Ceramic 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.
We’ve discussed the pros, cons, and appropriate applications of commercial carpet. One other option when considering commercial style carpeting- an option that has skyrocketed in terms of popularity and availability- is carpet tile.
Carpet tiles are exactly what they sound like: smaller squares of carpeting, which are installed by laying them together, like tiles. This type of carpeting allows for creating patterns of infinite customization.
The biggest incentive to utilize carpet tile, rather than broadloom carpeting, is the ease of installation. The flooring can be installed quickly, and can be completed when offices are closed, to avoid business disruption. It can be installed section-by-section, meaning that less moving of furniture is required. And if one section of carpeting eventually gets stained or otherwise flawed, it’s a simple process of removing the affected carpet tiles, and replacing them with new ones- no cutting or measuring required.
Natural stone tiles, and the ceramic alternatives that mimic them, can boast displays of vast color range and variation, which can be very exciting for the eye, and your home. Tile floors that feature color movement in them can sometimes seem like a bold statement, but they don’t have to be overwhelming- in fact, they can look quite natural because of that range in hue.
Here are some other reasons to consider tile with color or range:
Dirt, hair, and scratches are much easier to hide, because the inconsistency of color creates a camouflage effect.
The flooring appears to have more ‘depth’ & richness.
More colors present makes designing easier- there are more color choices for you to pull for accents into your decorating scheme.
It looks less ‘grid-like’ and mathematical. When there is no pattern or color interest, the eye falls onto the grout lines, which are emphasized and give a very geometric, sharp feeling.
Tile flooring is filled with options, and with the right choice, it can dictate a design scheme, bringing life and versatility into your décor. The best advice if you’re hesitant is to take home samples, and look at them laid on the floor, not up to your face (as this is the height you’d see the tiles from every day).
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.
Tile floors have a lot of advantages. They are easy to maintain, and they have an appealing appearance. Yet with anything else that is beautiful, tile floors require care and special maintenance to ensure they keep looking good for a long time. Luckily, they are some of the easiest floors to take care of. Here are a few tips for maintaining your tile floors.
Prevention is worth an ounce of attention
Tile floors are going to get dirty from time, no matter what you do. You don’t live in a continual plastic bubble, so dirt is going to get tracked across them. Stains happen. Food gets stuck and sometimes fossilized. Pay attention to the little details of your floor. As marks develop, deal with each one immediately. It will result in a cleaner floor that shines through the test of time.
Clean spills right away
Stains only get worse when they are ignored. By cleaning up spills immediately, you’ll minimize them and protect your floor. Don’t let them dry on the floor. They may leave a permanent stain, made all the worse by collecting dirt that sticks like fly tape. Sweep and mop the floor often. Dirt that’s quickly removed is kept from being ground up on the surface of your tile. Be consistent and thorough. The more you sweep and mop, the easier the job will be because dirt won’t want to stick around.
Use mats to catch the dirt
Mats placed in strategic locations can work wonders. They are good at catching the dirt in well-trafficked areas, protecting your floor from grunge as well as wear and tear. Choose a mat that’s easy to clean. You can focus your cleaning more easily on the mat if it catches the majority of the dirt.
Elbow grease works wonders
When it comes down to it, you just have to get down and dirty with the dirt and scrub. Check with the floor manufacturer for recommendations on what kind of cleaner to use. There are many all-purpose cleaners available, but test them on a small surface before hitting the entire floor. Some seem to do their job by burning through the dirt, but can damage your floor in the process. You may want to choose a brand that’s environmentally conscious. You can probably find a natural solution that can get rid of the dirt without contaminating your kitchen.
A hot water lemon and vinegar solution is a nice natural cleanser that won’t pollute your home and it leaves a nice smell. You get the fresh smell of lemons without wondering where the chemicals have been.
Sweep before you wash
Always sweep or vacuum your floor before you start scrubbing. Washing an un-swept floor can encourage the dirt to stick and stain, creating more damage than it’s worth. Clean all dirt with a broom and dustpan or a vacuum if you prefer the electrical approach. It saves the dirt from being kicked back and forth, as well as prevents it from being caked on to stand the memories of time.
Do a final towel dry
You may want to dry off your tile floor at the end to keep dirt from re-sticking to it. It may also help to wear a pair of old socks when you are washing the floor, so you can move freely on the washed areas without leaving dirt stains.
Tile floors are beautiful and easy to maintain. All it takes is regular cleaning and sweeping to keep stains at bay and keep your home looking beautiful. Keeping up on it and running a broom across every day or two saves time at the end of the week. Don’t let the job pile up. Keep it clean and down to size with regular care and maintenance.
In terms of durability, no other natural stone flooring options can compare to quartz or granite. The densest and hardest members of the stone tile family, both options resist scratching and staining better than any of the other stone alternatives- which makes them especially ideal choices for kitchens, though they are durable enough to be utilized in almost any application in the home. Both are great stone flooring options, but many customers tend to become torn over which is the best choice for them.
Stone can be a beautiful addition to a home, adding elegance reminiscent of castles or the ancient architecture of Greece or Rome. It’s classical as well as classy, improving the intrinsic value of your home as well as the comfortable relaxing atmosphere to unwind and enjoy with the whole family. It’s a perfect way to add a custom touch of originality to your home, creating a texture that’s as uniquely ornamental as the iconic past. Stone adds a touch of personality that’s been shared for centuries, adding a noble touch of comfort and elegance. With so many colors, styles and patterns to choose from, you can choose from classical designs to more contemporary constructions that have all the taste of modern art and sculpture.
Stone Tile in the Kitchen
Considering how many times you drop things, leaving dribbles of spaghetti sauce here, grape juice spills there; putting stone in the kitchen is a natural step. There’s no reason to cry over spilled milk when all it takes is a paper towel to clean the damage. Natural stone has the capabilities to handle any stain in the kitchen, plus its classical, sound structure makes it feel like you’re cooking a medieval feast.
Making a Monumental Backyard
Stone is a perfect addition to the scenery in a backyard, creating structures that are monolithic in shape and influence. You can add stone to create a scenic backyard waterfall, build seating areas or places for plants to catch their rays. Stone is a perfect way to sculpt walking areas, separate flower beds, and tie the backyard together in a shape of wonder and nostalgic classicalism. You can add birdbaths and sundials for more scope in an outdoor garden.
If you create your own cement blocks, you can get creative and submerge items of interest for decoration. This could include other ornamental stones, statuary or rubber balls for a fun approach to style. Children’s toys make a nice addition, as do figurines or plants that leave fossil like impressions.
Fireplaces as good as a classical novel
Nothing creates classical beauty like a hearth made of impressive granite, marble or other solid stone. It’s perfect for gathering in front of the fire to tell stories like the days of yesteryear, a romantic evening in front of the glow of a fire, or just cuddling up to a hot cup of chocolate and a good book. Stone fireplaces can take a home back to life’s basic meanings with a solid goodness that’s been fashionable for centuries.
Stone for Bathrooms
Absorbing dampness yet following the suggestion of classical beauty, stone is perfect for the bathroom setting. It’s easy to cover up the surface of most bathrooms, yet suggests a classical feel that’s feels good on your feet coming out of the bath. It adds a decorative touch to meet the designs of most bathrooms. There’s something solid about stone that’s as functional as it is decorative.
Proper Installation a Plus
As equal as choosing which type of stone to use, proper installation is integral to the job looking great. Make sure you hire a professional as it means all the difference. If you are going to make the investment, be sure to do the job right. Stone lasts a long time, so be happy with the job because it may have a longevity that outlasts even you.
Solidness that lasts
When properly cared for, natural stone lasts virtually forever. It’s the stuff of castles and Greek monuments, surviving through the years to tell the legacy of the tale. Stone is classic because it is so enduring. Choose what you want wisely and carefully. What you create out of stone will definitely stand the test of time.
We carry a complete selection of area rug padding for your home- whether you’re going to lay your rug onto hard surface or carpet, we have an option for you.
Product: Sultan
Best Over: Hard surfaces (wood, laminate, vinyl, tile & stone)
A foam-based pad with a waffled texture- Sultan is our most basic non-slip pad for hard surfaces.
Product: Cush-n-Hold
Best Over: Hard surfaces (wood, laminate, vinyl, tile & stone)
A thicker version of Sultan, Cush-n-Hold is one step up in regards to cushioning. This is our best seller in rug padding!
Product: Super Movenot
Best Over: Carpet, tile & stone
This reversible pad has 2 sides, making it versatile enough to use on carpet, or tile surfaces. The textured, fibrous side should be laid face down for carpet. The rubberized side should be laid face down for tile & stone. This product will also prevent telegraphing of the grout lines through the rug.
The use of marble for flooring is as old as flooring itself. From the buildings of ancient Greece to modern statues and monuments, the beautiful stone has a place in everything. But marble tile flooring can be very expensive and has a smooth, cold texture that can be a real downside in a bathroom. Additionally, it is difficult and expensive to install. With the new bathroom ceramic tiles available on the market now, does going marble really make sense?
There was a time when marble was the only choice for a sophisticated bathroom. But that was when tiles were limited to glass rather than the wide range of ceramic and porcelain tiles that exist today. Modern tiles can easily rival marble tile flooring in efficiency and beauty, and the average ceramic tile is much less expensive than its marble counterpart.
Bathroom ceramic tiles are designed for durability and elegance. They are tremendously versatile and their lower cost allows you more freedom to use them in novel ways. Tiles also tend to offer a better grip than a highly polished marble surface, helping to prevent slipping after bathing or showering.
If you are really set on the marble look, you can achieve that same elegant appeal with less cost by using the marble as an accent piece. Try using a granite or marble countertop instead of re-doing the entire bathroom floor in marble. There are excellent ceramic tiles to coordinate with almost any countertop shade you could pick; why spend the money to put marble down all over the bathroom?
Of course, there are some situations where marble – and only marble – will do the job. If you have your mind truly made up, make sure that your marble supplier is responsible and willing to work with you. Some marble installers can be resistant to your questions and ideas, installing your floor the way they want to with little or no input from you. A good company will be happy to answer your questions and help you get the bathroom you really want.
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.
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.