past two years. I have seen the wear surface scratch from moving appliances and furniture and rocks in shoe soles, I have seen the tile dimple from chair and table legs, I have seen the wear surface film peel away.

DuraCeramic can be a nice looking product but its overall durability is in question in my mind. It comes in limited colors and only one size. A piece of real ceramic tile is just as easy to replace as a piece of DuraCeramic would be. DuraCeramic can not be used in wet areas, all ceramic tiles can be.

DuraCeramic in no way compares to ceramic tile - NO WAY. It doesn't look the same, it doesn't feel the same, it doesn't wear the same. It has its place I'm sure but to be led to believe it is the answer to everyone's needs is a dream of Congoleum and nothing else.

Why on earth would somebody pay the price of DuraCeramic when they could have real ceramic tile at the same cost?

Jeff I'm afraid you have been victimized by a slick salesman and you didn't do your homework before taking the bait.

Hey, did you know that Congoleum makes a commercial (VCT) floor tile that retails for around eighty cents per square foot and less? Why is it then that they sell DuraCeramic (basically the same product in every way) and it is retailing at around $4.50 per square foot? The product is a huge rip-off that's why.

THERE! That's from a guy that is an "experienced installer" and not "just any tile installer."

So what's the truth, you work for a flooring retailer?

Duraceramic is not for people who want real ceramic, but for people who like the look of ceramic but don't like the cold and hardness of it. It is not VCT, it is limestone composite with different pattern films attached for different looks. (Laminate flooring also is a composite material with an attached film to simulate different wood looks). The limestone composite and the attached film are more costly processes than VCT. VCT is less expensive, but who would want their kitchen and bath looking like a department store.

Yes, I am a retailer. But not just any retailer. I sold more DuraCeramic than any other dealer in the country. Over 400,000 square feet in 2007. So somebody likes it and with that kind of volume, you would think if it was as bad or as cheap as you say, I would have claims up to my nose. That is not the case. First claims have been minimal. Over 90% have been installer related. Not taking anything away from the pros but new products require training. The only matrial related claims pertain to scratching of the wear layer from dragging heavy objects across the surface. No floor product is indestructable. You drag heavy furniture across hardwood, laminate, and even real ceramic you get damage.

Again, it is not for people who want ceramic and it is not VCT and the thickness is 3/16".

DuraCeramic was installed in our kitchen almost two years ago and so far I'm extremely pleased. We purchased it for the very reason Jerry stated. We love the ceramic look, but it doesn't have the ceramic (cold) feel to bare feet. It was installed professionally, with grout, and it looks great and cleans well. We have a shepherd/lab and two cats, no scratches in sight.

I disagree with lack of color choices, we had PLENTY to choose from!