Tile Introduction
Both Chic and classic, Tile or Stone flooring say, "Welcome home". They are elegant, on-trend and some even contain recycled content. Tile flooring is not just for the kitchen and bath. Our styles captivate in any room of the house.
Tile is an ideal choice for any moisture prone areas. Floor tiles are extremely durable; water, stain and wear resistant; and easy to care for. An array of colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes are available. Larger size tiles such as 20 x 20 are currently the most popular choice along with wood look tiles. One of the best characteristics of tile is the ability to install it in special patterns that add interest to your floor. These patterns are easy to create and offer endless variety- another plus. Try alternating colors for a dramatic two toned effect. Mix sizes and shapes; choose between repeated or random patterns. No matter how you lay the tile, it is sure to make a statement. With a long history as one of the most durable flooring materials available, tile is a great choice for rooms that see a lot of wear.
When selecting tile there are many characteristics to consider. The most common question were asked is What is the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile so let's address this first...
In general, porcelain tile is harder than ceramic and offers greater design flexibility. Although both are made from clay and other naturally occurring materials, Porcelain is fired in the kiln at a higher temperature and greater pressure, resulting in an extremely dense and hard material.
This makes porcelain tile an ideal product for outdoors and high moisture conditions. Due to it's low moisture absorption rate (.5 percent or less), porcelain is less likely to crack and is more impervious to stains. Ceramic is usually not durable enough for exterior use because it absorbs too much water. During freezing temperatures ceramic would likely crack on the first freezing night. We carry both ceramic and porcelain tiles however, you will find mainly porcelain tile options in our showroom.
Other factors to consider...
Some tiles may have only a ceramic glaze fired over the body; if chipped, the white, tan, or red clay base is exposed. Chip the tile and you find this base color underneath the top glaze. Chip a through body porcelain and the color keeps on going--the chip is nearly invisible. Full body porcelain tiles carry the color and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile.
Some porcelain tiles are available with a rectified edge, cut to a precise size so all tiles are identical. This allows our tile installer to set extremely tight grout joints. This makes cleaning much easier.
For safety in wet areas or in flooring applications where accessibility is a concern look for a tile, whether porcelain or ceramic, with a high coefficient of friction. This property is measured on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being the most slip-resistant. If the tile you select is not the ideal slip resistance we do offer a topical treatment that can be applied to the tile to increase the slip resistance of the tile.
Whatever tile you choose, glossy finishes have tendency to show fingerprints and footprints and can be slippery when wet. For better traction use a honed or matte finish tile.
Optional underlayment- Mainly used in new construction, an underlayment can be used to prevent chipping and cracking. Tile can be installed over a firm supported sub floor.
Tile grout, if left unsealed, can be difficult to clean. We can use a grout that already has a sealer and mold preventative built in.
In any space you will love the timeless look and durability of tile flooring. We serve Jacksonville, St. Johns, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine FL.