4 Things to Know About Porcelain and Ceramic Tile – morrisherald-news.com

If you're building a new home, or renovating an older one, selecting new flooring can be fun but challenging. The options are nearly endless, so it's important to understand the benefits and the installation concerns of each type. If you're interested in beautiful, durable tile flooring, here are 4 things to know about porcelain and ceramic tile:

1. Porcelain tiles are fired at a higher temperature than ceramic, making them harder and more durable. Porcelain tiles aren't crack-proof, but if something heavy is dropped on it, porcelain tile is less likely to crack.

2. When installing a tile floor, a smooth, level surface is required before starting the project. "We sell the Schluter uncoupling Ditra floor system, which is ideal for the larger tiles that are so popular today," said Steve Meyer, owner of Steve's Flooring & Design. "This floor system for underneath the tile is available with heat cables that warm the floor and can be controlled by a programmable thermostat."

3. Rectified tiles have edges that are more square and are exactly the same size. "Since the tiles are identically sized, they can be installed with a smaller grout joint," added Meyer. "This gives the flooring a better aesthetic, and is easier to clean."

4. Less expensive tiles have a greater variance in size and thickness, requiring a larger grout joint. "We sell tile in a variety of price points, and all our tile lines have been selected for their quality and design," said Meyer. "For the popular larger tiles, it's important to avoid lippage, which occurs when adjacent tiles are higher or lower than the tile next to it. This can cause someone to stub a toe if the lippage is great enough. We use a tile leveling system to reduce lippage in our installations. We also recommend a standard 1/3 cut installation pattern, or a herringbone or pinwheel pattern, to reduce lippage when tiles aren't perfectly flat."

For more information, please contact:

Steve's Flooring & Design

717 Liberty St.

Morris, IL 60450

Phone: 815-941-4505

Email:stevesflooring@sbcglobal.net

http://www.stevesflooring-design.com

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4 Things to Know About Porcelain and Ceramic Tile - morrisherald-news.com