porcelain tile Archives - Inspired Remodels

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.

mixing metals in a strong kitchen renovation trend for 2019

Flooring Contractor Dishes on Wood-look Tile

Wood-look tile looks like a long-term trend. Tile can go where wood wouldn’t dare. Advances in tile-making technology are producing tile that looks close enough to wood you might fool termites. That is until they take their first bite. If you’re considering wood-look tile, get the scoop from Inspired Remodels, the Orange County flooring contractor that knows wood-look tile.

What is Wood-Look Tile?

Wood-look tile is a ceramic or porcelain tile that looks like wood. It is what it says. However, porcelain and ceramic are different. Porcelain is better suited for the kitchen. It resists stains better and is more durable.

Some wood-look tile incorporates grain. Not only does it look like wood, it feels like wood under your feet. But, it outperforms wood time and again.

What Makes Tile Better Than Wood?

Tile is durable. So is wood, but wood needs to be refinished. Tile floors don’t need to be refinished. Wood shows scratches, nicks, and dings. Tile stands up to abuse.

Water swells wood. Porcelain tile doesn’t absorb water. To qualify as porcelain, water absorption must be one-tenth of one percent or less (< 1/10th of 1%). That’s why wood-look tile is perfect for bathrooms, mud rooms and spa retreats. All the beauty of wood without the water-damage worry.

Maintaining tile is easy. Wood maintenance requires special products and techniques. Wood-look tile does not. Vacuum, sweep or mop. The choice is yours. Just keep it clean and it looks good for years.

Wood-Look Tile is Versatile

Wood-look tile is at home in any room in your home. It looks well with dark cabinets. Install it with light cabinetry. Doesn’t matter the wood used to make your wood cabinets, wood-look tile has an option to complement it. In the kitchen, it works and plays well with all appliance finishes. In the bathroom, you can use any color fixture. Any flooring contractor will tell you that wood-look tile doesn’t limit you, it actually makes more choices available.

Wood isn’t appropriate for high-traffic areas. Wood-look tile is. Foot traffic is no match for tile. It takes a beating and cleans up with a mopping. You can’t say that for wood floors. So, wood-look tile is perfect for entryways and mud rooms. You can even use some wood-look tile on exterior spaces to unify your home, inside and out.

Start with the Flooring Contractor that Knows Wood and Tile

Before you start shopping new floors, start with a flooring contractor that knows the pros and cons of all flooring. Call Joe at Inspired Remodels. Expert advice isn’t far away. Inspired Remodels is the Orange County based flooring contractor that works with all flooring materials. From porcelain, ceramic and glass tile to wood and high-end laminate, Inspired Remodels knows the brands that last and the looks you’ll love. Call (949) 716-1938 and schedule your consultation 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.