Thursday, June 12, 2014

oooooo, Slate Tile

And the blogging continues.  Another type of stone that I wanted to talk about today is Slate, my favorite type of stone.  When you hear slate, you most likely think of roof slate tiles.  You would be surprised to know that SLATE is now used everywhere! On the floors, walls, ceilings and countertops.

One of the most important things to keep in mind about slate is that you only want to work with GAUGED slate.  Gauged Slate has one side which is calibrated for easy installation whereas engaged slate has an uneven surface on both sides which makes it very difficult to install.

Tons of people use slate for their patios and porches, however, slate is not becoming a favorite for indoors also.  I've had customers who have out slate al through out their house, in their bathrooms, kitchen, etc.

One of the reasons why I love slate is because it is waterproof and stain resistant.  This mean you can put slate in your bathroom, kitchen, pool area, and/or any other wet areas of your home or business.  Slate is also a heavy duty tile, and we actually have it installed at the entrance of our store.  All kinds of heavy items go through our front door on a daily basis - slate holds up really well against heavy traffic and weight.  We love it & have had zero problems with it.  Aside from all its benefits, slate just looks pretty! The tile is absolutely gorgeous, have a look for yourself.
California Gold Slate in the backyard.

Indian Autumn Slate by the pool.

 California Gold Slate in the French Pattern - love, love this!

 Jack Multi Slate in a bathroom.
Autumn Rustic Slate all over the bathroom.

Indian Autumn Slate in a bathroom.

Sorry, I go picture crazy when it comes to slate - just love the stone.  It is absolutely gorgeous!

Do remember that Slate does have to be sealed as it does tend to flake if it is not sealed properly.  As with any other natural stone, you have to take care of this stone.  Do not clean it with anything that contains Lemon Juice or Vinegar.  Gran Quartz has some great cleaners and sealers, we do carry the sealers and cleaners at all our locations in case you are looking for it.

If you have any questions about slate or need cleaning tips, please don't hesitate to email me. 

If you have tips/experiences/comments that you would like to share about Slate Tile, please drop in a line.  I am sure others will benefit from it!

Happy Thursday! Have a fantabulous day!

"God has planned happiness for each one of us at the right time in our life.  The only things is that he does not share his calendar with us.  So...enjoy the surprises!" - Unknown




Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Natural Stone vs Ceramic/Porcelain Tile

Are you like a million other customers trying to decide between Natural Stone (travertine, marble, slate) versus Ceramic/Porcelain Tile for your home?  I have customers who come into the store everyday who are utterly confused about how to decide between the two.  I figured I would share what I tell them.

The single most important thing to know is that Natural Stone requires you to seal the product every few years whereas Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles require no maintenance at all.

Travertine has a very natural look, there will be variation in the stone, the stone is porous, but absolutely beautiful.  If you like variation on your floor and a rustic look appeals to you then Travertine is your stone!  However, if you like consistency in your floor, and really want everything to be unformed all the way through then Ceramic/Porcelain Tile might be what you need.

Another reason individuals choose Ceramic/Porcelain Tile is because it requires little to no maintenance. These tiles don't stain as easily, and generally are a bit cheaper than Travertine Tiles.

Here are some pictures of Travertine in various parts of the house, look at the variation in the stone! I, personally, love Travertine because of the natural color variations that the stone has.




Here are some pictures of Ceramic/Porcelain Tiles.  Note the consistency in the color.




I hope this helped! If you have questions or need help deciding between the two, please email me at info@quality-tiles.com & I will be happy to answer your questions!  

"Always, always make informed decisions before buying anything!"

Have a fantastic day!