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How To Choose Tile For Your Kitchen

April 19, 2014 by

When its time to update your kitchen, even little projects can have a huge impact.

If you don’t have the desire to do a complete remodel, even something simple like changing out your flooring can set the stage for an entire new look. A dulling vinyl switched to a beautiful tile, for instance, can add appeal and value to your kitchen area.

Typically people choose tile in the kitchen for two reasons: it looks great and its one of the easiest flooring to maintain. If you have dogs and cats, or children of any age, maintenance is a big deal. With tiling, whatever they can dish out, your floors will take and keep looking great in the process.

How To Choose Tile For Your Kitchen

Your first task when choosing kitchen tile will be to decide what type of tile to install: stone or ceramic. Stone is a natural product that is taken directly from the earth. The three most common types of stone are granite, marble and limestone, with granite being the hardest.

In all circumstances, stone is a porous product, which means it is easily stained in its natural form. In order to resist staining and discoloring, you will have to seal and maintain it over time to keep its beautiful, natural look. Because the color runs all the way through, scratches won’t expose a different color. Yet the more polished the surface is, the more it will show marks and scratches. Something to keep in mind when installing on walls and countertops.

Ceramic tile is made from clay either sun baked or dried in a kiln. There are hundreds of options when it comes to choosing clay, each with their own characteristics and performance. Color is applied as a glaze at the time of sealing, so every color you could ever want is an option. Because color is surface only, it will show scratches that move through the color and down into the clay itself.

What tile is best for you and your family is usually based on personal preference, and ultimately your lifestyle.

  • Do you entertain a lot?
  • Do you have pets, children and all ages moving in and out of the kitchen daily?
  • Do you have large windows with lots of light?
  • Do you want easy maintenance?

With so many choices, its easy to find the perfect style for you. Yet the key is to listen to advice as you are making your final selection. Many clients have come in and chosen with their hearts, only to be disappointed because of the maintenance required       – something they weren’t expecting. If maintenance is a big deal – bigger than the final look – make sure you make a selection that fits your lifestyle first. With so many choices, you can find the perfect look and make your home liveable at the same time.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Filed Under: Flooring, Tile Tagged With: ,

How To Choose Tile For Your Bathroom

April 15, 2014 by

Like any home improvement project, remodeling your bathroom usually starts when you see something new. Maybe you’ve watched a home improvement show on HGTV. Or you’ve looked through the latest edition of Better Homes & Gardens. And there you see it; the perfect bathroom.

Except what you see in the magazines or on TV isn’t what you’ll find for your own bathroom. Instead, when you walk into a tile showroom, the first thing you usually feel is overwhelm.

With so many styles, colors, options, materials and finishes, where will you begin?

How To Choose Tile For Your Bathroom

Before you start your project, take a step back and start your planning process. What motivated you to want to redo your bathroom in the first place? What images or samples spoke to you? Do they fit within your current home décor?

There are many options available; some will be more traditional, some will help you keep historic perspective, some are sleep and modern. While they all look good on their own, if you begin combining looks in your own bathroom, things will quickly look out of place.

Create a portfolio of colors and styles you like. Print images from online, or cut pages from magazines and include them in your file. Then take pictures and draw out the thoughts for your new space. Will you keep the structure the same, or will you be moving things around and changing things up? Have you always dreamed of a steam shower, and now is your time to add one to the master bath? Whatever your dreams, make sure you include them in your concepts.

Then determine where you will include your new tile. Bathroom tile is usually in one of three places: the floor, the walls, and the counters. If you will be tiling walls, its usually at a wainscot height of 36 to 42 inches tall, shower height, or floor to ceiling. Take full measurements so you know how much tiling will be required in each area. This will also help when choosing tile, as patterned

Tiling doesn’t have to be the same in every location. However, it does have to match and blend. And if you are tiling the wall, it has to match and blend in with your fixtures as well. For instance, in the shower, fixtures should be centered within the tile layout for optimum effect.

There are lots of details to keep in mind as you select and finish your bathroom. Don’t worry, as a tiling expert, we can offer lots of solutions for you as you move through the process. Come in today and let us show you are complete line of tiling, and how it will look in your finished bathroom. You’re going to love the look.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Filed Under: Flooring, Tile Tagged With: ,

The Differences in Grout

February 22, 2014 by

Installing tiles involves an understanding of the differences in grout. You probably already know that grout itself is not a paver. It’s a material that is cement-based, and it is used to fill in spaces between tiles.

There are three types of grout that are used in tile installation: epoxy, sanded, and unsanded. So what are the differences in grout? It’s important to know so that you can complete the tiling job. Let’s take a look at the main differences in the types of grout available:The Differences in Grout

Sanded grout

This is the most common type of grout used for stone and ceramic tile, or any tile with bigger grout joints. Sanded grout is extremely absorbent, and if it is not sealed, it will soak up stains, dirt, and anything else that is spilled on the tile. Be careful about using sanded grout on polished stone such as granite, marble, or limestone, as it can scratch.

Unsanded grout

Unsanded grout is made for small grout lines, and it is like sanded grout except it doesn’t contain sand. It’s commonly called wall grout, and it is used on polished marble and ceramic tile. It is easier to work with than sanded grout, and is easier on your hands. It is especially useful on vertical surfaces such as a shower wall.

Epoxy grout

Epoxy grout is considered to be a top-of-the-line grout, and the best choice for the application of tile. It’s sturdier than sanded or unsanded grout, and needs no additional sealer. Epoxy grout is a waterless, two part grout made with epoxy resins and a hardener. Though they are the best choice, epoxy grouts are difficult to apply, and can be quite messy during application. Different brands of epoxy are more difficult to work with than others. Epoxy grout is the most expensive, but requires the least maintenance.

Taking the time to choose the right grout for your tile application is key in getting the job done correctly the first time around. Picking the wrong grout can result in many issues, so do yourself the favor of understanding grout’s power!

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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How To Choose The Perfect Grout Color

February 19, 2014 by

When you install tile in your home, not only do you want to choose the perfect tile, you also want to choose the perfect grout to complement your tile.

Grout is more than just a style enhancement for the tile – it serves a purpose of protecting the edges of the tile. However, since the grout is going to be seen right along with the tile, you want to choose the best color. Choosing the perfect grout color may seem like an easy task, but it is still something that needs a bit of thought and effort.How To Choose The Perfect Grout Color

  • In most cases, you want to choose grout that blends with the tile. This is because you want your tile to be the focal point of the floor, not the grout. Grout comes in a wide assortment of colors, so you should have no trouble finding a color that blends in with the color of your tile.
  • If you are trying to create a certain look with your tile and grout, such as a checkerboard pattern, then you will want to choose grout that contrasts with the tile. For example, pairing a white grout with dark tile will create a clearly contrasted appearance.
  • You can also choose a grout color that is more of an accent to your tile and the rest of your design theme. For instance, if you have a certain accent color that you are focusing on in a particular room, you can choose a grout color to match that accent color. The only drawback to this is that if you change the overall design theme in the room, as well as the accent color, you will need to change the grout color, too.

If you have any problems finding the perfect grout color, you can always ask a professional flooring contractor for advice. Once you have the perfect grout color to complement your tile, your flooring will be complete – and it will match the vision in your mind.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Filed Under: Tile Tagged With: ,

What Goes Under A Tile Floor?

February 8, 2014 by

If you are planning to install tile flooring in your home, you might think that the most important decision you will make is your choice of tile. While the tile you choose is important in terms of durability and aesthetic appeal, you have another important decision to make – one that can make or break your tile installation: Choosing the right substrate for ceramic tile.

Here are some things to keep in mind.What Goes Under A Tile Floor?

  • There are four primary types of substrate that are suitable for tile flooring – concrete, exterior plywood, sheet vinyl flooring, and backer-board.
  • Backer-board is made for the installation of ceramic tile. You can find it in various brand names, and it should always be your first choice.
  • Concrete is also suitable for tile, but you must remember the expansion joints. If you tile over these joints without some sort of crack suppression membrane, your tile will crack.
  • Exterior-grade plywood is suitable for ceramic, and it does not swell.
  • Sheet vinyl flooring will also adhere to ceramic tile, but it must be fully attached to the underlying floor, and it must only be one layer.
  • Avoid installing tile on these types of substrate: large areas of drywall; interior plywood; vinyl flooring with multiple layers; and OSB wood.

When choosing the best substrate for your tile flooring, keep in mind that you want to ensure that the substrate is resistant to moisture. If the substrate becomes damaged by moisture, it is going to affect your tile flooring.

If you are ever in doubt about your choice of substrate, do not hesitate to seek professional advice. You can talk to the staff at your local hardware store, or even call up a contractor and ask a few questions. Knowledge is power, so be informed to ensure the long life of your tile floor.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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What Are the Differences Between Indoor And Outdoor Tiles?

February 1, 2014 by

Tiles can be used all over home, both indoors and outdoors. They add a versatile beauty as well as offer durability.

If you have been thinking about choosing tiles for your home, you are making a smart choice as they are more popular than ever.

What Are the Differences Between Indoor And Outdoor Tiles?While tiles add a modern touch, it can be difficult to know which tiles to use inside and which ones to use outside of your home. If you choose the wrong tile, your floor could be vulnerable to corrosion and damage because of the conditions. Not everything can take the drastic temperature changes our Denver weather brings.

So what exactly are the differences between indoor and outdoor tiles? Here are a few key points about them:

  • Though durable, indoor tiles are not made to handle things such as frost and direct sunlight. On the other hand, outdoor tiles have the ability to handle these conditions and more.
  • Outdoor tiles should have a texture on their surface that assists them in resisting slips. Some special outdoor tiles have a surface that is a little gritty, and this provides excellent traction if the surface gets wet. Slip-resistant tiles will accumulate more dirt and will naturally require more regular maintenance.
  • Since outdoor tiles must endure conditions such as weather and temperature, they need to able to withstand wear and tear, so they will look more rugged. They also have a tougher glaze than indoor tiles.
  • Outdoor tiles must be frost-resistant and unglazed in order to withstand the repeated freeze/thaw cycles of winters without cracking.

The most common indoor tiles include porcelain, ceramic, marble, and slate. The most common outdoor tiles include ceramic, stone and mosaic. Porcelain tiles are made from a fine-powdered clay tablet that is pressed under enormous pressure and heat, even hotter than ceramic. Porcelain tiles are generally denser than ceramic tiles.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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Interior Design Trends for Using Tile In 2014

January 17, 2014 by

Tile designs for walls and floors come in many different designs that can add gorgeous decoration as well as value to your home.

Tiles for flooring and walls have been popular for many years, and their timeless qualities enable them to shine for years to come. Not only are they universally appealing, tiles can create a one-of-a-kind interior design for many rooms of your home, including the bath and kitchen.

Interior Design Trends for Using Tile In 2014Modern tile designs have the capabilities to add lovely color, interesting patterns, and unique textures to the interior of your home. There are many types of and sizes of tile designs, and prices vary as well. To help you in your tile design selection, here are some interior design trends for using tile in 2014:

Retro tile designs- The 70s are coming back in the form of retro designs with tile. Bronze, gold, and marble tiles with natural stone and metal textures add to modern design and create a nostalgic feel.

Metal tile designs- Shiny metal tiles add a touch of glamour to the design of your home. They also reflect any kind of light, which adds a lovely shimmer to rooms.

Porcelain tile designs- One of the most popular interior design trends for 2014 is the use of porcelain tiles. Innovative processes result in porcelain that looks and feels like real wood or stone.

Patterned tiles- Another hot trend for interior design with tiles is patterned tiles, which can create geometric patterns. One particular patterned tile trend is reminiscent of Moroccan designs, as tiles are placed together in a patchwork configuration.

You have the power to make a statement with your tile selection, and you can also turn an ordinary room into a remarkably stylish home. And it’s all possible with the addition of a fabulous tile floor that incorporates the best interior design tile trends for this New Year.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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Why Winter Is The Perfect Time To Install Tile Floors

December 26, 2013 by

After our recent weeks of cold here in Colorado, its hard to think of anything but staying warm. Fireplaces. Snugly blankets.

So if you’ve decided to make this the year you do a little bit of remodeling, the last thing you may be considering is something with a coolness to it. Like tile. Tiling may be beautiful, but is it the right choice for cold Colorado homes? Here are a few reasons it may be the perfect choice for your project.

Why Winter Is The Perfect Time To Install Tile Floors Low Maintenance

What do you hate the most about your current flooring? Too much maintenance? Scratches in the wood? Stains on the carpets? Today’s tiling is one of the easiest materials to maintain. You can choose to have tiles made from hundreds of materials and styles – natural stone, metal, glass. With proper sealants at application, tiling can become virtually indestructible and maintainable with little more than an occasional mopping and sweeping.

Large Selection

Part of the fun of tiling is the options are almost endless. What style are you looking for? What stone do you like? What size works best for your room? Tiling doesn’t even mean sticking with one tile for the entire room – mosaics and intricate patterns can all be used to give each room a unique look and feel. Our team of experts can help you create and decide upon a look that’s truly as unique as you are.

Perfect Time

When the snow is blowing and your favorite pet is tracking in ice, mud and leaves, new flooring is probably the last thing on your mind. Yet it’s the perfect time to install new tiles in any room in your home. With the ease of maintenance, you’ll be able to remove the problem within your home, and immediately have a floor you love and are happy to use all the time.

Still worried about the coldness of tile? Why not consider using radiant heat as well? As the tiles are being laid into place, a heating system is installed underneath the tiles, giving you the ability to warm up your space at a moments notice. And since heat rises, it can actually give you a feeling of having a warmer room even over the other options you may have had in the past.

Give us a call. We’ll show you how tile can be the perfect choice for your home improvement project.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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What You Need To Know About Bathroom Tiles

December 12, 2013 by

When you remodel your bathroom, the outcome can be a huge improvement to the value of your home.

Yet one of the main focuses of your new room – the tile flooring – can quickly go from beautiful to nightmare if the installation process wasn’t correct.

What You Need To Know About Bathroom TilesIn the flooring profession, the word “tenting” is one of the most feared words. If a bathroom tile is installed incorrectly, tiles can press up against one another until they pop up from the floor, causing a tent shape. And while tenting can occur anywhere in your home – almost every material in your home expands and contracts with time – the bathroom tends to be one of the worst places because of the temperature variation its subjected to.

As a homeowner, the risk factors can be reduced simply by knowing what choices to make when selecting tile.

To start, avoid large format tile. The larger the tile, the less room available for movement. The smaller the tile, the more grout joints will be in place, the more minor spreading out and movement can take place.

Look at your color choices. Darker tile absorbs heat, which means it will expand and contract more than light tile.

If you are completing the project yourself, make sure you have space between the tile and the wall. Using mortar to fill in the space between the tile and the wall can lead to tenting as you are decreasing the spacing for movement.

Upon completion, walk across every tile in the room. If you hear a hollow noise, it could be an early sign of tile bond failure. A hollow sound begins to form from poor mortar or thinset coverage, allowing space to begin to form under the tiles. You can also use a rubber mallet and gently tap tiles to find exactly where the hollow noise begins.

If you have a large bathroom – any room larger than 15 feet in one direction – an expansion strip inlayed into the tile can also help deter movement. There are also specialty thinsets and grouts to increase expansion and combat mortar fatgiue.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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The Advantages of Using Porcelain Tile Flooring

December 4, 2013 by

Porcelain tile flooring is the most popular type of tile right now in the residential market, and for good reasons! While ceramic tile is an acceptable choice, porcelain tile flooring provides advantages that simply can’t be beat.

Porcelain tile flooring is perfect for locations that have a lot of heavy foot traffic. It retains its beauty and great color while enduring lots of traffic. This is only one of the reasons why it is ideal for residential and commercial flooring. Here are some of the other advantages of porcelain tile flooring:

The Advantages of Using Porcelain Tile FlooringIt’s durable. Porcelain tile is both harder and denser than many other ceramic tile products, making it extremely durable. If installed properly, it can last a lifetime!

It doesn’t absorb moisture. Because it is so dense, porcelain tile flooring is less prone to moisture absorption, and it won’t crack. Porcelain tile is also frost-resistant, and often frost-proof. Also, less moisture absorption means less staining occurs on these floors.

It’s easy to maintain. Porcelain tile flooring is dense, so it is resistant to staining and it won’t harbor bacteria. You don’t have to polish or wax this type of flooring. All you have to do is simply wipe with a damp mop!

It offers a wide variety of styles. Porcelain tile flooring comes in a huge array of colors as well as textures and designs. Natural stone, metals, marble, and even woods can be recreated through porcelain tile flooring.

It’s versatile. Because it is so durable, porcelain tile flooring can be used inside or outside. It can be polished to a high sheen and used as a trim for windows and countertops.

It’s easy to see why porcelain tile flooring is becoming popular with homeowners and owners of commercial buildings. Weigh the pros and cons, and see how porcelain tile flooring can be right for your home!

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Filed Under: Flooring, Tile Tagged With: ,
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