Tile Floors
I 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. I 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 North America). Does the installer you may be considering understand the risks with installing directly to concrete or a plywood sub-floor? Will they use a tile specific under-layment to mitigate those risks?
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, I am your contractor of choice! I 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.
What Type of Tile for Your Floor?
I 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.
Shade Variation
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.
Recent Tile Floor Projects
Kaleb is a true artist and perfectionist when it comes to installing tile. He did an absolutely beautiful job on our kitchen backsplash and it came out better than I expected. I would recommend him 100%. He is extremely professional, punctual, and gets the job done in a timely manner with beautiful results.
We recently moved to the Rutland area and were searching for a flooring guy. When we called Rutland tile Co and spoke to Kaleb,he got us into his schedule right away. He came out to see our tile job and was very informative .Soon after he ordered the materials we needed and scheduled the installation. When the day arrived, Kaleb was on time and explained what he needed to do, and got right to work. We did 3 rooms and it was not an easy job.Kaleb worked long and hard...The results were more than we expected..great job !!!
Kaleb did our very tricky large-format porcelain tile kitchen backsplash, which goes from the countertop to the bottom of the upper cabinets. He had thought out a plan before he came, but was also very open to listening to our ideas. At the same time, my recommendation is to always ask for Kaleb’s opinion on what will work best and why. It was hard to find anyone with the skills and experience to do this, but Kaleb had both, as well as professionalism — he came when he said he would, stayed until the project was finished, and was very neat during the whole process. And he has very high standards, for himself and others. Kaleb is coming back to do a custom silicone color to better match the tiles, as the one we chose turned out a bit darker than the silicone sample stick indicated it would be. In his words, he wants us to be happy!
Kaleb did an amazing job installing a stone fireplace surround. He was quick to respond to our request for the project and communicated expectations and provided good recommendations for the materials and layout. He had such attention to detail yet was able to finish the project quickly and left no dust or cleanup for us to do. I would highly recommend him!
Kaleb replaced our walk in shower floor after we had a leak. Right off the bat he was on top of things, responsive and professional. He stopped by to assess what was needed ahead of time so he would be prepared to work. He showed up when he said he would, communicated with us and got the job done. He is very clean (a plus with tile dust) and also offered us guidance on our kitchen backsplash. He also answered all of my husbands questions and entertained him. Highly recommend him!
We have used Kaleb "Rutland Tile Company" a few times He has remodeled 2 bathrooms completely from Tile walls and floors and shower enclosers, He also put in 2 heated floors 1 in the bathroom and 1 in another area I would definitely Use him again. Very professional and neat. Very responsible. If he mentions a heated floor DO IT you wont regret it we LOVE ours
Kaleb replaced a kitchen tile backsplash for me. He communicated clearly and promptly and always showed up on time. Kaleb was also helpful talking me through some design choices with the backsplash. Most importantly, he took the time to make sure the job was done carefully and the final product is beautiful. I highly recommend Kaleb at Rutland Tile Company!
