Tile Fantastic

A Look at How Ceramic Tiles Are Made

Ceramic tiles have many uses, ranging from bathroom walls and kitchen backsplashes to creative and durable flooring. Tile is resistant to fading, moisture, and wear, providing many years of performance in your home.

This video explains the process of creating tiles. Ingredients are combined with water in a mixer and milled to eliminate lumps. The mixture is deposited into molds and subjected to heat and pressure inside a mechanical press. Tiles are painted, then baked in a kiln and allowed to cool before they are ready for distribution.

Ceramic tiles are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors. We invite you to visit Tile Fantastic of San Jose for personalized assistance with finding the right kind of tile for any use in your home. Call (888) 864-6319 or visit us on the web for tiling inspiration and advice.

Looking Back at the Top Tile Trends of 2013

Tile flooring, accents, and backsplashes remain a popular choice for many American homes. From tiles that are printed to look exactly like wood to walls and floors that actively clean the air in your home, the time has never been better to consider the benefits of tile for many home applications. Keep reading to discover the top tile trends of 2013 and find inspiration for your own home in 2014. 

Wood-Grain Tile

One of the most popular tile trends of 2013 is tile designed to look exactly like hardwood flooring. Wood-grain tile is created using high-resolution digital images of wood printed onto tiles using inkjet technology. Tile offers many advantages over actual hardwood, and can be used in areas where wood may not be appropriate. Printed tiles can be custom-tailored to look like any wood, ranging from high-end hardwoods to aged driftwood.

Patterned and Shaped Tile

In addition to wood-grain tile, newer printing techniques are being used to create colorful patterned tiles that break the traditional mold of plain white, beige, and black tiles. Patterns range from whimsical and colorful motifs to unique mosaics that add a touch of history and class. Recent trends have also seen a move toward tiles with unique shapes. Tiles are available in curved, circular, and even irregular shapes, allowing homeowners to create a unique work of art right in their own home.

Hydrotect Tile

A collaboration between the American company Crossville and Toto of Japan has created the unique Hydrotect coating now available for tiles. Hydrotect is baked onto the surface of tiles and activates in the presence of light. This advanced coating reduces the absorption of dust, dirt, and grease to maintain your tile’s beautiful look. Additionally, Hydrotect works to purify the air in your home by oxidizing and removing nitrogen oxides found in smoke and exhaust fumes.

Are you ready to embrace the latest tile trends for a beautiful home? Call Tile Fantastic today at (888) 864-6319 for free tiling help and advice. You can explore our full range of stone, porcelain, ceramic, glass, and metal tiles on our website.

What Is Inlaid Stone?

One of the greatest benefits of tile is its design versatility. Since tile comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, they allow you to create virtually any design you can imagine. To achieve even more design flexibility, many homeowners choose to install inlaid stone.

Inlaid stone mosaics combine different colors of marble or limestone to create intricate patterns. Natural stone experts can create precise shapes using a high-pressure water jet that cuts straight through the stone. Once all the shapes are cut, they are assembled onto the surface, the seams are filled, and the whole surface is sealed. Inlaid stone is great for highlighting certain parts of the home with intricate design patterns. Kitchen backsplashes, fireplace borders, and bathroom accent stripes are particularly popular places for inlaid stone. Inlaid stone tends to become the focus of a room, and complements all other design elements.

Tile Fantastic is pleased to provide San Jose homeowners with intricate inlaid stonework. We also offer glass, stone, and ceramic tiles for use in the kitchen, bathroom, and on the patio. Call us at (888) 864-6319 if you have any questions.

Porcelain and Ceramic Tile Floors: Comparing and Contrasting

Installing tile flooring is an excellent decision for bathrooms and kitchens. After you make the decision to install tile, you then have decide which kind of tile you want. Two of the most popular floor tiles are porcelain and ceramic, each of which comes with plenty of benefits. For help choosing between the two, consider this brief article:  

Production Process

Both porcelain and ceramic tiles are made from clay that is heated in a kiln. However, porcelain tiles are made from “porcelain clay dust,” which is compressed and heated to create a very hard material. Ceramic tile, on the other hand, is made from clay that is less refined and more porous.

Ideal Application

Since porcelain tiles are harder than ceramic tiles, porcelain tends to perform better in areas of high traffic. If you’re an avid cook who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, porcelain might be a better choice. If you’re looking for a tile option for a guest bathroom or other space that sees lwo foot traffic, ceramic tile should perform just fine.

Water Absorption

Again, porcelain’s density allows it to resist water and stains better than ceramic tiles. Though ceramic tiles can be given a tough protective seal, water can still seep into ceramic tiles if the seal fails. Both kinds of tile require strong grout to prevent damage to the flooring beneath the tiles.  

Design Versatility

Both porcelain and clay tiles come in various shapes, colors, and sizes. However, homeowners looking to create intricate designs tend to have more luck with porcelain tiles, as all tile sizes are very strong and beautiful. That said, ceramic tile is a lot easier to cut, making it an ideal choice for do-it-yourself tile projects.    

For more help choosing between the two kinds of tile, call Tile Fantastic at (888) 864-6319. We have numerous varieties of both porcelain and ceramic tiles from which to choose. Visit our website or our San Jose location to find out how our tiles can add beauty to your home.

How to Seal Natural Stone

Natural stone’s beauty and durability makes it a popular choice for kitchen counters. However, various kitchen spills can stain natural stone that isn’t sealed properly.

This video offers an explanation and demonstration of natural stone sealer. Contrary to popular belief, sealer does not actually rest on the surface of natural stone, but rather seeps into the microscopic pores. When applying natural stone sealer, it’s important to use a brush or palette knife, as rags and paper towels absorb the sealer before it gets a chance to set into the stone. It’s important to keep in mind that sealer makes natural stone stain resistant, not stain proof.

If you’d like to learn more about natural stone, call Tile Fantastic of San Jose at (888) 864-6319. We have many kinds of elegant natural stone tiles to choose from and a knowledgeable staff to help you make a decision.