The Tile Council of North America commissioned an independent construction cost consulting firm, Scharf-Godfrey (a division of Phoenix Engineering, Inc.), to conduct a life Cycle Cost study comparing various types of ceramic tile, including porcelain, mosaic, and quarry tile, to 12 other floor finishes such as hardwood, laminate, concrete, stone, carpet, terrazzo, vinyl, and poured epoxy (for specifics see pfd’s below).        ®2011 Ceramica Minnesota Ceramic Tile Industry