 | | Pacifica Roma tile - beige | As with many home improvement materials, competition and technological innovation have led to a tremendous increase in the quality and variety of ceramic and porcelain tile.
First a quick note on ceramic vs. porcelain... there is a lot of confusion about these to labels and they even mean different things depending on whether you're in Europe or America. In general, porcelain is supposed to refer to a type of ceramic that is of higher quality, stronger, with better color consistency and more impervious to moisture. In reality there is a lot of gray area. It is a much better idea to choose a tile you like, and then check the specifications of the tile to make sure it is appropriate for your application, and there are standardized measures for this, usually right on the sample board. So, for example, if you are looking for a tile for your shower floor, you'll want a tile that is highly impervious to water. If you're looking for a tile to put on your outside deck, you'll need a tile that is resistant to extreme temperatures as well as impervious to moisture. This is one reason it's a good idea to work with an expert during the selection process.
So one recent innovation in tile is the advent of digital technology. It's taken a while because the machinery is so expensive, but more and more manufacturers are using digital printing techniques to create patterns on their tile. Traditionally a dot matrix silk screen effect was used. Often times this led to a tile that when you viewed it closely had a sort of blurry print, much like a photograph blown up too large. Also this led to patterns that repeated pretty often, so in a ceramic tile that was meant to look like a travertine for example, the pattern would not appear completely natural because there is no 'repeat' in a natural travertine. With digital technology the pattern repeat can be so large that it is not noticeable at all. So basically digital technology leads to tile that is much more natural in appearance and the patterns and prints are much more defined looking. As this technology becomes more common we're seeing it implemented in tiles at even the lowest price points.
Another exciting innovation in tile recently is just the huge range of textures and styles available now. For example, natural stone is very beautiful, but can be a problem to care for (as it is much more porous than ceramic tile) and it's also more expensive to install. There are now ceramic tiles available that so closely mimic the look of a travertine or slate that it is difficult to tell the difference, and you get all the advantages of ceramic/porcelain. There are also tiles that have a cloth or linen pattern with a matching texture. Several factories make a tile that resembles wood planks. This may sound odd, but in practice this tile looks very stylish when it's down. There is tile that looks like worn leather, a tile that looks like a rough, stained concrete. There is such a variety of glass mosaics, glass and stone mosaics, and metal tiles that it can be overwhelming. In fact, I've nver had a client have trouble finding a tile he or she liked, but often the biggest issue is narrowing down the choices from so many exciting options.
One more change I've noticed over the years is just how good a quality tile you can get on a budget. For example we have a tile made by the manufacturer Pacifica that is simply beautfiul and elegant. It comes in three shades and has a subtle texturing that you usually see in much higher end tile. It is perfect for bathrooms, kitchens etc. It has a matching mosaic, chair rail, and the field tile comes in several sizes, including a 10"x20" that's looks amazing in a brick set pattern. It's thick, solid and durable. This tile starts at just over $2 a square foot for the 13"x13".
If you're thinking about tile, and you haven't been to a showroom lately (I'm not talking about the awful selection you'll see at the big home improvement stores) then your best bet is to come in and see what's available now. You'll definitely be impressed. And if you're in the Portland area, be sure to come to A-1. No one in town will beat our prices.
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