Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will you help me with my far-away project? Yes. We regularly work with, and ship to, customers up and down the east coast. Admittedly, we have not often crossed the Mississippi River, but we are working on it.
Q. Why are not you open on Sundays? Sunday is the day we spend with our loved ones. They count on us being there and we count on being there too.
Q. Why do you recommend the use of grout release? We recommend grout release because we know all too well how much time and effort it takes to get dried grout haze off of a newly installed tile floor. Applying grout release prior to grouting is truly the ounce of prevention that saves the pound of cure.
Q. Do I need an appointment? Think of an appointment with us as you would a reservation at a restaurant. While you do not need an appointment, an appointment assures you of prompt service when you arrive. Also, when you call to make that appointment, we will be able to have a preliminary discussion with you concerning your project. As a result of that preliminary discussion, we will be better able to fine tune our presentation for you when you arrive.
Q. Do you install? While we do not install ourselves, we will be able to provide to you the names and telephone numbers of several contractors. The names we provide to you will be of contractors who generally work on your sort of project in your geographic area.
Q. I think that Mexican saltillo tile is beautiful. Is there anything I should know before I install it in my home? True Mexican Saltillo tile is beautiful, but it is also porous and soft. As such, it is and quite fragile prior to its installation and requires special preparation. That special preparation includes soaking each tile in linseed oil – an stinky operation you will want to perform in a garage or outdoors. Once the saltillo is installed and grouted, you will want to seal it with several coats of Sparks’ Stone Glamor and Mex Seal before you walk on it. Alternatives to true mexican saltillo tile that possess the same appearance characteristics, but require less preparation and maintenance include pre-sealed saltillo tile and certain glazed porcelains.
Q. I think crackle tile is beautiful. Is there anything I should know before I install it in my shower? To achieve the handcrafted look of crackle tile, an artisan chooses a composition of tile bisque and of tile glaze that shrink at different rates during firing. This different rate of shrinkage creates the hairline cracks in the glaze that give crackle tile its characteristic appearance. In a shower or other wet area, when water seeps through these cracks, it will moisten the bisque. This moist bisque will give the crackle tile a darker or cloudy appearance which will remain until the bisque dries. To prevent this moistening and drying routine, the crackle tile should be sealed with an appropriate sealer both prior to and immediately after grouting.
Q. Why should I order extra tile? You should order extra tile to ensure that you have enough tile to make all the cuts you will need when installing it. You should also order extra tile to ensure that you have some extra pieces to store in your basement. Like fabric, tile’s appearance changes slightly each time it is manufactured. Tiles within manufacturing runs are coded by appearance and size into “lots.” Tile typically varies in appearance from lot to lot. Those extra pieces you place in the basement will be from the same lot as the tile you have installed on your floor. Those extra tiles will be worth their weight in gold when they save you from replacing the entire floor following your purchase of a slightly different-sized replacement dishwasher or the like. |
