Local expert explains how to get the best tiling results – Fremont Tribune

If youre thinking of replacing the flooring in your home, then youre probably faced with a difficult decision.

Deciding whether your budget will cover laminate, wood or carpeting is only one decision. Homeowners must also choose the best flooring for durability, style and color.

For Tony Cruse, owner-operator of The Tile Company in Beaver Lake, the answer is simple: a quality tile that will endure many years to come.

Wood floors can get scratched and damaged from water. Carpet is easy to ruin and vinyl flooring tears and can also buckle, Cruse explained. Tile does add value to your home and really lasts forever. Its the grout that goes bad. Its important to get a stain-proof, crack-resistant grout, especially if youre using a light colored tile.

Cruse has been in the tiling business for 25 years. He is especially expert at installing custom-designed tile showers and flooring.

Decorating with tile is especially popular not only for interior flooring but outdoor kitchens, lounge areas, patios or decks. Tile is durable, but you need to choose a type that will endure the different elements. For outdoor use, I recommend thaw-proof porcelain tile, Cruse said.

Ceramic tile frost resistance or thaw-proof porcelain tile has the ability to withstand freeze/thaw conditions during the winter months with minimal effect. The frost resistance of ceramic tile is dependent on the tiles porosity and water absorption levels.

Porcelain, granite, slate, marble, travertine, limestone and quartzite are good options, depending on the climate in which a person is having it installed.

Whether its an interior or exterior installation Cruse said gray is one of the most popular color choices. Gray is big and so is white. Patterns are especially popular and herringbone patterns are very big, Cruse explained.

Cruse stressed the importance of choosing quality tile when doing a project. Dont go cheap on tile. Its usually uneven and doesnt look as nice when laid out. Fads are hard to replace, he said.

Although many people opt to install tile themselves, if they do not have an expertise in laying tile they need to hire a professional.

Its not as easy as it looks. Many people do it on their own, but dont understand the importance of keeping it level. Unlevel tile causes the grout to crack. Also using the proper grouting makes a big difference, Cruse said.

Poured showers can be especially challenging. They are hard work and, if not done right, can cause leaking later, which means it has to be torn out. Do not hire based on price. Paying cheap usually means the work you end up with will cost you more in the end when it has to be redone.

Cruse may be contacted through The Tile Company by emailing Crusetile@yahoo.com or calling 402.690.7153.

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Local expert explains how to get the best tiling results - Fremont Tribune