Bathrooms

Bathrooms Installations

For our high-end bathroom installations, we offer a variety of tile installation services that will give your bathroom a fresh, new look. From classic tile designs to something more ornate and intricate, we can make the design of your dreams.

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Backsplashes

Installing a bathroom backsplash can make a real impact on the look and feel of your home, here are several things to consider when shopping for a tile backsplash.
A backsplash adds a personal touch to the room’s style. Your walls are open canvases and you can add your style to them with paint but nothing adds a stylish and personal touch like installing a backsplash with unique tile that speaks to you and your personality. There are endless tile choices, let your imagination and creativity be your guide and you can have something truly unique to you and your home.
Not all tiles will eliminate stain risks or be easy to maintain. It's important to be careful which tiles you choose for your backsplash. Not all tiles are great at reducing maintenance and certain tile choices could actually add to your maintenance workload and schedule instead of reducing it. For instance, while we love the look of natural stone, stone and marble are naturally porous materials so they are susceptible to staining and require scheduled maintenance with specialty cleaners and sealers. Small tiles may also end up needing more maintenance because they will have more grout joints and that’s where grease and dirt like to take up residence. If maintenance is a high priority for you, we recommend ceramic, porcelain glass or even metal tile. Because these materials are non-porous, stains will not be able to penetrate the surface of the tile. We also recommend an upgraded grout for backsplashes, one that has stain-resistant technology built-in. One last thing to consider if you are concerned with less maintenance: the larger the tile, the less grout joints and therefore the less maintenance needed.
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Think long term. Whenever you are investing in your most valuable asset (your home) you should make sure you are considering the long term impact. For example, if you plan to live in your home for a very long time you most likely do not want to be remodeling every few years due to rushing a decision as large as tile selection or which tile contractor you hire. It would be a shame to choose something just because it is on sale only to later find out there was a reason it was on sale or you really did not like it and are now either stuck with it or have to spend more money to change it out to something you will truly enjoy. On the other hand, if your home is temporary and you plan on putting it on the market within a few years, tile choices should be less about what you want and more for the general public. Choose neutral colors and tile that appeal to a larger group of people; think subway tile instead of mosaics. Subway tile is a classic look that has stood the test of time and is always in style. When considering a tile contractor to install your backsplash, do not rush to make your decision or choose based solely on something as fleeting as price. We understand HGTV makes it appear as if something like a kitchen backsplash can be installed, grouted and ready for action in just a couple hours, but that is not the case! They call that TV Magic in Hollywood but in the real world there is a lot more involved in producing quality work that will last for generations to come. Ask contractors what methods and materials they will be using. What grout and why? How about silicone caulking, will they use it in between the wall and the countertop? Or will they be grouting that joint? If they are removing an old backsplash, how will they protect the cabinets and countertops? How about protecting the rest of the home from fine dust? These are all valuable points to consider and make sure you get the answers you need.
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Porcelain Tile

Gauged Porcelain Tile exacts the benefit of much lower cost and none of the maintenance needed for natural stone. We believe they are a timeless and beautiful material that will greatly increase the experience of any room.

If you are looking for longevity and durability with the least amount of maintenance, you should be shopping for a porcelain tile. Porcelain is by far the most durable tile on the market, but beware not all porcelain is created equal! Here's some information on the properties of porcelain tile to assist you in your shopping. Porcelain tiles are typically made with "porcelain" clays that have specific properties. Typically, these tiles are dense and by definition, they have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Non-porcelain tiles have water absorption greater than 0.5%. There are both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles. It is important to know the difference, as the glazed variety is usually a little easier to clean. Typically, glazed porcelain tiles have filled in microscopic holes that could be present in the unglazed tile. On the other hand, unglazed porcelains may have better slip resistance.

Showers

Tiled showers are one of our specialties. When it comes to installing tile in your shower, one of the most important aspects of the shower is never even seen.

The work done before the tile installation needs to be precise and effective to ensure any water that makes it past the tile and grout goes down the drain and not into your walls and subfloor. This can cause major damage to your home! Most people and sadly even some contractors believe that tile and grout are waterproof, however, that is not the case. If steps are skipped during the preparation of the shower and waterproofing, you could find yourself with a leaking shower. Unfortunately, many of our clients call us after they start to notice excessive mildew growing on their grout joints or see damage to the sheetrock or baseboard directly next to their new shower. This is often the result of a shower not properly prepared for tile installation. Unfortunately, if you can see water damage from a leaking shower, in most cases the only fix is a complete remodel. It can sometimes take years for a leaky shower to show itself on the surface, meanwhile, the damage is taking place inside the walls.
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There are multiple acceptable and TCNA (Tile Council of N. America) approved ways to prepare a shower for tile installation. We are familiar with all of them and depending on your tile choice, location, and budget we will always use one of the approved and time tested methods for shower tile installation and waterproofing. Many of the materials manufacturers offer great warranties when using their complete product line and we are happy to help you register for the warranty. Building a shower is like making a cake. You cannot skip steps and expect it to be beautiful and delicious. Some people can make a tasty cake but the presentation is poor, on the other hand, some might make their cake look good on the outside, but the taste leaves a lot to be desired! Just like it takes a real professional to bake both a good looking and delicious cake, it also takes a real professional to build a functional and beautiful tiled shower.
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When considering a large investment like a tiled shower, we urge you to take your time when choosing both the tile itself and the contractor you will hire. Take into consideration these 5 points.
1. Does the contractor specialize in shower tile installation?
2. What materials are being used for the waterproofing of the substrate?
3. Will a Flood Test be performed on the shower pan?
4. Does the manufacturer of the installation products offer a warranty?
5. Does the contractor offer a warranty on the workmanship?
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Tile Floors

We understand that when it comes to flooring options, you have a lot to choose from. If you are looking for an option that is permanent, clean, and green you should be seriously considering porcelain tile.

There are many options when choosing the perfect tile for your flooring needs and not all are equal. We recommend shopping with a locally owned tile distributor. They are more likely to take the time to understand what you need and are more than happy to point you in the right direction. We offer consultation for all your tile projects. When it comes to flooring many people skip some important steps. There are many significant questions to consider before mixing the thin-set and installing the tile on the floor. Is the floor level? Has anyone checked the uniformity to ensure that it meets the recommendations from the TCNA? (Tile Council of N. America) If installing directly over concrete, has your tile installer checked the absorption rate of the concrete to ensure a quality bond? Installing tile over a wood subfloor comes with its own unique set of challenges as well as a another set of tools and materials to perform the job correctly. Preparation is key when it comes to tiled floors and if you want something that looks amazing for generations to come while adding value to your home, we are your contractor of choice! We do not recommend installing temporary flooring and the last thing you want to do is install an expensive porcelain tile on your floors only to have to remove it due to bonding issues or other tile installation failure.
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What Type of Tile for Your Floor? We Recommend Porcelain Tile. If you are looking for longevity and durability with the least amount of maintenance, you should be shopping for a porcelain tile. Porcelain is by far the most durable tile on the market, but beware not all porcelain is created equal! Below is some information on the properties of porcelain tile to assist you in your shopping. Porcelain tiles are typically made with "porcelain" clays that have specific properties. Typically, these tiles are dense and by definition, they have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Non-porcelain tiles have water absorption greater than 0.5%. There are both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles. It is important to know the difference, as the glazed variety is usually a little easier to clean. Typically, glazed porcelain tiles have filled in microscopic holes that could be present in the unglazed tile. On the other hand, unglazed porcelains may have better slip resistance.
Tile Classifications Tile is classified into 4 categories: Non-Vitreous, Semi-Vitreous, Vitreous, and Impervious. The water absorption determines the best area of use for each tile.
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Shade Variations The Ceramic Tile Distributors of America has come up with a shade guide that applies to ceramic and porcelain tile. The Scale is V1-V4. Shade variation is inherent in all tile products, including man-made tiles such as porcelain, glass and ceramic. Shade and texture will vary significantly from piece to piece within production runs. V1 shade variation has little or no change from piece to piece where a V4 will have a large variety of color and/or texture differences.
Dye Lots Ceramic tile is a natural material with a natural composition which becomes resistant when fired at very high temperatures. This process, however, can cause slight differences in the shades of color of a tile between one batch and the next. Therefore, tiles are grouped before packaging according to their “dye lots” or shade and their caliber. The “dye lot” (or shade of that batch of material) is then indicated on the label of every box. This is why when placing your order for tile, it is very important to order enough tile to not only complete the job but also to have extra for any repairs that may need to occur sometime down the line. Five to twenty percent extra tile should be ordered depending on the specified pattern.
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