Home » Guides » Construction » Construction Equipment And Supplies » Tile and Stone Floor Manufacturers Basics

Tile and Stone Floor Manufacturers Basics

Understand tile flooring basics to simplify the buying process

By Virginia Franco, Freelance Writer
Limestone flooring, marble flooring, granite flooring -- there is a variety of tile flooring options available today that can transform any building project into a work of art. Whether you want the look to be elegant or cozy, tile and stone floor manufacturers carry just about any flooring material you can imagine.

The marketplace is filled with vinyl tile floor manufacturers, even vendors who carry product for a slate stone floor, a ceramic tile floor or even a coral stone floor. The selection process can seem overwhelming at times, so consider the following steps to simplify and clarify things when you are learning about tile and stone floor manufacturers basics.

1. Decide which material you would like to use to cover your tile floor.

2. Learn how to measure your floor to determine how many tiles your project requires.

3. Compare tile and stone floor manufacturers to get the best value and service to meet your needs.

 

Select which material you would like for your tile flooring

The material you select to tile your floor will depend on the look you want and the nature of the room. Ceramic tile is a good choice for a kitchen, for instance, because it is easy to clean and does not absorb smells. Be sure to verify a material's Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating, which tells you how much wear a tile is designed to withstand as well as other tile strength and durability tests.
Try: Floors Transformed includes an explanation of each of the five PEI ratings. The Tile Doctor provides high level overviews of various tests that tiles undergo prior to sale, including chemical resistance and breaking strength.

Measure your space to determine how much tile flooring the project requires

To determine a rough estimate of how much tile flooring your project will require, measure the length and width of the room and multiply the two numbers to calculate your square footage. For a more exact figure that eliminates potential wasted square footage, break the room up into squares, multiplying the length and width of each square and adding the numbers together.
Try: RFMS offers flooring estimation software to help with large-scale ordering for commercial and multi-home contractors as well as design professionals. Myhomeideas includes flooring calculators, from which estimates can be made for vinyl and ceramic tile floors.

Compare tile and stone floor manufacturers to see who can provide you with the best value

When comparing the inventory of various tile and stone manufacturers, it is important to know that prices vary based on the tile material. Natural stone tiles like marble or granite tend to cost more than those made from synthetic materials like vinyl. Costs will increase when custom designs or special orders come into play.
Try: FloorFacts has an extensive list of worldwide porcelain and ceramic tile manufacturers and includes links to each manufacturer's site. The Tile Shop has a large inventory of natural stone and tile floor options.

 

  • If you have a small floor to tile, contact tile and stone floor manufacturers and ask for remnants. These remnants are generally left over from larger orders and are not enough for anything but smaller jobs. It is not uncommon for vendors to have extra tiles on hand that they are willing to sell to you at a steep discount.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.