HARD SURFACE TILE

Hard surface tile remains one of the most value oriented ways to simultaneously update aesthetics while contributing to the resale value of wet areas such as the kitchen, bathroom and mud rooms. Tile is most commonly found in 12" x 12" format but is becoming increasingly popular in 18" and 24" squares as well as various rectangular formats. When picking floor tile, it's critical to pay attention to the C.O.E. or coefficient of friction to ensure that the tile choice meets your safety standards for slippage. Many readily available tiles are suitable for vertical application only and are not intended to withstand the amount of weight associated with a flooring material or would not offer sufficient friction when wet. Additionally, knowledge of the substrate or sub-floor the tile will be installed upon is useful in determining the setting bed thickness necessary to prevent significant lippage created by adjoining tiles.

          Marble and Granite are among the most popular choices for tile when homeowners are looking for a rich and often more formal appearance. Both marble and granite must be installed and treated properly to ensure that the potentially significant investment spent on materials is not wasted on cracking, chipping or staining. Often times natural stone tile will require a thick set bed for installation if there is not careful gauging of the product from tile to tile. Gauging refers to the consistency of thickness from tile to tile. A finely gauged material, for example, may only require a thin set or modified thin set bed depending on site conditions, thereby leaving more overall height in the installation space. Due to a closer proximity to the earth's core, granite is often a harder and more durable material than marble, but does not offer the veined appearance many individuals appreciate. Granite will offer a more consistent "dotted" pattern and comes in a variety of tones that spans the range including pink, brown, white, grey, blue, green and black. Marble is available in similar tones to granite but is more susceptible to staining because it is a softer material in comparison to granite. Both materials will need to be sealed properly to prevent staining from occurring with a standard clear sealer or a color enhanced sealer which can dramatically enhance the vividness of the stone.

           Limestone is among the softest of natural stone flooring materials and may not be suitable for applications that receive heavy traffic or in homes where consistent maintenance would be an issue. Among natural stone products, limestone offers some of the least patterning and provides a particularly appealing backdrop for clean lined furniture and accessories, but can be utilized beautifully in more traditional spaces when the tile edges are ìpillowedî or softened and rounded. If high traffic or stain susceptibility are issues, limestone may be utilized vertically with less risk and often works well with other materials.

           Stamped, Printed and Embossed Tile can offer the best of both worlds when attempting to combine the low maintenance of thru-body ceramic tile and the natural beauty of a stone product without the cost. Although this type of product has been on the market for decades now, recent advancements in technology now allow the manufacturing of much more realistic looking product with virtually no repetition of pattern, lending the product a closer approximation of natural stone. Because ceramic tile can offer a relatively easier maintenance routine than natural stone tile, at a fraction of the cost, it may prove to be an asset for economical projects attempting to incorporate sophisticated design.