Carpet in a bathroom? Are you crazy? No! If you pick a water, mildew and stain resistant product go right ahead and install carpet. But be sure that the carpet also has a backing that prevents water from seeping into the pad. Now you can walk barefoot on your soft and cozy bathroom floor.

Ok, so maybe you’re not sold on carpet in your bathroom. Fear not, there are still many other options. The most traditional bathroom flooring is ceramic tile. You can get super creative with ceramic tile as it comes in a variety of colors, sizes and textures. Don’t forget that you can also play around with grout color.  Just be sure to pay close attention to the porosity rating.

If you want to be a bit more unique with your flooring choice then why not go with natural stone? This option is durable and easy to care for but it does require a strong subfloor. On the downside, natural stone can also be quite slippery and cold.

What’s not cold or slippery? Hardwood.  Just be sure that you finish the floors to be water resistant. A few coats of clear gloss sealant will keep them watertight.

Glass tile can be installed just about anywhere ceramic tile would work, and it’s resistant to damage from moisture and temperature changes. Glass tile flooring is easy to keep beautiful with a mop and the same glass cleaner you use on your windows. While tiles aren’t prone to break, they can be slippery, and smooth surfaces are prone to scratching.

Bamboo and cork each offer unique properties that can make them good choices for bathrooms. Bamboo floors look similar to traditional wood floors, but are naturally harder and more durable. Cork offers a soft, warm feel on bare feet. Both cork and bamboo are naturally resistant to mold, mildew and bacteria, and both naturally repel moisture, excellent qualities in bathroom floors.

For homeowners who want the look of posh stone at a fraction of the cost and with easier upkeep, concrete may be the way to go. Many bathrooms already have a layer of concrete under existing tile or linoleum floors that can be restored through acid staining into a gorgeous, new stone-look floor. Concrete also works exceptionally well over underfloor radiant heating systems. Maintaining acid-stained concrete floors is easy, requiring only a mop and periodic polishing.

Whatever option you choose, we are here to help make the experience as easy and as painless as possible.

So for those of you who love watching instead of reading – here you go:

Carpet

Hardwood

Ceramic

Stone

Laminate

Vinyl

Just another way we try and make your life a little less complicated.

The makeover started by replacing the old bathtub and shower curtain with a walk-in shower and frameless glass surround. This instantly added about two feet to the feel of the bath. Frameless shower surrounds almost disappear in a bathroom, and elements such as the horizontal stripes etched on this glass add an inviting design element.

To connect the space further, the same tile was used across the bathroom walls and throughout the shower, continuing to eliminate a sense of separation. The matching tile floor also carries through with the theme.

By keeping walls white and having white bath fixtures, the consistency adds to a sense of space. With a pedestal sink rather than a vanity, the bath stays fresh looking and the additional visible flooring adds to the larger perceived size.

By following some simple guidelines, this bathroom remodel almost doubled the perceived space without actually adding a foot. What can you do to make your bathroom feel larger?

The primary advantage to porcelain tile is its durability. Because it is made of a stronger material and fired at a much higher temperature, porcelain is much harder. Its moisture and frost-resistant characteristics make it an ideal option for outdoor patios and kitchens.

Porcelain comes in many styles and colors, but the most common design look mimics stone. Limestone, terracotta, granite, travertine and other stone choices are reproduced in porcelain tile, and many of the product lines have enough variation from one tile to another to make porcelain appear very similar to actual stone.

There are a couple of disadvantages to porcelain that make it a difficult choice for do-it-yourselfers. Because of the high firing heat, the tiles often vary in size, so using standard spacers don’t work with porcelain the way they do with ceramic. Also, the tiles are much harder to cut. Professional installers are familiar with these challenges, and can work around them to create a perfect floor for you.

Porcelain is also more expensive than ceramic tile, but the advantages can make the choice worth the price. And once it’s installed, you will have a beautiful floor that will last for the life of your home!

Most ceramic tile is extremely low maintenance. If you make sure to seal the grout – very important – the only work required is running over it with a damp mop. Tile doesn’t stain and generally resists moisture, making it ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.

The tile in this photo is Saltillo, a handmade unglazed tile common in Mediterranean countries, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Its casual rough appearance makes it an inviting choice for people who want an old world patina. However, this is one tile that does demand maintenance, including annual sealing. It also will chip and crack, which is rare with today’s ceramics. If you like the look, a number of glazed options will give you a similar feel without the challenges.

Ceramic tile glazes are glass-based, and fused to the clay tiles through high heat. Look for exciting options such as embossing and even painted or printed designs. With the choices available, you should be able to develop a look for your floors with ceramic tile that matches your personal design goals.

In this bathroom, not only has the tile been turned on the diagonal, but mosaic dots have been placed in the intersections of the tile for added contrast. The dots in the floor do a great job of complimenting the color of the countertop. In this small room, granite, porcelain and slate have all been used to turn this small bathroom into a charming area!

It’s always a good idea to scale out a room when you are trying to add pattern to a small area, but a general rule of thumb is to make sure that you have enough room to fit at least 2 full tiles across the room.

Don’t be shy! Larger tiles can actually help make rooms look larger than small tiles. When there are less lines for your eyes to break up the room will appear less chopped up.

Small rooms can also handle dark colors without feeling too small, but we’ll save that conversation for another day.

The moral of the story? Just because your room is small, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve some pattern and character! Visit the virtual room designer on our website and try on different floors to see what you can come up with!

Kitchen:

• Add a backsplash – either something decorative and functional behind the stove or sink area or all of the walls in the kitchen.
• Tile the front of a bar area if there are footprints on the sheetrock.
• Tile a table top for added protection and color.

Bathrooms:

• Add a wainscoting of tile to the bathroom walls. Get creative, use multiple sizes and / or colors!
• Add or replace a sink backsplash with a decorative tile listello.
• Frame a mirror with decorative tile.
• Add tile behind your bathtub. Don’t be shy – go all the way up to the ceiling. Create an area that says, “Calgon, take me away!”

Other rooms:

• Add tile to a fireplace surround.
• Tile the risers of your stairs with a decorative tile.

For other ideas specific to your home or project, call or visit us today to get some ideas of what will work in your home and then we can give you a free estimate to help you decide! If these projects sound like more than you want to tackle, but you still want to add a splash of color, we’ve got area rugs for that. You can even buy online!

Additionally, tiles made with OutStand Technology contain some of the highest pre- and post-consumer recycled material contents (RMC) in the industry, which may help building and remodeling projects achieve credits and/or points in a variety of green building programs, such as LEED.

As part of the launch, Dal-Tile Corp. has unveiled two new product collections under the Daltile and American Olean brands that are the first to be manufactured with OutStand Technology: Daltile’s Colour Scheme and American Olean’s Urban Tones. The new collections are American-made and contain more than 60% RMC, including post-consumer recycled glass.

“Our objective is to manufacture the most innovative and sustainable products in the marketplace today,” said Lori Kirk-Rolley, senior marketing director for Dal-Tile Corp. “Our Color Scheme and Urban Tones’ product collections contain more than 60% pre-consumer recycled materials content, more than any other glazed porcelain tile in the industry, and are scratch- and stain- resistant, and features Microban® antimicrobial protection.”

During the manufacturing process, OutStand Technology’s patent pending glaze technique creates a crystalline-shield-like protection, which results in superior surface wear resistance. This protection will last the life of the tile, never needing to be reapplied and making the tiles perfect for heavy commercial applications. Tiles with OutStand Technology also have a high wet coefficient of friction, and are frost and chemical resistant.

One of the key ingredients in Dal-Tile Corp.’s new OutStand Technology is Microban protection. On an unprotected surface, bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes. Microban protection works continuously to keep tile surfaces cleaner for longer by inhibiting the growth of stain- and odor- causing bacteria. Additionally, unlike other antimicrobial agents on the market, Microban technology doesn’t require UV light to be effective. It won’t wash off or wear away, giving the tile an added level of durable, long lasting protection.

“Microban protection  makes the Colour Scheme and Urban Tones collections a great fit for use in education, healthcare, hospitality and other high traffic environments where protection against odor and stain causing bacteria  is a concern,” said Kirk-Rolley.

Additionally, depending on the building site, Colour Scheme and Urban Tones may help projects earn additional points in some green certifications for materials transportation, because they are manufactured in Dal-Tile Corp.’s state-of-the-art plant in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Also, since some government-funded projects or contracts mandate the use of American-made products, Colour Scheme and Urban Tones field tiles meet that requirement.

The new Colour Scheme and Urban Tones collections have been certified by the Porcelain Tile Certification Agency (PTCA). Some foreign imports entering the market today claim to be porcelain tile, but do not actually meet the U.S. standards for porcelain, putting those who specify tile at risk of choosing an inferior product for their projects. PTCA protects them by guaranteeing the products specified are, in fact, porcelain tiles.

New Product Introductions:

Daltile’s Colour Scheme – Glazed Porcelain Floor Tile

Colour Scheme is a glazed porcelain floor tile that pairs a sleek, contemporary look with the high-performance and eco-friendly benefits of OutStand Technology, which includes Microban Technology.

The new collection is available in a wide color palette, including 12 solid colors (Arctic White, Black, Urban Putty, Biscuit, Uptown Taupe, Desert Gray, Suede Gray, Galaxy, Cityline Kohl, Artisan Brown, Garden Spot and Luminary Gold) and 11 “salt and pepper” colors (Arctic White Speckle, Black Speckle, Urban Putty Speckle, Uptown Taupe Speckle, Desert Gray Speckle, Suede Gray Speckle, Galaxy Speckle, Cityline Kohl Speckle, Artisan Brown Speckle, Garden Spot and Luminary Gold Speckle). Colour Scheme is available in three modular field tile sizes (6”x 6”, 12”x 12” and 18”x 18”) and is designed to coordinate with Daltile’s Keystones floor and wall mosaic tiles and Semi-gloss and Modern Dimensions wall and mosaic tile collections, as well as mosaics that feature the same colors. A full commercial trim package completes the collection and is available in all solid colors.

Think about starting your day with your feet hitting the floor and your feet not being so cold that it sends shivers through your whole body, but instead feeling warm and cozy. Imagine stepping out of the shower or tub onto a warm tile floor. Wouldn’t it be nice to stand in front of the coffee pot waiting for your coffee on a warm tile floor rather than a cold one?

Some things you might not know:

• You can install radiant heat in small areas such as a bathroom or a large area such as a kitchen or even your whole home.
• Radiant heat warms the floor and not the air so you don’t lose heat when doors are opened.
• It doesn’t stir up dust so there is no concern for allergies with radiant heat.
• When your feet are warm – so is the rest of your body!
• Radiant heat does not cause significant increases to your power bill.

Call us today at 1.877.525.0066 to discuss your project to see if radiant heat flooring is right for you. Our knowledgeable sales staff is standing by to answer your questions about radiant heat flooring.

Tile countertops often have a bad reputation for two main reasons. First, people comment on the potential for the grout to stain. Second, people comment that the grout joints make the surface uneven to cut on. There are two very simple solutions to these concerns. To avoid grout staining, simply use an epoxy grout or a penetrating sealer. To avoid cutting on an uneven surface, a cutting board should be used. In fact, a cutting board should be used anyway!

Some advantages to using tile countertops:

• More durable than laminate
• Long lasting
• Easy to maintain
• Can coordinate with the floor or backsplash tile
• More cost effective than solid stone slabs
• Multiple options for edge treatments (matching or coordinating tile, wood, decorative tile)
• Multiple design options such as modular installation, diagonal installation or offset joint installation

This photo shows how you can use a larger floor tile, but still coordinate the countertop and backsplash with the same tile – just using different sizes and installation techniques. This image also shows how well tile trim pieces finish off the edge of the countertop. (Be careful when shopping, not all tiles are offered in sizes suitable for countertops nor are trim pieces available for all tiles)

Don’t forget about using granite tiles on the countertop. This is a great alternative to a natural stone slab and even has smaller grout joints if that is a concern for you. The pieces can be cut down to form the finished edge of the countertop.

What other advantages do you find that tile countertops offer? Leave us a comment!