Archive for the ‘Tile’ Category

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Ceramic Tiles the New Wood?

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013

Everyone loves wood floors, but many have no idea about the constant monitoring and caring you have to do to maintain them. Luckily Ceramic tiles are coming to the rescue. With advances in printing you are able to get a great wood or stone look from an easy to maintain product. Top of the line scanners run over natural products and then are able to almost exactly replicate the image onto a tile.

Why would you choose tiles over wood and stone? The biggest advantage is that tile needs little to almost no care and comes with a much longer life. This means no resealing, no refinishing, and you do not have to worry about wear and tear in high traffic areas. Tiles are also much more cost effective, they are usually near the bottom of the cost chart for floor covering options.

For added comfort you will want to look into in-floor heating. If you live in a northern climate like we do a beautiful tile floor will look great but it will be even better when it keeps your toes warm.

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Posted in Home, Tile, Wood | No Comments »

The Growth of LVT

Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

LVT has continued to grow in design and technology. People love it because of its versatile ability to be placed anywhere, even in high moisture areas. Designers love it because it has the ability to replicate wood and stone with amazing accuracy.

As LVT technology continues to develop so does the printing process. Instead of using only a two color finish we are now seeing five colors. This means LVT can achieve higher depth and shadow which gives it a more realistic look.  IRE (In-Register-Embossing) is starting to become more sophisticated as companies continue to develop the product. IRE is where the texture of the surface directly matches the printed picture. Instead of having a flat surface you will be able to see all the dips and ridges of traditional stone.

The real exciting concept will come when companies begin to incorporate a more original design. Since this is a printed product anything can be possible. You want your floor to incorporate an image of your choice? Get it printed in the LVT finish. Look for some amazing advances in this field; you will soon see it popping up in more spaces.

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Posted in Commercial, Epoxy Flooring, Fun Facts, Home, Tile, Wood | No Comments »

Grout Holds the Key

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

The tile project you have thought about, planned and finally executed can come down to one make or break decision, grout color. Grouts main purpose is to protect the tile it surrounds, but it has a much bigger esthetic property. You have several options when selecting grout color.

The first strategy is to blend the grout in with the tiles. This will give a more uniform look and help the tile stand out. The grout does not have to be the exact same color as the tile, but it should be within the same color family.

The second strategy is to use accent colors. Since tiles are becoming more multi colored it can be a little harder to pick the best grout for the tile. Try using a shade of the dominate color to really help the tile pop. You may also try to use a color from something else in the space like wall paint or counter tops to pull the whole room together.

The third strategy is the use completely contrasting colors. This will make the grout lines stand out and depending on the tile you selected make a large checker boards pattern. This strategy is great for mosaic tiles or if you really want your area to “POP”.

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Adding Depth to a Bath

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

Looking to set your bathroom apart? Try some tile designs that you normally wouldn’t see. Pictured below are a couple examples of how a tile can really make your bathroom pop. These examples are great for showing you that a flat wall isn’t always the best wall.

Designed and carved tiles are the perfect resource to provide a serene feeling to your bathroom. An accent wall is all you need, but if your bathroom is large enough feel free to cover additional walls for a larger impact.

 

 

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Luxury with Vinyl Tiles

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

Luxury vinyl tiles have been used in commercial applications for years, but are now filtering their way to smaller venues. LVT comes in square tile form made to resemble ceramic tiles and they also come in plank form to resemble wood flooring.

The quick and dirty of LVT is that it is much easier to install and also to maintain. It is water resistant as well as scratch, stain, dent, and scuff resistant. It is at a lower cost than ceramic tile and wood planks but still retains the look of these products.

LVT is no longer just a checker pattern that a lot of our grandparents use to have. It can be made to accommodate any design and is a great option to enhance a room.

   

Posted in Commercial, Home, Shaw, Tile, Wood | No Comments »

Larger Tiles For A Larger Feel

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

We are always getting the age old question “how to make a small bath or kitchen feel larger.”

One of the easiest and most productive ways to create the feel of a larger space is to use larger tile. I always suggest 12 X 12 tiles or larger will give the best effect. This method can be used on the floor as well as on the walls if wanted. The theory is that with larger tiles you will have more surface and less grout lines, this opens your eye to the whole space.

When you combine small spaces with small tiles your get a cluttered and busy look, this in turn makes your room feel smaller.

If you are going to go with a large tile make sure to level the floor and use a strong cement base. This will give you less of a chance for cracks and other problems down the road. You will also notice less maintenance in your space while using large tiles.

Posted in Commercial, Fun Facts, Home, Tile | No Comments »

Electric Radiant Floor Heating

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

If you’re planning a bath remodel radiant floor heating can become your new best friend.

Electric floor heating has numerous benefits, especially in the bathroom. Electric heating can be installed under any flooring type (wood, tile, carpet, vinyl). The pad is installed between the subfloor and finish flooring. A layer of mud is then applied over the pad to ensure an even surface as well as an even distribution of heat. To give maximum benefit it should only be installed under areas you will actually be walking on. Some other great benefits of electric in floor heating are:

  • Ability to heat zones that you actually use.
  • Ability to save money compared to traditional heating sources
  • Safe effective, and healthier alternative
  • No maintenance or cleaning required

 

 

Posted in Epoxy Flooring, Fun Facts, Home, Tile, Wood | 1 Comment »

Keeping Floors Looking New

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Dull hard surface floors can make your room look aged and less appealing. Keeping those floors looking new is a lot easier than you might think. By following a couple steps you will be able to retain that shine and enjoy your floors longer.

Step 1 – Make sure you keep dirt and dust off the floor. Even a little rock or hard debris will dull and scratch the surface.

Step 2 – Use vinegar to remove any residue left by past cleaning methods. A lot of people will try to clean floors with unapproved chemicals. These chemicals will leave a dull haze on the floor and cover the finish.

Step 3 – Mop less frequently, yes by doing less you will be able to retain your shine. Use a cloth mop and only water. Make sure not to soak your floor, use as little water as you can. If you have hard water, spots may form after mopping.

Step 4 – If the previous steps do not return your shine you can use floor polish. This can be a little tricky to apply evenly and it may take a couple coats.

Posted in Home, Tile, Wood | No Comments »

Chic Kitchen with Recycled Countertops

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Green counter tops can be up to 85 percent recycled glass. They can be made to fit any shape, size, and/or color the customer likes. The process of making the countertops involve recycled glass, bonding agents or resins and if wanted addition stone to enhance the look.

Recycled counter tops have several benefits over stone tops. They are non-porous which means they never have to be sealed. Because of this you never have to worry that a spill left on the surface will soak in and stain the stone. When using these tops you will find that they are very simple to maintain and keep clean; you are also less likely to scratch the surface.

When designing your countertop you also can customize your back splash to match perfectly. Being able to use glass on both surfaces will help maintain cohesiveness and also give you a one of a kind look you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the industry.

Posted in Commercial, Fun Facts, Home, Tile | 3 Comments »

New Trend in Porcelain Tile

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

Porcelain tile with a wood finish is starting to make a big impression for both Residential and Commercial settings. You get the look of wood that people have come to love without the hassle and maintenance of a real wood floor.

Don’t get us wrong, we love real wood floors, but it is not always ideal for all locations and lifestyles. Wood designed porcelain tiles are a new and fresh option for many people.

American Florim is one manufacture that has the “wood” tile look down to an art. As you can see here (Florimusa), the Forest line achieves a beautiful look with the high definition graphics on glazed porcelain. It comes in 5 different colors with coordinating wall base.

   

There are many reasons to choose impervious porcelain tile over other floor coverings. It offers the largest array of design options and holds its value the longest. In a comparison between the many different floor options, porcelain tile offers one of the most durable and least expensive options over the lifespan of the building.

Stop into one of our 3 locations to see the new trend in tile.  You’ll be glad you did!

Posted in Commercial, Home, Marketing, Promotion, Tile | 1 Comment »

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