Plastic tiles seem to have been very popular in the 1950s and, my mom tells me, into the 1960s. In estate sale houses, I see them in both bathrooms and kitchens. I attribute their popularity to the fact that homeowners could install them themselves — and we were a very DIY nation at the time. Also, these tiles could be easily installed over existing plaster walls — meaning that they were good for renovating the “imperfect” plaster walls in old farmhouses, Victorians and bungalows and to get that “modern” look.
In fact, the benefits of plastic were highly touted during the entire postwar period. I kind of have a feeling folks thought plastic and ceramic were equal in attractiveness? We were fascinated with the lure of the man-made and technology — this is a critical part of the American identity, even still. Also, I am pretty sure it’s a good guess that plastic tiles were significantly cheaper than ceramic tiles, and that must have been part of the allure as well. In my very recent travels I have picked up three vintage brochures — from Church, Pittsburgh and Coronet Tile Companies — and have scanned the prettiness, and info, for all to share.
Check out the complete slide show…. Click on first thumbnail to launch it, then move forward via the arrows below each image:
Mind you:
- I am not necessarily the world’s biggest fan of plastic tile. All three of my bathrooms were outfitted with the stuff. The bathrooms had seen some hard livin’, I think, and the stuff was…. nasty. The plastic tiles in my tub/shower surrounds had all rotted through. So much so that previous owners had then pasted marbleized vinyl panels on top of it. The seams were grucky and moldy and oh, I shudder at the memories…. I had that plastic ripped out with joy in my heart and replaced it with ceramic tile all around. Bottom line: I fear that if plastic tile has not been installed well, and if the bathrooms or kitchens have been used heavily, it may not be worth salvaging. I am all for function, folks, and in a bathroom especially, there is nothing that beats waterproof ceramic tile, in my mind.
- All that said, I did buy a bundle of vintage plastic tile for my kitchen backsplash. Two (gulp) years later, it’s still in a box waiting to be installed. (I’m nerve wracked about how it will look, and yes, simply procrastinating regarding launching yet another house project, one of a gazillion always in the works, or at least, rattling around in my head.) So, you can see, I am not “anti” plastic tile, either.
- And importantly : Precautionary Pam here: If you do decide to rip your plastic tile out, Lord knows what’s in the old adhesive… smart to have it tested.
Finally, hey, remember this post? Kurt’s kitchen with the large 8″ tiles all around. Wow!
!
lisa says
also, neken do the plastic subway tile in 12 inch panels which you apply to the wall with adhesive and then grout like ordinary tiles…they look fantastic for a utility room or even in the shower/bath surround…they cost £9 a pack of 6, which is very good value compared to ceramic tiles.
lisa says
i love the plastic subway tile panels you can buy these days, ive used plastic cladding in my bathroom to mimic the seaside feel, it works very well.
Nicola Grainger says
Don’t knock plastic tiles, there is a UK company that still manufactures them, and not just for retro refits, look at http://www.neken.co.uk and you will see up to date tiling form a company still going after 50 years
pam kueber says
Hi Nicola, just to be clear, I did not knock them. I just think: There were good installations… and bad installations. In my three bathrooms, all installations were what I would call “bad” — specifically, a substrate that did not hold up… and, no one will convince me that these are the right answer for tub/shower surrounds…
Barbara Robinson says
My house was built in 1950 and when I removed a damaged tile in the kitchen (light green with dark green ones here and there for accent) I found they were made of tin! Anyone run across this type of tile?
Kathy Liston says
Anyone want a bunch of pearlescent white/pewter plastic tiles? I’m removing them from my 1950’s bathroom and there’s a bunch of them…in the neighborhood of 1000…don’t want them tossed out just yet in case there’s any interest. They’re in great shape too but some of them still have the adhesive on the back. Fronts are perfect.
Send an email if you’re interested to kcronkhite@aol.com subject Tile
pam kueber says
Kathy — buying and selling goes onto the Forum, please: https://retrorenovation.com/forum/
Robyn says
Ok, guess I have to be the “Lone Wolf” by saying something positive about the plastic tiles. There is one great use for them today, if you can find enough of them and if you happen to own a vintage travel trailer or mobile home from the 50’s or 60’s. They give a (ok somewhat) ceramic tile look, but were much lighter weight which is essential for anything you tow. Many trailer companies used these in the kitchens and baths during the 50’s to simulate the look of a site built home, but yet were able to maintain the lighter weight. If any of you are Lucy fans, check out the tiles in the bathroom and kitchen scenes in her movie “The Long Long Trailer”. The trailer is a 1953 New Moon 36 footer and it has the plastic tiles. I have seen several New Moon’s and other trailers of the era and they have those plastic tiles. So although, perhaps not in keeping with the more site-built Mid-Century homes featured here, I just had to speak up for the vintage trailers and the beloved plastic tiles. LOL. Thanks again Pam for keeping us so enlightened and entertained.
pam kueber says
Robyn, I feel I must clarify: I am NOT AGAINST plastic tiles. I think that you have pointed out, very vividly, where they have a terrific use. Also, I HAVE heard from readers who say they are holding up just fine in their vintage bathrooms and kitchens. In fact, this post was inspired by my picking up these vintage brochures at an estate sale last week — and in that house, the gray plastic tiles in the kitchen looked great! I think that in bathroom applications, there must have been some brands whose design was more waterproof — and if they are still in great shape, love the plastic tiled bathroom you’re in!
Jane says
What is the best adhesive for putting plastic wall tile back up? Not grouted. Thanks!!
pam kueber says
Jane, I do not know.
Kathy McKay says
Hi Robyn: That’s EXACTLY what I want to do with some plastic wall tiles. I have early 50’s Shasta that has some cheesy looking tin sheeting for a backsplash in back of the sink /stove area. I also am fixing up a 59′ Corsair cutie, and want to do the same in it. The Corsair is TINY- only 10′ not counting the tongue. Would LOVE to see some vintage trailer stuff on this site.
Pat says
My dad built all the houses we lived in (3) in the 50’s and 60’s and they all had plastic tile! We had a house that we removed the plastic tile, cause it was the wrong color and besides, we needed to put the real deal in the shower area in order to make a real shower. I do like the ceramic better than plastic, to me that’s the real retro stuff.
Rhonda says
I grew up in one house. We never moved, we just stayed in the same house. Since my father passed, my sister now lives in the house. We had plastic marble tile in our bathroom. When I took baths, I’d stare at all the different tiles and see pictures in them the way you see pictures in the clouds. There was one tile that I SWEAR looked just like Foghorn Leghorn. 🙂 My sister recently re-did the bathroom and got rid of all the plastic tile. As a surprise, she kept the Foghorn Leghorn tile and gave it to me as a gift. 🙂 If I can remember where I put it, I’ll scan it and send it to you…
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck says
I am glad that I have not had to deal with plastic tiles(if the adhesive was so difficult). Those plastic surround tubs are making a comeback, which I wish that they had not.
CindyD says
I can’t stop laughing…the first house we bought had pink plastic 4×4’s and burgundy trim in the kitchen – all cracked and nasty. Being young, and back in the 70’s, we attempted to remove them ourselves – something I would not recommend knowing what we now know. The adhesive was industrial-strength. We took a sample to three different hardware stores, and none of them could come up with a solvent to remove the glue. We ended up ripping the drywall out completely with many of the tiles still hanging on. To this day, my husband wonders what that adhesive really was! Fortunately, our current home has beautifully laid ceramic tile (salmon pink with cocoa brown trim) in the bath. If you’re dying to try it, Pam, mount a few on some foamcore and put it under your cabinets to see if you like it – – – then, put it AWAY! 🙂
pam kueber says
i like the foam core idea, cindyd, thanks! in the estate sale house this past weekend – the kitchen was tiled in grey plastic tile. it looked just fine — great, even, i’d say. i really think the outcome depends on the type of tile you installed and what it was exposed to… i am never going to say anything is “bad” — i think it just depends…