FLOOR TILE

Good floor tiles are unharmed by water, tracked-in-grit, cooking spills, dropped objects or the daily shuffling of feet. Even under the toughest household conditions, virtually all a tile floor needs is routine vacuuming and mopping and will easily last a century or more.

TILE TOUGHNESS

         
Tile toughness is gauged in different ways. At Corriveau Routhier, we rate tile on a 1 to 5 scale. A #1 tile is soft, like vinyl. A #2 tile is usually a wall tile. Tile #'s 3-4-5 (5 being the hardest) tiles are suitable for low traffic areas to commercial applications #.

SIZE MATTERS

         
Larger tiles (12", 13", 16", 18", 20" and larger) give a floor a clean look and also minimize the number of grout lines. Small tiles (4", 6", 8") tend to make the floor look busy especially with large grout lines and a contrasting grout color. Corriveau Routhier recommends a larger floor tile using a coordinating grout color and very thin grout lines.

FLOOR TEXTURE

         
Floor texture is found in most floor tiles, which gives a better grip. Ceramic tiles that are unglazed tend to have a rougher finish than glazed tiles, but not all glazed tiles are glossy. A rougher texture makes a tile less slippery.

COLOR

         
White and light color tiles are harder to keep clean than dark colors because they show dirt more readily. Multi-hued, speckled or variegated surfaces and textured finishes help hide grime while glossy surfaces show dust faster than matte tiles. Light colors tend to make spaces feel larger and darker colors make spaces appear smaller.

WARM VS. COOL

         
Because it stays cool, clay (ceramic) tile is a good choice for the floor of a wine cellar where keeping temperatures constant is key. If you prefer a warm floor under foot, consider a mesh heating element under the tile. This Floor Heat is easy to install and operate, is energy efficient and provides comfort and luxury in your home. Truly a cozy, lifetime investment.

PERSONALIZE YOUR SPACE

          
Medallions and Inserts can really liven up an entryway or living area. See Nashua's beautiful Stone Medallion collection.

If you like the look of granite countertops, but don't have the budget for them, you can get a similar look - often for less than half the price - by using granite tiles. Keep the grout lines thin and color-matched to the tile. Add a backsplash and voila! A new kitchen or bath. Corriveau Routhier will show you how.

Oftentimes, ceramic tile can be laid right over old formica or similar solid surfacing. Corriveau will provide you with the correct product and expertise to do-it-right. If you use Underlayment/Backerboard (sold in 1/2" or 1/4" x 3' x5' sheets) your installation will be a breeze. Yo can also use a Self-Leveling compound to level off your floor before tiling.