Choosing stone, ceramic, or porcelain tile for your home or business:
There are some questions you may want to ask yourself before choosing a type of tile for your home or business, such as:
- Is this an indoor or outdoor application?
- How many people are in the household/business?
- Does the room get constant everyday use?
- Are there pets?
- Do I like a polished, honed, tumbled or clefted looking tile?
- What colors do I like, and are they available in the type of tile I want?
- Do I mind the minor maintenance that comes with natural stone?
OR-
Do I want a low maintenance ceramic or porcelain? - Do I have hard water that could pose as a cleaning issue on certain natural stone/extremely textured tiles?
These are some questions to think about so that when you come in we can better help you to design your project.
Design & Layout Tips:
- Larger tile in small spaces makes space look larger.
- Lighter tile in a space makes the space look larger.
- Tumbled or chiseled edged tiles can give your home a casual, somewhat rustic appeal.
- Polished stone or ceramic tile can give your home either a sleek, contemporary look, or sometimes a formal look depending on appearance of stone or ceramic, layout and design.
* See layout drawings/options (click here) *
Outdoor Tile & Grout Suggestions:
- Granite
- Chinese Slate
- Through Body Porcelain
- Quarry Tile
- We suggest using Epoxy Grout (Laticrete SpectraLock Pro)
These are some of the most suitable products that we can recommend for outdoor applications.
Installation & Maintenance:
Properly maintaining the products you're purchasing or having installed is very important to preserving it's look and your investment. So to do that you should begin by...
- Working with your designer to select the proper tile for your space,
your needs and your lifestyle.
- Installation of tile.
- Grouting with cementatious grout or a low maintenance grout option.
- Seal if not using a low maintenance grout. (See How To Seal, click here)
- Care & Maintenance: use ph neutral cleaners on a regular basis to keep your tiles & grout looking new. Do NOT clean with things like store-bought daily tile cleaners. Buyers beware, name brand cleaners that state they are safe for tile and grout are not as safe as they claim. The acidity of these will begin to eat away at the grout. We recommend specific cleaners made by grout companies that are grout and tile safe.
Using the proper cleaners can save your grout from deterioration. Ask about these cleaners when you come in and we will direct you to the right product. In shower or tub areas squeegee or dry the walls down after use as to prevent mold and mildew build-up. All natural stone tile, no matter what surface finish, absolutely needs to be sealed.
Tile Patterns:
