Stick with ceramic when tiling walls

Looking to dress up your veterinary hospital's walls or reception desk? Choose ceramic tile over porcelain, says veterinary architect Wayne Usiak, AIA, a Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member and owner of BDA Architecture in Albuquerque, N.M. Ceramic tile is a bit lighter in weight, cleans easily, and offers more colors and design freedom. On top of that, it's cheaper. Porcelain tile is thicker and generally lasts longer than ceramic, but durability isn't typically a major issue on walls and desks. "If you hit it with a hammer, any tile will break," Usiak says. "But dogs don't typically have hammers in a run."