<b>CERAMIC TILE & STONE</b> Products from Main Street FloorCrafters - Carpet, Hardwood Flooring, Tile and Stone, Laminate and Vinyl Floors at Great Prices.

CERAMIC TILE & STONE

Buying Tips for Tile and Stone

Tile and Stone projects can be intimidating. Especially, when it comes to installation with precise detail, such as custom patterns, borders or mosaics.

At Main Street FloorCrafters we can have the expertise to handle all of your custom tile and stone projects. The only limit to what we can create, is your imagination.

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Key Considerations

Substrate and Framing, What's Underneath?

The correct subfloor structure is critical to performance. Tile and stone, more than any other form of flooring, requires the proper subfloor system and setting materials. A double subfloor system with the total thickness of 1-1/4", over floor joists 16" on center is required. The top subfloor layer should be exterior grade plywood or an underlayment specifically designed for tile installation like cementous backerboard.

Special setting materials are available which will allow tile and stone installations over existing floors that are solid and already meet the above requirements. Failure to provide a sturdy base can cause grout to crack and release or tile to crack.

Ceramic, Porcelain, or Natural Stone?

Although many types of tile look the same, there are quality differences. The quality of raw materials, the firing process, and the sophistication of glazing applications that create realism will determine the quality of the finished product. These quality differences are often reflected in the price.

Surface Texture

Selecting the right surface texture is an important step when selecting floor tile. Floor tiles are rated for glaze wear and slip resistance, which are important factors to consider. Glaze ratings should exceed 3 for residential applications with the exception of bath areas that can use tiles rated 2. Tiles with a slip resistant rating of 0.5 or better should work well in most indoor residential applications.

Use caution when selecting tile for installations outdoors. Unglazed quarry tiles, tiles with heavily textured surfaces, or porcelain paver tiles, all with slip resistant ratings of 0.6 or greater are possibilities. They must also be frost resistant.

Mortar, Adhesives and Grout

Request the best in setting materials. New latex modified mortars and grouts provide better strength while also allowing greater flexibility.

Main Street FloorCrafters

CERAMIC TILE & STONE

Buying Tips for Tile and Stone

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