tiles:

NATURAL STONE

The beauty of a natural stone floor is that no two are ever the same. Each has its own unique colour, veining and natural characteristics such as hardness and porosity. Each variant is fabricated with a particular type of surface finish:  polished, honed, acid-washed, saw-cut refined, flamed, split-faced, tumbled and brushed.

If your goal is a flooring solution for the way you live that is truly unique, then natural stone with its one-of-a-kind personality is a solid choice.

Granite
For durability, you can take granite for granted. Of all natural stone, granite is one of the hardest and densest, second only to diamond. In fact, granite is durable and wearable enough for almost any application you can think of. It’s especially beautiful in entrance halls and bathrooms, or as an accent with other natural stones.


Marble
Everyone marvels at the elegance of marble. It was used throughout the ancient world because it was soft enough to be worked with, but hard enough to endure the space of time. Marble comes in many different colour variations and usually displays a prominent veining pattern with luxurious swirls and patches of contrasting colour for which marble is known.

Limestone
Limestone is created by the accumulation of organic materials such as shells and coral that gives it a unique, natural look. This porous stone comes in a diverse range of neutral colours ranging from ivory to golden brown making it a versatile design option for flooring.



Travertine
Travertine shares some limestone characteristics such as being soft and porous. It is formed with many small cavities and holes that can be filled in with cement or resin, or left unfilled for a textured surface. The surface is then polished to a rough or highly polished finish. The filled-in areas remain dull, which creates an interesting contrast.

Slate
Slate is a highly versatile and water resistant stone that gives a natural, rustic appearance to any room.  It can be used for interiors as well as exteriors, making it the perfect product to bring the outdoors inside your home.

All slate has a natural “clefting” along the surface that gives this stone its unique textural, layered look. If your style is about texture, then slate is the perfect choice.

Glazed tiles
Glazed tiles are coated with glass-forming minerals and ceramic stains.
Glazed tiles have different finishes that you should be aware of in order to make the right choice. High gloss finishes can be more slippery and scratches are more visible. Matt or textured finishes help with traction and dirt or scratches are less visible. Glazed tiles offer better stain and moisture resistance than unglazed tiles.

Unglazed ceramic tiles
Unglazed ceramic tiles are very hard and dense. They come in various surface treatments and textures. Typically, these are installed outside your home as they do not offer much protection against stains compared to glazed ceramic tile. Unglazed tiles do have good slip resistance, however, please note that they do require sealing to help prevent staining.

Porcelain tiles
Porcelain tiles are fired at a much higher temperature than regular ceramic tiles, which makes them much harder and denser than other tile products. Because of its highly durable make-up, porcelain is more resistant to scratches and can withstand temperature extremes. Because porcelain is non-porous, it’s stain resistant and has very low water absorption, which makes it the ideal choice for interior and exterior applications.
As porcelain’s colour goes all the way through the tile, small scratches or chips are less noticeable.

Benefits of Ceramic Tiles:
Durable - a properly installed ceramic tile will outperform and outlast nearly any other floor covering product created for the same application.

Easy care – glazed ceramic tiles resist stains, odours, and dirt and can be cleaned up with a damp mop or sponge or common household cleaners.

Environmentally friendly - ceramic tiles are manufactured using natural materials and do not retain odours, allergens, or bacteria.

Beautiful and versatile - modern ceramic manufacturing technology has created virtually an unlimited number of colours, sizes, styles, shapes and textures that will add rich beauty and character to any room’s decor.

Fire resistant - ceramic tiles do not burn nor emit toxic fumes. Even hot kitchen pans or skillets will not scorch or melt the surface of glazed ceramic tile.

Water resistant - most glazed ceramic tiles have a dense body that permits little or no accumulation of moisture. This means spills from common liquids found in a kitchen are not a big concern.

Ceramic tiles are essentially a low-maintenance material.