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General Contractors Guide to Tile

It doesn’t matter if you are thinking of updating one room or the whole house. Chances are you are thinking about tile. With so many types of tile on the market, picking the right tile is tough. Inspired Remodels takes the headache out of picking the right tile. Take our advice as general contractors, decide on the tile material first and then the design of the tile. It makes the job of selecting tile much easier. Here’s a general contractors guide to the different types of tile.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile has been popular for hundreds of years. It is a clay-based product. You’ll find ceramic tiles in the bathroom and kitchen. They are on walls, floors, backsplashes and showers.

Ceramic tile is an easy care material. Like other hard surface materials, you can wipe up spills easily, vacuum and wet mop tile. Glazed tile doesn’t normally stain and it doesn’t absorb water. However, like with all tiles, you’ll want to seal the grout to protect staining, but ceramic tile itself does not need sealing. Because it is impervious to water, it’s perfect for bathrooms.

Ceramic tiles are made in squares, hexagons, circles and more. It is a relatively inexpensive tile. It is also not the hardest clay tile. So, it’s not the best choice for high traffic areas.

Porcelain Tile

There is a difference between ceramic and porcelain tile. Yes, both are clay-based products. But, there is a difference in the clay based used to make the tile. With porcelain, the clay is highly refined and much more purified than the clay used to make ceramic tile. In addition, porcelain tile is fired at a higher temperature. The result is a tile that is more durable and stronger than ceramic tile.

Don’t use the terms ceramic tile and porcelain tile interchangeably. They aren’t the same. Porcelain is more expensive than ceramic because it is more durable. Like ceramic tiles, it is glazed and will not absorb water. It’s equally at home in the bathroom as in the kitchen, hallways, mudrooms or other frequently trafficked areas.

If you pick ceramic or porcelain tile, when choosing the actual tile color or design, make sure it is a through-tile. This means the color is not only applied to the top of the tile but permeates through. This is a very important feature. Surface colored tile shows every chip and ding.

Satillo or Terracotta Tile

When you think satillo or terracotta tile, you usually think of patios and entryways. But it can be used indoors as well. This clay-based tile is not glazed and needs to be resealed every few years whether installed inside or outside.

It’s a warm looking and feeling tile. Satillo tile doesn’t get as cold underfoot at ceramic or porcelain. But, because it absorbs water, you don’t want to use it in the shower. But it’s perfect for sunrooms and transitional spaces.

Stone Tile

Limestone, marble and slate are all popular tiles for use throughout the house. Each type of stone has its challenges when it comes to installation. Installing stone tiles isn’t a DIY undertaking. This is one place where the work is best left in the hands of general contractors.

That being said, stone tiles are popular on bathroom floors, in showers, on walls and backsplashes. Depending on the stone you pick, it may need sealing periodically. Granite floors can be slippery and limestone is easily damaged by the wrong pH cleaner.

Talk to your general contractor about how you will use a space and who will use a space to determine if the stone you have in mind is a good match for your application.

Stone tiles can look warm (think limestone or slate) or cool (think granite or marble). When it comes to cost, stone will be more expensive than ceramic or porcelain. But with the proper care, it will last much longer.

Glass and Metal

These two materials get an honorable mention for their decorative applications. They are not suitable for floors, but make lovely accent tiles on walls, fireplaces, and backsplashes. Glass and metal may be mixed with other materials in a mosaic design. Both materials are easily scratched, so take care when cleaning.

General Contractors Make the Difference

When it comes to new tiles for the floors or walls, the general contractor you pick does make a difference. General contractors that have your best interest in mind will let you know if a material you pick isn’t the best material for the application. Respect their expertise and listen closely to their recommendations. When it comes to making dreams a reality, turn to Inspired Remodels. They will guide you through the design process and make sure the remodel is not only beautiful but functional.

Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today to talk about your next remodel or renovation. And if you decide to move instead of remodel, we can help with that too. Inspired Realty is our complete real estate brokerage firm.

Bathroom Remodeler Gets Creative with Tile

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel / Comments Off

Inspired Remodels, the inspired Orange County bathroom remodeler, has been getting creative with tile. Take a look at these recent jobs and you won’t look at tile the same way again.

Pebbles

Natural materials are so incredibly cool. That’s why they are hot. In the bathroom, pebbles bring to mind visions of bubbling brooks and babbling streams. Water and rock are paired in nature. That’s all the inspiration Jason and Joe Mueller need to create amazing bathrooms.

This soaking tub is perched on a pad of pebble tiles. The contrast with the wood is pleasing to the eye because wood and stone complement each other. Wood, water, and stone. It’s the beauty of the forest stream in your bathroom. Now your eyes may not see a forest stream, but your soul senses the spirit.

Pebbles are the basis of this shower floor and also provide an accent stripe on the wall. Once again, its wood, water, and rock. Except this time, the wood is tile. Just close your eyes and you are transported from your Orange County bathroom to the outdoors, showering peacefully in nature. It’s inspired!

Wouldn’t You Know – It’s Not Wood

While wood provides natural beauty to the bathroom, it’s not terribly practical. Water ruins wood. It softens wood. Water promotes the growth of mold and wood fibers provide the food for fungus to grow. That’s the last thing you want in the bathroom, mold growth. Water also causes wood to swell. So, Inspired Remodels is the bathroom remodeler that gets wood looks into the bathroom without using wood. They use tile!

These tiles so perfectly emulate wood many of them even have grain and texture. Your toes won’t know it’s not wood, your eyes won’t know it’s not wood, but your mop will know for sure it’s not wood. Wood look tile is cleaned like standard, ceramic or porcelain tile. Get out the vacuum, get out the mop, get out the Swiffer. However you prefer to clean, you can use that method to clean this wood-look tile.

Like the look of reclaimed or distressed wood but not the price tag? Wood-look tile is the perfect solution. You get the historic, rustic feeling without breaking the bank.

This tile gives you the look of reclaimed wood with the price and ease of care of tile. As a bonus, it’s much easier and more practical to install radiant heat under tile floor. Wood expands and contracts under heat. While it’s possible to install radiant heat under some wood floors, it’s not practical for all wood floors.

Radiant heat is perfect for keeping the chill in the bathroom at bay. Tile and radiant heat are easy to install together. Wood-look tile allows you to get the warmth of radiant heat and and warm look of wood without the hassle of actual wood floors.

Inspired Bathrooms Start with an Inspired Bathroom Remodeler

Need a little inspiration for your next bathroom remodel? Contact Inspired Remodels. Want to freshen up a guest bath, redo a half bath, remodel a shower, or create a new master bath spa? Harness the creativity of Inspired Remodels. From pebbles, to wood-look, to the latest pattern tiles, Jason and Joe make your dreams reality.

Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today.

Shower remodel adds two niches to wall opposite shower head

Bathroom Contractor Talks Tile

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel / Comments Off

Bathrooms get wet. It’s their job. Every bathroom contractor knows that wet areas are no place for fiber surface floors. That’s why carpet isn’t used in bathrooms. Fibers plus water equals mold. That’s an equation for disaster. But tile plus water equals easy care. They are a match made in heaven. Tile provides a hard surface that doesn’t hold water. Mold dies a dry death without water. And when it comes to tile, you have so many options: natural stone, ceramic and porcelain are the most popular for the bathroom.

Carrara and Calcatta Tile

Italian Carrara marble has been revered for centuries. Michelangelo’s Pietà is carved from Carrara marble. Carrara and Calcatta tiles are natural stone options that are perfect for serene bathroom style.

Both are white with veins of black, gray, and gold. And, both of these materials are quarried in Italy. But, there are differences. The veins on Cararra are blurred and the white is not pure white. It’s still quite lovely, but it is less costly than Calcatta. When you compare Carrara and Calcatta the difference is obvious. Calcatta is very white and the vein lines are crisp and clear. It is a more costly marble.

Granite Tile

Like Carrara or Calcatta marble, granite is a hard-working, hard surface for the bathroom. It stands up to heat, humidity, and splashes of water. Granite is perfect for countertops, showers, shower benches, or floors. Did you know that granite is a great conductor of heat? Granite tiles installed over a heating mat make for toasty toesies on cool mornings.

Don’t think you need granite on every inch of the floor to enjoy the natural look of this stone. Here, granite accents make all the difference in this floor design.

And speaking of accents, notice how this granite tub surround plays well with the white of the soaking tub and the gray of the walls. Very soothing!

Porcelain Tile

When it comes to versatility, porcelain tile is the winner. Ceramic and porcelain are both made from clay and then fired. Porcelain clay is more refined and purer than plain ceramic clay. It’s also fired at a higher temperature. The result is tile with a low moisture absorption rate. It resists stains and water. The sky is the limit when it comes to sizes, shapes, colors, and styles. Just take a look at this bathroom.

Porcelain tile is used throughout. But, while the tiles are all in the same color palette, they are very different. Notice the different shapes. The hexagons on the floor contrast with the rectangles on the wall. This breaks up the space and successfully pairs large and small sized shapes for maximum eye appeal. Porcelain can even resemble wood.

This tile has all the warmth of the look of wood with all the durability of porcelain tile.

The Right Floor from the Right Bathroom Contractor

Get the right floor for your bathroom. Work with the right bathroom contractor. Inspired Remodels is the Orange County bathroom contractor that understand bathrooms are hard-working rooms. Jason and Joe Mueller design and then build functional and fabulous bathrooms using a variety of materials.

Dreams become reality when Inspired Remodels is on the job. Find out what tile works best with your sense of style and budget. Call (949) 716-1938 today. Need inspiration? Check out our bathroom remodel portfolio.