From the Floors Up

Understanding Your Flooring: Tile

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Homeowners and business have been using tile in their design for centuries. This timeless flooring option has evolved way beyond just ceramic and porcelain tiles. Today, granite, marble, glass, limestone, terracotta, and more, flood the industry with many gorgeous designs. These incredibly entrancing floors can turn any bathroom or kitchen into a beautiful masterpiece. From floor tiles to backsplashes, tiles are adorned for their high aesthetic appeal and sophisticated designs. While functionality, affordability, and durability can all be determining factors in your flooring, we will give a better understanding of tile and see if it is best suited for your needs:

Tile is an extremely durable floor. While tiles can crack, they are suitable for extreme heat like around fireplaces, can be put in wet environments like showers, and some can even withstand the treacherous conditions of the outdoors and be installed on patios.
Scratch resistance will simply come down to the tile you choose. While most tiles can withstand some scratching, painted tiles and glass tiles are not recommended in these areas. Make sure you know if your tile will scratch easily because this can determine if it needs to be sanded or feature unsanded grout.
Tile is porous, which means water can travel through it. However, tile is usually treated and will have a waterproof underlayment to allow it to be installed in shower systems or as a backsplash. Tile is one of your best routes to go when installing floors in a wet area.
Unfortunately, if you fall on tile, you will notice. This is not the most comfortable or forgiving flooring option. If you worry about slipping, make sure to invest in a slip-resistant tile in wet areas.
While spills and accidents will be easy to clean, the floor is not forgiving for falls. Be cautious of installing tile in areas where kids may fall or slip.
Because tile is porous, it is susceptible to staining. Your grout can stain as well. Most grout and tile are treated to prevent staining. Make sure you keep up on the maintenance of your tile to avoid unwanted staining.
While not the most expensive flooring option, tile is generally a little more expensive. Installation for shower systems and backsplash can be on the higher end as well.

Tile can really enhance your home’s look. Consider adding tile to your kitchen or foyer to create your dream oasis. Tile has been around for centuries and rightfully so. This timeless option can truly make a room stunning. For more insight and analysis on different flooring types, make sure to subscribe and check out more of our series.

What is Engineered Tile?

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What is engineered tile? You have probably heard of it before, but are unsure how it differs from traditional tile. To help expand on the topic, we dove deeper into discussing what it is and why you should choose it.

What is it? 

You may be wondering how engineered tile differs from traditional tile. What exactly is the difference? Engineered tile is built on a stone composite base to help deliver it with incredible durability and resilience. This tile differs from your traditional ceramic and porcelain tile options because of its strength. 

Why choose it? 

	1. Stylish. 

Engineered tile comes in a wide selection of designs that have been inspired by elements found in nature. You can find anything from a wood-like finish to classic tile. If you choose a class tile look, you can have your engineered tile installed with grout to create a more authentic look. Otherwise, you have the option to work without grout for a more seamless and aesthetically-pleasing look. 

	2. Durable.

Like we mentioned before, the resilience found in engineered tile is outstanding. If you were to drop something hard on your traditional tile floors, you would often find a crack. With engineered tile, you will find a more resilient and durable flooring that can handle drops and accidents. This attribute helps to make engineered tile a greater investment. Plus, if damage were to occur in your engineered tile, it is easier to replace than traditional tile. 

	3. Comfort. 

You will find that traditional tile floors are often hard and cold. It can feel uncomfortable to stand on for hours at end, especially in kitchens when prepping meals. With engineered tile, you can receive the natural tile look with more warmth and comfort. Engineered tile offers a softer underfoot to help your feet feel at ease during meal preparation. 

	4. Quick Installation.

You will find that engineered tile comes with a fast and easy installation process. Helping to make your remodel process go by faster for more enjoyment. 

	5. Easy-to-Maintain. 

With engineered tile, you are guaranteed an easy to clean and maintain flooring option. Plus, this flooring is extremely resistant to stains and scratches helping to make accidents less tragic. 

	6. Versatile. 

Amongst the vast selection of styles, engineered tile can be installed on your walls for a transitional look in bathrooms and kitchens. 

 7. Long-Lasting. 

Engineered tile is long-lasting with high performance and beautiful features. It truly is an incredibly flooring choice for your home.

What are your thoughts on engineered tile? We would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section.

The Benefits of Natural Stone

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Stonewhy01We love telling you about the advantages of this product because we know how much you value the true and the genuine in life.

Natural stone is the real deal. Strong, solid and stable to live with (be still our heart), this is the world’s oldest building material. It was the material of choice for Egypt’s pyramids, Grecian temples and splish-splashing in Rome’s ancient baths. (Imagine you in a marble bath in your home!)

Natural stone is beauty solidified. From granite, the hardest, most dense stone, to luxurious marble, from soft limestone to “touch me” travertine, natural stone exudes elegance, transforms your home – speaks to your soul.

Natural stone has a unique personality. Quarried from Mother Earth, natural stone’s “complexion” is impacted by temperature, pressure, minerals and underground springs. Each slab cut from this environment is one-of-a-kind. You’re not imitation. Why should the “face” of your home be?

Natural stone invented variety. You only need to walk a seashore, lakeside or riverbed to experience the variety of stone. Colors, patterns, finishes and textures beyond imagination – all available for the walkways of your home.

Natural stone can be affordable. (Now we’ve really got your attention.) Today’s stone quarrying and processing technology is more efficient than ever before. Automated equipment cuts the stone in thinner slabs for less cost and, being lighter, it’s cheaper to transport. You’re the solid winner.

For the joy of you list lovers, here are ALL THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL STONE FLOOR COVERING:

• Natural stone is genuine, timeless and authentic

• Natural stone embodies beauty and rich character

• Natural stone is singular, exclusive, one-of-a-kind

• Natural stone offers variety, choice, imagination

• Natural stone has become more cost conscious

• Natural stone virtually always adds resale value

• Natural stone is ideal for radiant heat applications

Feel free to call me for more information or to ask a question.

And don’t hesitate to leave a comment here – we’d love to hear from you!

Designing a Room from the Floor Up

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If you have wood floors or carpet that you love, you can build a room design from the floor up. Often when designing a room, we begin with an inspiration fabric or accent color. Flooring is typically 30% of a room, so it should be a big factor in the overall design of the space.  Taking flooring into account at the beginning of your design will create a beautiful polished room in the end.

 

Even if you don’t love your existing flooring, choosing your flooring at the beginning of the design process is a good idea. Think of how you will use the space. Kitchens and bathrooms have different flooring needs than living and bedrooms. Do you have pets? Kids? High foot traffic? All of these should be taken into consideration when choosing flooring types and colors.

 

Once you have your beautiful floors selected, you can begin building your room.  Get samples of paint, wallpaper, fabric and accent colors to create a unified design.  When selecting colors for the room, take into account the color and tone of your floors.  Dark or light, warm or cool tones in the flooring will make wall and fabric colors look differently.  Keep floor color in mind especially if you have wood furniture on wood floors. A little bit of contrast between the woods will make the furniture stand out more; similar colors will make the two elements blend together.

 

Remember, if it all seems too overwhelming, involve the help of a flooring professional. They can help you pull everything together.

 

Transitioning Between Flooring

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Having a single type of flooring throughout a home or story means you don’t have to worry about the transition between two types of flooring at a doorway or opening. If you have more than one type of flooring, creating the smoothest transition between materials is important to give your floors and home a polished look.

 

Transitioning between different types of flooring can mean going from hardwood to carpet between the hall and bedroom or from carpet to tile between the bedroom and bathroom. Sometimes the transition will be between hard surfaces like tile and hardwood.  Each of these types of transitions may require something different to protect the materials.

 

This picture illustrates a smooth transition from tile in the kitchen to hardwood in the hall. There is a nice and tidy line between the two materials. Having similar colors between the tile and wood also eases the visual transition as well as the texture transition.

 

Some homes use raised threshold between rooms and different types of flooring. When used with wood flooring, the door threshold, sometimes called a saddle threshold, is made of the same type and stain as the wood floor to aid in continuity.

 

How you transition between two types of flooring is both a personal choice and what is best for the longevity of the materials. Carpet will have different considerations than tile or wood. For decisions involving flooring, it is always best to ask your flooring retailer or installer. They can recommend the best option for both you and your flooring.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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