Coles Fine Flooring Ceramic

Tile Tips from the Experts!

Table of Contents 240x300 Tile Tips from the Experts!To give your home a more natural look and feel, you can choose ceramic or stone floors, rough textured tiles or even tiles that look like wood planks. Tile floors require less maintenance and give warmth as well as beauty to any room of your home. People use tiles for walls, floors and counter tops to achieve that earthy and elegant look.

There are a whole range of colors, designs, and types of tile to choose from; ceramic, marble, glass, granite, porcelain, and stone. For areas where moisture will be present, like bathroom or a shower, a non porous type is usually best; however you can seal a porous stone and be able to use it in a room where moisture issues could be a problem.
When tiles are used on a floor or flat surface, stains are inevitable. Any natural material can be damaged and stained, usually easier than man-made materials like ceramic tile. Stone, because it’s porous, has the potential to be stained even more. When tile is used on a counter top or floor, it really needs to be sealed to prevent moisture and dirt from soaking into the natural stone. Cleaning these tiles is easy when the tiles have been finished properly.  Coles provides a variety of cleaning and sealing products for your stone and tile floors. Whether you tile your bathroom, your living room, or your whole home, it will provide you with years of comfort and natural elegance.

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Why Choose Ceramic Tile

ceramic tile 300x300 Why Choose Ceramic TileCeramic tile is a versatile and adaptable material; it suits a number of settings, and comes with the added appeal of being low-maintenance. An obvious choice for kitchen and bathroom applications, ceramic tiles can also work well in living areas, hallways, foyers, porticos and more.

As far as design constraints, there are limitless possibilities for ceramic tile. Available in numerous color and size variations, there are always additional application options as well- ceramic tile doesn’t have to stop at the floor, you can unify your design and create ceramic accents in the form of backsplashes, countertops, and shower stalls.

Ease of maintenance is probably ceramic tile’s biggest appeal. It is this quality that makes it ideal for use in areas where moisture might be an issue, as carpeting and wood cannot compete when it comes to dampness & spills. Ceramic tile also requires little in the way of a cleaning routine, since it is spill-resistant and does not trap allergens or bacteria. Another strong point of ceramic tiles is their wear resistance. Ceramic tile has a high level of durability and longevity, making it a great value.

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Coles Receives 2009 Best of San Marcos Award

Coles Fine Flooring has been selected for the 2009 Best of San Marcos Award in the Ceramic Tile category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA):

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. The organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

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Using Decorative & Accent Tiles

When planning to use tile or stone in your home, you may find yourself considering accent tiles, decorative tiles, border pieces, etc. These designer tile pieces are an easy way to enhance a larger tile pattern, incorporate a color scheme, or define an area as a focal point.

Here are some quick tips on how to integrate these accent tiles into your decorating scheme:

  • Create a decorative band in a shower, or as a tub surround.
  • Backsplashes and sink splashes are great opportunities to use these decorative options.
  • Wainscoting border- install a tile border about wainscoting level to create a divide along the wall.
  • Tile-framed mirrors are fun and unique- you can build a tile border and have it installed directly to the wall, surrounding the mirror
  • Hard surface area rug- create the look of a rug with a tile border or inlay, used to set off an area like a dining room or a foyer.
  • Line the perimeter of a countertop, and create the effect of an outline or border.
  • Trace the base of a kitchen island, using a border to set off the island within the kitchen.

Remember, there are no real “rules” to using decorative tiles & accent tiles- your design opportunities are a endless as your imagination!

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Bathroom Floor Tiles As Design Statements

Strange though it may seem, one of the first things your guests will see is your bathroom. Even if you entertain casually and never have much traffic outside the living or dining room, your friends will still need to see the restroom. Consequently, that seemingly unimportant powder room should receive just as much care and attention as the often-improved entrance hall.

But despite this crucial role, many bathrooms remain in the design dark ages. Most are covered with dated and worn bathroom floor tiles, relics of a bygone era rather than shining beacons of modern style. Toilets and plumbing fixtures are often tarnished and loose. Some full baths have remarkably dirty and mildewed showers. No matter how nice your foyer might look, no guest will be thinking of the entry hall when they enter a bad bathroom!

Luckily, today’s tile market offers many different options to help you get the ceramic mosaic tiles your bathroom deserves. These tiles provide an incredible variety of design options, everything from standard stone-finish flooring to intricate inlays. With the right company, you can go from design concept to installation quickly and efficiently. Even better, ceramic mosaic tiles are less expensive than stone and much more pleasant to walk on: where stone can sometimes grow chilly, ceramic mosaic tiles stay much more reliably at room temperature.

Ceramic Mosaic Tiles

Without a doubt, tiles are an excellent option for giving your bathroom a vibrant new look. But don’t just think of them as bathroom floor tiles; good ceramic is much more versatile. Here are just a few ways you can use a seemingly common tile to give your bathroom unexpected flair:

  • Create a pattern on the floor.
  • Vary the size of the tile while keeping the color constant.
  • Incorporate a tile accent.
  • Install tile on your walls or counters as well.
  • Design your own wall art to highlight a sink or architectural feature.

With so many options, ceramic tile is the clear choice for the bathroom and beyond. Check out Travertine stone tile.

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