When you're sorting through flooring tile stone, the choice often comes down to two very different ways to cover a floor. On one side is a 12-inch basalt paver. On the other is a box of matte orange ceramic subway tiles. These two products solve different problems, and the right one depends on whether you want one substantial stone tile or a set of smaller ceramic tiles for a larger surface.
Quick Verdict
If you want a natural-stone tile, the Lava Stone Basalt Paver is the clearer choice. If you want a boxed set with a retro orange look, the Matte Orange Ceramic Subway Tile box is the one to get. Neither choice is wrong; the better pick depends on the surface you are covering and the mood you want.
Listed Price and Coverage at a Glance
| Product | Listed price | Coverage | Material | Slip resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lava Stone Basalt Paver | $10.37 | 1 sq ft per tile | Natural stone | Labeled slip-resistant |
| Matte Orange Ceramic Subway Tile Box | $19.99 | 6 sq ft per 50-tile box | Ceramic | DCOF rating 0.42 or greater |
Where Each Product Wins
The Lava Stone Basalt Paver wins for:
- A 12-inch tile with a stone surface in the black color family.
- A honed finish and a pathway-friendly design.
- A lower listed price than the ceramic box.
The Matte Orange Ceramic Subway Tile wins for:
- A Daltile CU74 Matte Tuscany designation and a straight-edge design.
- Self-spacing lugs for consistent joints.
- A DCOF slip-resistance rating of 0.42 or greater and a break strength over 175 lbs.
Product Notes
Lava Stone 12 In. x 12 In. x 2 Cm Rough Honed Basalt Floor Tile Paver
This is the product to reach for when you want the look and feel of real rock underfoot. The tile is a square basalt paver in the black color family, described as having a honed finish. It is also marked as a landscape supply and recommended for pathway applications, which makes sense for a 10.1-pound tile. If your project calls for a dark, grounded flooring surface and you prefer to set one piece at a time, this paver keeps the material story simple. The trade-off is the format: it comes as a single tile, so a larger floor or walkway means sourcing multiple pieces and accepting more seam-to-seam repetition.
1 Box - 50 Tiles (6 ft²) - Matte Orange 4x4 Ceramic Subway Tile
The ceramic option takes the opposite approach. This is a Daltile item described as CU74 Matte Tuscany, finished in a matte orange color that gives a vintage/retro vibe. The tiles have straight edges and self-spacing lugs, so the spacing work is built into each piece. A break strength over 175 lbs also gives you a concrete number to weigh for a floor that will see foot traffic. The Daltile name and CU74 Matte Tuscany designation are there to help match tile for an original restoration. The main thing to plan around is the format: a box holds many individual tiles to lay one by one, which means more pieces to align than a single larger tile.
Final Choice by Use Case
- Choose the Lava Stone Basalt Paver when you need a stone paver.
- Choose the Matte Orange Ceramic Subway Tile box when you want a boxed ceramic set for an orange finish.
