Workability

• Tumbled stone is easier for the do-it-yourselfer to cut with a wet saw or grinder than ceramic tile because it does not have a glazed surface. On the other hand, a benefit of ceramic tile is that you can cut it with a hand cutter, whereas you cannot with a wet saw. Tumbled stone is also more forgiving to install than ceramic; pieces generally have larger grout joints, uneven surfaces and do not have to fit snugly to each other as ceramic tiles do.
  
  

Maintenance

• Tumbled stone--especially in heavy-use areas such as the area kitchen-stove area of a backsplash--requires more maintenance than ceramic. Maintenance includes cleaning (with mild, non-abrasive cleaners) and scheduled sealing. On the other hand, ceramic tile has a much denser surface area and requires less periodic sealing. Ceramic is more impervious to staining and grime in heavy use areas.
  
  

Design and Colors

• To add design-specific characteristics to a tumbled stone project, you have to add specific liners, listellos and patterns using different tile and stone. Ceramic tile is design-specific without additional details. For example, certain ceramic tile is hand-crafted with Spanish designs and coloring. In other cases ceramic tile has a modern or contemporary flair within gray or metallic colors and tones. Also ceramic tile is available in just about every color, shape and variety imaginable. Therefore, design and color choices are limited with tumbled stone, whereas they are not with ceramic tile.
  
  

Cost

• Prices vary between suppliers but as a general rule, the average pricing of tumbled stone is in-line with the average cost of ceramic tile. Custom ceramic tiles cost more than tumbled stone and special imported lines of tumbled stone drain the wallet. These are exceptions to the general rule; a do-it-yourselfer can find good deals on both tumbled stone and ceramic tile.