Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tile Talk Newsletter - April 2011

Project Pick: Cement Tile at Home in the Office

Colonial Antigua Rust Capuchinas

Avente Tile premiers its Geometric and Traditional cement tile lines. These patterns feel right at home in a corporate office and they are perfect for your home, too. Our two new cement tile "design lines" are for architects, designers and creative individuals that enjoy the design process or need a custom design for their project. Our recent blog post, A Designer's Dream: Cement Tiles, answers the top five questions about how to use these lines. To aid the design process, Avente offers Cement Tile Customization Services for these tiles using the 85 Heritage Colors.

In the photo, notice how the Geo 10 Cement Tile colors have been customized and paired with the Traditional Constanza Cement Tile Border using the 'standard colors' from the catalog? This expresses what our design line is all about! You pick the colors and placement


Geo 10 Cement Tile Constanza Cement Tile Sosua Geo 30 Cement Tile
Geo 10 Constanza Sosua Geo 30


>> Read Blog Post: A Designer's Dream: Cement Tiles

>> See the Geo Line of Cement Tile

>> See the Traditional Line of Cement Tile


Save 15% on Bird & Nest Tiles

Nothing says spring like our Birds & Nests tiles. The days are getting longer. Celebrate spring with an Avente tile favorite. Save 15% through May 31, 2011. No coupon needed. Place your order online.

Bird and Nest Tiles

This amazing line of bird and nature inspired decorative tile comes in rich, deep pooled glazes in blue and plum hues. Artistically paired to contrast with terra cotta and earth tones. The large decorative tiles are done in relief and come in 8" x 8" and 8" x 10" accent pieces.

>> View All Bird & Nest Tiles

>> Read Blog Post: Nothing Says Spring like Bird & Nest Tiles


Tile Tip:

Use bull nose tiles to create a finished edge for a backsplash and reduce the cost over more expensive trim, such as cornices and ropes. Most of our field tile can be purchased that way. See three common backsplash options using bull nose, cap or cove tiles.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tile "FACTS" — Are They Real Facts or Really Fiction?

Consumers and design professionals are bombarded with lots of tile information. This makes selecting the right tile for a particular residential * project more difficult than it should be. Let's face it, we live in an information age and information is a sales tool. It can be, and often is, used in a self-serving manner. As a consumer or specifier, you must consider the source of the information and use common sense in applying the information provided.

shack

So how DO you know what tile is right for your residential* project?
It all depends on where and how the tile will be used.

Use clothing as an example: if you need to buy a pair of long pants you have to clarify a few things in order to get what you need:

  • Who will wear the pants — you or someone else? Male, female, kids, adults? Makes a difference.
  • Where will the pants be worn? Hiking? At an elegant party? In the mountains or on the beach? Makes a difference.
  • How will they be used? Worn all the time? Worn only for special occasions? Is maintenance a consideration due to use? Makes a difference.

*Please Note — different criteria will apply for non-residential or commercial, public use.

COMMON SENSE

  1. Do you need the same kind of tile for wall use as for floor use?
  2. Do you need the same kind of tile for a family room floor as for a guest bath floor?
  3. Do you need the same kind of kitchen counter tile for a retired couple who eat out often as for an active family of 6 or one who has dinner parties often?
  4. Is it important to have a very "hard" or "frost proof" tile for bathroom wall use?
(See answers at the end of the post).

stacked books

There are 3 basic types of tile bodies — standard ceramic, stoneware and porcelain. Where the tile will be used in the residence and how it will be used will determine the best choice.

Porcelain or stoneware would be the superior choice for exterior applications, such as pool waterlines or B-B-Q's in freeze-thaw climates and areas, particularly floors, that will get heavy residential traffic.

 

All three are typically suitable for light traffic floor use in the residential bathroom. All three are suitable for any wall or vertical residential use.

FACTS:

  • Porcelain is a dense, hard (more easily resists abrasion) ceramic tile body that is fired at very high temperatures (higher than for standard ceramic tile), melts and re-solidifies. Porcelain is often called vitreous or frost-proof.
    • Good for exterior use in freeze-thaw climates.
    • Good for interior residential uses that will get heavy wear and foot traffic or be subjected to lots of surface grit.
      • Heavy foot traffic = not your average family — a very big family, or one that entertains on a large scale 6 times a year minimum. Unless everyone in the family crowds in all at once several times a day, residential bathrooms do not get heavy foot traffic.
      • Heavy counter use by "pot bangers" = see same users as above.
      • Entry ways in areas were lots of dirt, grit and/or sand will be tracked in.
    • Not necessary for, but certainly can be used for, all residential interior vertical surfaces (walls).
  • Stoneware, like porcelain, is a dense, hard tile body that is fired at very high temperatures, melts and re-solidifies. It too is frost-proof or vitreous.
    • Good for — see porcelain
    • Not necessary for, but certainly can be used for — see porcelain.
  • Ceramic tile has a less dense tile body that is fired at lower temperatures that will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. It is not frost-proof.
    • Monocotturra ceramic tile — the tile body and glaze are fused together in one firing.
      • Good for interior residential use.
      • Good for residential floor use (always check with the manufacturer regarding heavy residential foot traffic).
      • Good for residential kitchen and other counter use.
      • Not necessary for, but certainly can be used for, all residential vertical surfaces (walls).
      • May be used for exterior applications in sub-tropical and tropical climates.
    • Bicotturra ceramic tile — traditional ceramic tile made in two firings.
      • Good for all interior vertical surfaces (walls).
      • May be use for some residential floor use:
        1. Very light floor traffic such as found in bathrooms where 50% of the foot wear is slippers or bare feet.
        2. May be used as inserts with other floor tile.
      • May be used for light counter use such as in guest baths or rarely used kitchens.
      • May be used for exterior vertical applications in sub-tropical and tropical climates.
       
  • Most all of the popular handmade or decorative tile lines are basic, non-vitreous ceramic tile. 

COMMON SENSE AND FACTS VS. FICTION
So when that sales associate says that you can't use the ceramic tile you love on your guest bath counter top or floor that will only be used maybe two times a year by your fastidious friends and family — do you accept that as fact or is it, in your case, really fiction? What does your common sense tell you?

ASK ME: If, once all the facts are in, you still aren't sure if what you've been told is a real fact or really fiction, ask me and I'll help you find an answer.

SPEAKING OF ANSWERS, HERE THEY ARE FOR THE COMMON SENSE QUESTIONS ABOVE:
  1. Not unless you are Spider Man and can walk on walls. Abrasive foot traffic causes much more wear than any wall tile will get.
  2. Hmmmm.... If your family consists of only you and your neatnik spouse /partner and you have a house rule that shoes are removed at the door , all chairs have non-abrasive covers on the leg bottoms, well maybe the guest bath floor tile could be used in the family room.......
  3. I definitely think that the family with the pot-banger cook and a bunch of kids who routinely use a sharp knife to cut food directly on the tile counter top needs a stronger tile that doesn't show abrasions easily. The retired couple whose idea of cooking is dialing for take-out, not so much.
  4. Not unless your bathroom is outside in Montana — or in an igloo. As for hardness, I'm having a hard time visualizing how a wall tile would be subject to abusive abrasions. Flailing the loofah in the shower?

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

A Designer’s Dream: Cement Tiles

Avente Tile is thrilled to premier its Geometric and Traditional cement tile lines. These two new cement tile "design lines" are for architects, designers and creative individuals that enjoy the design process.

In the installation photo, notice how the Geo 10 Cement Tile colors have been customized and paired with the Traditional Constanza Cement Tile Border using the 'standard colors' from the catalog? This expresses what our design line is all about!

Geo 10 Cement Tile Installation
Geo 10 Cement Tile Installation with Traditional Constanza Border

Geo 10 Cement Tile Pattern
Geo 10 Cement Tile Pattern

Traditional Constanza Cement Tile Pattern
Traditional Constanza Cement Tile Border Pattern

These "design lines" work differently than our other cement tile lines and to help explain these differences we've compiled answers to the most common questions.

  1. What is meant by "design line" cement tiles?

    Cement tile patterns that are designed be customized with any color in our Heritage Solid Color cement tile line for that perfect design touch. In other words, The Geometric and Traditional tile lines are shown to represent the available patterns that you can customize and design to work in your space using colors from the Heritage Solid Color pallet. We do not stock these tiles since they are meant to be customized.

     

  2. How are these tiles priced?

    Price depends on the color chosen (Class A, B, or C) and finish (polished or unpolished). The price shown is the base price: unpolished tile using only class "A" colors. In general, blues and greens will determine the color class. The light blues and greens are "B"; dark blues and greens are "C"; all other colors are class "A".

     

  3. Can I order the Geometric and Traditional cement tile as they are shown in your catalog?

    Absolutely. If you like the pattern and colorway "shown" you may purchase the tile. However, you will need to allow six to eight weeks for delivery of your order and sample stock may not be readily available. Final price is based on color and finish and the price may not reflect the actual price of tile shown.

     

  4. Do I need to have my tiles polished?

    Polishing is a mechanical process that uses a high-speed rotary buffer, mild abrasives and water to "polish" each cement tile. The process simulates the "patina" a cement tile might develop after years of being cleaned with wax and water. We recommend that tiles installed on vertical or overhead applications be factory polished since they can't be easily buffed after installation. For floor applications, they can be left polished or unpolished. To find out more about polishing read our post including a video called What is Cement Tile Polishing?

     

  5. How do I decide what colors to use for my tiles?

    We can't pick the colors for you. However, our step-by-step guide to customizing cement tiles, Color Me Mine with Cement Tiles, is a great resource that helps you choose the colors for any pattern. If you are an architect, designer or creative person that enjoys design this is something you will enjoy. If not, consider our Artist Series, Classic, Cuban Heritage, Mission Tile, or Textured cement tiles that come in popular colorways. Our basic Cement Tile Customization Services can assist you with your design. These support services include color chips, virtual design, strike-off samples, custom colors and custom patterns.

     

With all of the available options and choices for color and customization, it's easy to see why cement tile are a designer's dream. If you are a design professional or interested in our "design line" of cement tile, please don't hesitate to contact us. At Avente Tile, we have the knowledge and skill needed to make your design come to life in tile.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Nothing Says Spring like Bird & Nest Tiles

The days are getting longer and warmer and I love waking to the chatter of the birds when spring is in the air. When I think of spring and birds, I always think of Birds & Nests tile.

Birds & Nests Decorative Relief Tile
Bird Over Nest Tile (8" x 8")

This amazing line of bird and nature inspired decorative tile comes in rich, deep pooled glazes in hues of blue and plum and is artistically paired in contrast with terra cotta and earth tones. The large decorative tiles are done in relief and come in 8" x 8" and 8" x 10" accent pieces.

Birds & Nests Decorative Relief Tile
Bird with Stars Decorative Relief Tile (8" x 10")

They work well with the soft tones of our Gossamer Crackle field tile. The artist also creates a wonderful line of Eartha Field tile in the same rich glazes found in the bird tiles. You might use one color for a bold look, or mix colors together for a more eclectic and modern feel. These tiles are handmade. You should expect color variations in the glaze of each tile; but, when used together there will be enough consistency for a cohesive design and enough variation for truly custom look.

Birds & Nests Concept Board
Birds & Nests Concept
Gossamer Soft Crackle and Eartha Accent Strip


The concept above shows the Birds & Nests relief tile with a border strip of assorted 3"x3" Eartha Field tile with Gossamer Crackle tile (6" x 6") and trim.

The hand-glazed bird-themed tiles are a great choice for a thoughtful gift for Mother's Day. They look lovely in a kitchen or place them outside during warm weather months in your garden or outside patio. Each tile comes with a built-in niche for easy hanging.