Infloormation

Tile countertops are one of today’s popular design choices and have several benefits that you should be aware of! Below are some of the advantages of tile countertops as well as solutions for two of the most common concerns about tile countertops.

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!

The  full backsplash is often forgotten because people think they have the backsplash covered with the 4″ splash that generally accompanies the countertop. A tile backsplash not only serves the functional purpose of protecting the wall,  but it also serves as a design element that can tie your whole kitchen together. Why not do all you can to decorate with your backsplash in addition to using it for wall protection?

In this kitchen example, Dal Tile does a great job of coordinating the floor tile with the wall tile. The floor tile and the wall tile are actually from the same collection, they are just different sizes used in different patterns. Note that the floor is one pattern while the field of the backsplash is another pattern with the accent behind the stove an additional pattern.

Let’s focus on the accent design behind the cook top. Dal has used a few simple elements to create a dramatic and stylish focal point for this kitchen. As already mentioned, the tile used here is the same as the floor and the field tile of the backsplash, but is used in a diagonal installation in the center behind the cooktop. Taking the diagonal installation one step further, dots were placed in the intersections of the tile to coordinate with the countertop.

To make the area stand out even more, the diagonal tiles are framed with a chair rail creating dimension and depth in this area. The introduction of the additional color does a great job of drawing attention to the picture frame as well as providing a tie in to the cabinets.

To keep everything from being a solid color in the kitchen, Dal used a mosaic to create an additional border around the chair rail or picture frame. This makes the whole area behind the stove feel larger and brings in multiple additional colors that can be used for coordination of other decorative items in the kitchen such as dish towers, artwork, dishes or fabric.

This design is artful, timeless and a great example of how to use multiple tiles in multiple sizes to create a beautiful kitchen tile design.

This photo features Continental Slate Brazilian Green 18 x 18 , 12″ x 18″, 12 x 12 , 6 x 6 field tile with 4 x 12 border and Fashion Accents Antique Pewter chair rail. Modified Hopscotch (Cont. Slate) pattern shown on floor.

Experiment with tile designs using these products in our virtual room designer. Or upload your own room to see what these tiles will look like in your home!

This use of tile on the wall in this powder room is referred to as wainscoting. Wainscoting can be higher up the wall than this, but in this case it only goes to about chair rail height. It can include tile that is larger, smaller, in different patterns, different styles and more.

This tile does a great job of giving this small bathroom some personality and interest. The particular texture of this tile is its best feature. Not only does this tile install look fantastic, but it serves a purpose as well! The tile serves as a sink splash as well as wall protection.

Because this tile stops below the chair rail it allows a different texture and wall surface to be installed above the chair rail. In this case, the wall above the chair rail is darker than the bottom half of the wall. This keeps a small room from feeling smaller with all of the walls being dark.

Also worth noting, the style and elegance of the toilet and sink. The lines of these fixtures compliments the beauty of the tile on the wall. Also, notice the toilet paper holder is the same finish as the hardware on the other fixtures. It’s all in the details…..

When you are ready for a new tile floor, there is one important ingredient that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. That’s the selection of a grout color. All floors have to be grouted in order to protect the edges of the tile and fill the space in between tiles. You might be wondering, “Why is this so important?”

Different grout colors can change the look of your tile floor. For example, if you have a white tile floor and you choose a dark or colored grout the grout lines are going to be more pronounced and noticeable than if you were to use a white grout which would blend with the tile. In most cases, you want the grout to blend or go away. After all, you are paying for the look of the tile and not the grout! In some cases, for example if you are using a black and white floor in a checkerboard pattern you have to choose a grout color to blend with one of the two tiles.

Choosing the right grout color depends on your goal.

If your goal is for the grout to just serve as a filler rather than a decorative element, choose a grout color that blends with the tile. If there are multiple colors in the tile, the best way to blend the grout to the tile is to choose a grout color that most closely resembles the color on edge of the tile. Since there are so many tiles offered and only a handful of grout colors, choose the color that blends best with the tile. The grout doesn’t have to match exactly. (The actual color will vary slightly from the sample anyway)

You may have a concern for dirt and staining of your grout. This doesn’t mean that you have to choose a grout color that is much darker than your tile. Be aware that you can still use a light grout color in high traffic areas, but you would need to seal it in order to protect it from staining.

Another goal may be to use the grout color to tie in an accent color. Be advised that your home’s accent color may change and you will be stuck with the accent grout color. There are ways to change grout colors, but why take the risk?!? Make use of your accent colors in other areas such as home decor items and art.

If you choose a grout color that changes the appearance of your tile floor in a way you were not expecting, know that you can change the grout color. The grout can be removed, but this needs to be done by a professional because the edges of the tile can be permanently damaged during the grout removal process. Another alternative is to use grout stain. This is much easier and can be performed by you if you have  the time and patience!

When shopping for a new tile floor, feel free to ask a Pierce Flooring representative for advice on the right grout color. We’ve made these decisions many times and can offer advice about how to achieve the look and feel you are going for.

When it comes to choosing a surface for countertops, there are many choices including tile, granite, marble, travertine, limestone, quartz, glass, concrete, paper and other solid surface materials. Let’s take a closer look at tile countertops and the benefits of using tile.

• Cost – tile can be a much less expensive alternative to solid surface products.
• Green – recycled tile products make great choices for countertops.
• Variety of color – There are many more styles and colors of tile to choose from than other products.
• Variety of sizes – Tile comes in a variety of sizes that can be used for countertops such as 4×4, 6×6, 12×12 and other sizes.
• Variety of styles – you can choose from ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, glass, metal and more.
• Ability to mix, match and coordinate – whether you want your countertops to match or simply coordinate with your floor, wall, shower or backsplash, tile gives you the ability to do so!
• Texture – tile countertops give you more texture than most countertop choices.
• Easy maintenance – just like tile floors, tile countertops are easy to maintain. Additionally, sealing your grout makes them even easier to maintain.

If you are thinking about tile for your kitchen counters, bath counters or powder room tops call or come in to see us today. We can show you the many options you have to choose from and provide a free estimate to see if tile is right for you and your budget!

Dallas, TX, July 25, 2009–Dal-Tile has launched a customized cutting service that allows any Daltile or American Olean ceramic or porcelain floor tile to be custom ordered in linear and rectangular sizes, ranging from a minimum of 2” wide to a maximum of 24” long. With the launch, a core assortment of products from top-selling collections in a variety of popular sizes is being offered with a short lead-time. Any of the brands’ other ceramic or porcelain floor tiles can be special ordered.

The service, called Linear Options under the Daltile brand and Linear Express for American Olean, uses the company’s automated cutting equipment to create the custom sizes at the Dallas factory. Tiles can be specified with straight or beveled edges so that all four sides have the same visual appearance. In preparation for the launch of this service, Dal-Tile has made significant investments in new equipment and space at its manufacturing facilities.

“Before our linear-cutting service, anyone looking for linear shapes and rectangular sizes were either limited to a handful of collections that offered those options premade or they had to have the tiles cut down at the job site by their installer. Now, any Daltile or American Olean rectified porcelain tile or glazed floor tile can be ordered in popular linear and rectangular sizes, making the design options virtually endless,” said Lori Kirk-Rolley, senior marketing director for Daltile.  “And since the custom cuts are done at the factory, the quality of the cuts is more consistent and higher quality than doing it by hand.  Additionally, we’re helping reduce labor costs at the jobsite by removing this extra step in the installation process.”

The core assortment of products were selected from many popular porcelain tile collections and are being offered in a range sizes with a three-week lead time, including floor tiles from Daltile’s City View (2” x 24”, 4” x 24”, 6” x 24”), Concrete Connection (3 ¼” x 20”), Metal Effects (3 ¼” x 20”), Fabrique (2” x 24”, 4” x 24”, 6” x 24”), Monticito (6” x 18”), Veranda (3 ¼” x 20”) and Vibe (2” x 24”, 4” x 24”, 6” x 24”) collections and American Olean’s St. Germain (2” x 24”, 4” x 24”, 6” x 24”), Avenue One (2” x 24”, 4” x 24”, 6” x 24”), Nouveau (2” x 24”, 4” x 24”, 6” x 24”) and Ultra Tech (2” x 24”, 4” x 24”, 6” x 24”) collections. However, any ceramic floor tile, including these core offerings, can be custom cut to any size within the minimum width (2”) and maximum length (24”) limits, with lead times to be determined at the time of the order.

This photo features Octagon & Dot in Matte White with Matte White Dot floor tile and Rittenhouse Square wall tile in White 3 x 6 from Dal Tile .

This bathroom is a good example of a clean, classic and timeless bathroom. Let’s look at some of the design features of this bathroom.

• The octagon shaped tiles on the floor provide an interesting focal point for the bathroom without being overwhelming. A subtle focal point.
• The “subway” shaped tiles on the wall compliment the floor tile without matching
• The white tiles allow the walls, towels and artwork in the room to be changed at any time to any color
• Use of the chair rail and base molding keep add dimensional detail
• The size of the floor tile will help with slip resitance

The use of multiple tiles in a neutral color like white in this room demonstrate how the use of white tile does not have to  be boring!

Rittenhouse tile is available in multiple colors and sizes such as 2×4, 3×6, 2×6 shelf rail, 3×6 harlequin, 3×6 decorative accent, bullnose and cove base. All of these different sizes allow for endless design possibilities. Come in to our showroom today and make your own floor and wall design combination.

There are so many tile and stone choices out there to choose from. From plain and neutral to colorful with lots of movement and range. When shopping for tile or stone it can seem very easy just to pick the most neutral tile in the bunch and call it a day. Before choosing a plain neutral tile, here are some things to consider about tiles with color range and movement. This is particularly important because hard surfaces like tile and stone are purchases that you generally don’t change – so you want to get all you can out of it the first time.

Tile or stone with color range can:

• Help tremendously with hiding dirt and dust (what else do you need to know!?!) The more color and movement in a tile, the more types of dirt and dust it can hide!
• Give a floor more dimension and life – instead of looking like a flat solid floor, tiles with color range and movement can make a floor appear to have more dimension
• Make the floor the focal point of the room – this is helpful if your furnishings are solid or plain and the room needs a focal point
• Give you colors to define your color scheme – the colors or different shades of the same color can give you a starting point for your design scheme
• Give you more options to change other areas of the room such as wall color or fabrics – with multiple values of color you have more choices to pull from

Don’t be shy when it comes to choosing a tile with color range or movement. One important hint: when choosing a tile that has range of color and movement, look at several pieces of tile together (and look at them in the area they will be installed if possible) to get an idea of what the overall look will be. One single tile will not give you an accurate representation of that the whole floor will look like. Also, when looking at several pieces of tile, walk back from the samples a few feet. This will give you a better overall idea of what the floor will look like.

To look at a room scene with plain tiles versus tiles with color range and movement, try our Virtual Room Designer!

Have you used a floor that has color range and movement? Send us a photo to share with others!

If you are looking for a way to add some pizazz to your kitchen while being practical at the same time, you might just need a backsplash. Most people forget about the actual function of a backsplash and just think of them as a desigin option. Backsplashes SAVE your walls from kitchen splashes, splatters and accidents. As a bonus, they can add style and a design element to your kitchen.

Design considerations:

• Tile size – layout the size of the tiles and the amount of space you have to work with before committing to a backsplash design
• Multiple tiles – if you are using more than one size tile or implementing a design, be sure to consider the placement of the electrical outlets
• Focal point – consider adding more decorative tiles and patterns to the area behind the stove or sink with a  picture frame design or simply changing the pattern of the tile installation
• Match or coordinate – the backsplash can either match the countertop or be a coordinating color or finish
• Countertop backsplash – it is optional if you want to keep/use the backsplash that comes with the countertop

Other considerations:

• Don’t forget about those outlets and outlet covers.  Consider changing at least the outlet covers to a color that compliments the color of the tile you chose for the backsplash
• Pay attention to where the tile will stop. If the tile does not end into a wall and ends into an area where the edge is exposed, that edge will need to be treated with something like bullnose or other edge treatment
• If you are using a light colored stone or grout, sealing the stone and / or grout is a must to protect those light colored items from kitchen stains like spaghetti sauce

Your Pierce Flooring representative can help walk you through all of design options and considerations for your particular project. If possible, bring pictures of your backsplash area. This will help your Pierce Flooring representative know what design options to show you as well as what other considerations need to be kept in mind during the design phase.

If you are considering flooring for a child’s room or playroom there are some points to keep in mind. Kids spend a lot of time playing on the floor so you want it to be as comfortable as possible, but also as durable as possible.

Comfort is important criteria when considering flooring for areas with children. Carpet is a natural choice, but which type of carpet? You will want to choose a carpet with high soil and stain resistance, tightly twisted yarns and density of a minimum of 35-30 ounces. Frieze’s are a great choice because they hide traffic, wear well and are available in soft yarns that kids can play on for hours.

If you are considering hardwood floors, choose a floor with a naturally occurring grain such as oak, pecan, cherry or hickory that will minimize the appearance of dirt and scratches. Also, a satin or semi-gloss finish will help reduce the appearance of scratches or dents.If you already have hardwood floors, consider placing area rugs or bound pieces of carpet over the hardwood floors for added comfort.

When considering tile, you will want to choose larger size tiles in order to minimize grout joints and also consider placing area rugs or bound pieces of carpet over the floors for added comfort.

As far as durability, there are 2 things to consider when thinking about carpet versus hard surfaces. Carpet has a less expensive upfront cost, but may need to be replaced after several years of wear, tear and staining from children where hard surfaces have a higher upfront cost, but can handle more wear, tear and staining from children in the long run.

Call or visit your Pierce Flooring representative today to discuss what options are best for your home and your lifestyle. Or, feel free to browse our website for options before you call or come in.