Tile Installation and Design
Tile is one of our specialties!
One of the things our clients appreciate about hiring Portland Tradesmen for their tile projects is the fact that we can handle every aspect of the job seamlessly. Along with the tile installation many tile projects require some carpentry, drywall, plaster work, painting or even some structural changes for the new installation to fit seamlessly and for the project to have a detailed and finished look at the end. We can handle your project from design to completion with no leftover details for you to handle.
Tile Selection and design
There's more to tile design than you may think. Even on a simple tile project you'll want to consider:
Types of Tile
There are many types of tile to choose from and each has it's advantages. below is a list of the most common types of tile and their relative atributes.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile comes in a wide range of shapes and styles. It's often less expensive than other tile types and it's a great option if it's being installed in an area where chipping and abrasion isn't a big concern. While Ceramic isn't as durable as some of the other types of tile, it's still an excellant selection for many tile installations.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain and ceramic tile are manufactured in much the same way and usually have a very similar appearance. The difference is that porcelain tile is made of a denser material and is fired at a higher temperature than ceramic which leads to a more durable product. Also Porcelain tile has a lower moisture content than ceramic which helps it to withstand Freezing a thawing, meaning it can be installed outdoors without cracking. If you're looking for tile for a floor or any area that needs to stand up to heavy use, porcelain is a great choice.
Glass Tile
Glass tile is usually chosen for it's aesthetic charm. There are many types of beautiful glass tile. In terms of durability, glass compares similarly to ceramic, although the surface may scratch easier. That said, many types of glass tile are clear with a colored backing that shows through the clear glass, this means that if the suface of the tile gets scratched or chipped it's not going to be as noticeable as it would be if a ceramic tile were to get chipped or scratched, being that the decorative layer is on the surface with ceramic.
Stone Tile
With stone the durability varies significantly depending on the type of stone. From a design standpoint stone has a lot to offer. There's much more that can be done on site to customize the tile to your specific situation. After being cut, the edges of stone tile can be shaped and polished to create a finished edge. With other types of tile one is limited to the type of edging tile that's available. A lot of tile doesn't even have a corresponding edge tile to accompany it, which limits the choices to an accent boarder or a metal edge cap. Odd shapes and curves that can't be created with other types of tile can be created with stone. Also if stone gets scratched, the scratch can be polished out in place.
3D Modeling
On complex tile projects. We use 3D modeling software to develop the layout. This approach saves time and helps to identify potential problems upfront, while there is still a range of solutions to choose from. Also being that many clients are not able to visualize clearly how the tile will look in the end, a 3D rendering of the project can help our clients understand their options and make informed decisions.