Green Mondays: The Natural Comforts of Cork and Leather Tiles

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Green Mondays by PlumbtileIf you’re looking for warm, cushioning tile, think cork. Soft like suede, it has wonderful insulating qualities and resiliency of easy-to-clean surface of wood or tile; plus luxurious appeal from its earthy colors and rich visual texture. Made from tree bark, it’s also a natural and renewable resource, so it’s environmentally friendly.

The material is waterproof (think of the cork in a bottle), and the natural waxy substance inherent in cork, called suberin, makes it mold and mildew resistant, too. If someone in your family suffers from allergies, a cork floor could provide a soft and warm alternative to allergen-collecting carpet. Being waterproof it can also go in rooms such as bathrooms and saunas. Cork is even naturally flame-resistant also. And it’s acoustically insulating properties — shhh, it’s quiet — will take the clatter out of noisy traffic. To view a picture of cork tile for walls in a kitchen by Five Elements go here.

Five Elements also carries Leather Flooring that is truly beautiful.  Leather flooring is durable, looks incredible in most interior settings, and is very supple. Interior leather flooring is extremely comfortable on your feet and also provides heat insulation benefits. Leather in general has a very elegant look, a wonderful aroma, and is naturally lustrous.

At Plumbtile Architectural Bath & Tile Specialists we carry a large selection of green tile products for walls and floors from several different companies. Whatever your design needs are; we can help you.  Call us at 1-866-369-8180 to speak with a Sales Consultant and ask about our Free Shipping.

Porcelanosa’s 1st Architecture and Interior Design Awards 2013

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Porcelanosa, one of our main tile vendors, is known for holding their Architecture & Interior Design Awards every year; which now has a new award program to it. This program is held in the United States and it is a design contest for design and architecture professionals. This contest will be judged by notable professionals in the industry. Finalists, who are picked by the judges, will then fly to Spain where the rest of the awards competition will be held; approximately 15 teams will be chosen to go. In Spain, the finalists will get to finish competing with the other projects that were picked from all over the world. Get ready to be excited! The finalists will get to go visit and tour the Porcelanosa factory themselves as well as tour places in Spain at no expense to them!

In Spain, at the Architecture & Interior Design Awards, there will be two types of awards given out and a contestant can have up to three projects in any of the two categories they choose or both. The first category is Forward-Looking Projects. This section is for contestants to create and design an area that follows set guidelines. These guidelines include using Porcelanosa products, building the inside of a restaurant, and including certain features in the restaurant. Contestants in this group can use their imagination and design whatever they want as long as they follow the basic guidelines. The second type of award is the Completed Projects award. Unlike the Forward-Looking Projects, the Completed Projects can be any type of design as long as the project was completed between January 2011 and February 2013 and used Porcelanosa products.

All projects will be judged using specific criteria that includes but is not limited to functionality, product use and creativity. The prize includes getting recognized nationally and internationally through different publications. This is a great way for designers to show off their talent and definitely get recognized for it. For more information about this wonderful new award program, click here.

Porcelanosa Ceramic Mosaic Tile Porcelanosa Wall Tile Porcelanosa Floor Tile

Porcelanosa is known for their quality and beautiful products. The company has many years of experience and is a top notch kitchen, tile, and bath manufacturer. Distributors of Porcelanosa, such as Plumbtile, make it easy for you to decorate your home and make it look good using top products on the market today. Plumbtile offers many choices of wall and floor tiles by Porcelanosa to help you design your new space.

Visit the vast selection of Porcelanosa products at Plumbtile, go to www.plumbtile.com/plumbing-tile/Porcelanosa.html.

Monday Design Tip: What You Should Know About Underlayments

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In the past, a lot of time has been spent in the discussion of the various means to bond tile but no enough consideration has been given to the underlayment material with which these tiles adhere to. But what really is an underlayment? They do many things but their main purpose is to give a foundational support for installations of tiles.

Despite the fact that some types of underlayments have their great strengths, for instance concrete, the actual support should be given by the structure. With slab-on-grade treatments, this is a problem that is rarely encountered. But with suspended slabs, a number of factors can have an effect on their suitability. Greater strength underlayments like backer boards, compounds that are self-levelling and even those mortar beds won’t be able to compensate for the deficiencies on the structure – in its lack of particular support. While some stuff or methods of installation may be likely to cover the deficiency in the structural support for a short period of time but these inadequacies will later on be revealed.  Sellers, contractors, users and installers are inclined to depend on the underlayment’s strength as advertised to them. Every kind of underlayment item should have the characteristics that will give a strong foundation of support for the installation of tiles which is the case of how one product could have strength of 30 PSI can outperform one product with 7000 PSI.

There are many methods mentioned in the Tile Council of North America Handbook in the use f membrane systems. A number of traditional products for underlayment have their standards recorded under the American National Standards (ANSI) A118 Material Specifications. The tile industry depends upon these documents. These documents are not intended to be market documents. In truth, you won’t be able to find even one manufacturer recorded there. In order to achieve an underlayment method to be in the handbook necessitates extensive independent testing and documentations along with a process of approval. The condition for the product to pass the American National Standard is painstaking and meticulous. So does this entail that products not included in the TCNA methodology or not under ANSI are of lesser quality? Not automatically. It will take years of demonstrated performance for a product to be listed in either document.

How’s your remodeling project coming along?

Faux Silica Glass Tiles are here

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Plumbtile remains on top as the leading showroom of contemporary and traditional kitchen and bath designs. What are the characteristics you will see in Plumbtile? They lead the kitchen and bathroom decorative marketplace by functionality, luxury, and quality products.  Plumbtile stays on top of the latest decorative trends, while maintaining traditional elegance.

So what is latest and “in” for kitchen and bathroom tiles?

Agate!

Read on and we’ll tell you more.

What is Agate?  Why so special?

Agate is a type of silica, a microcrystalline variety and is characterized widely by its bright color. They are found in many types of rock.  Agate often forms from nodules in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas. Just imagine how much time it took to form them. Silica is found in many crystalline forms, the most common being quartz, which is the second most common mineral on earth.

These special rocks are the most beautiful formations you will ever see.

Silica in my bathroom?

Yes…. and before you jump into any conclusions: Faux Silica, silly.

agateThe Silica mosaic glass collection available at Plumbtile looks amazingly like the real deal. They all look like naturally layered agate formed from many years of volcanic stress. The finishes will remind one of matte silk and some iridescent pearl.

Call 1-866-369-8180 today to find out more about silica and agate.

You can also contact Plumbtile to find out more about their amazing products or latest trends!

Tile Craft for Kids

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Arts and crafts can help keep your kids busy for hours. Free up your day and enjoy some “me” time by introducing your kids to crafts. These type of activities need not be expensive. Just go to any home improvement or construction store to get materials. You can also visit online showrooms like PlumbTile and look at the tiles available. For kids, it would be best to pick the most inexpensive tiles for their craft projects. Usually plain tiles are best, but you can get creative and think of other projects as well for older or more advanced kids. You want to buy as many tiles as possible; you just can store them for later and bring them out on rainy days or special occasions. Continue reading →

Beautiful Bathroom Tile

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Have you wanted to add some pizzazz to your small bathroom but have been afraid that adding different tile might overwhelm?   Try adding just a few unique tiles from Plumbtile.com.

By adding just a few, spread throughout the room or a grouping of four in various areas, you can change the whole look of your bathroom.

Here are some of our favorites:

All Tiled Up

They offer a beautiful selection of hand-made tiles.

California Pottery

California Pottery & Tile Works produces a broad array of tile designs including exquisite Persian, Islamic, Saracen, Spanish Colonial, and Mayan designs as well as classic floral designs of the historic Malibu & Catalina Potteries.

Whether you want to add some fun or a touch of elegance you will find what you need at Plumbtile.  And if you are on a tight budget, make sure to check out their clearance section for some great deals.

Beautiful Backsplash

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Whether you are looking to do a complete kitchen remodel, or looking to make a fast and inexpensive update to your space, installing a beautiful backsplash should be on your renovation “to-do” list.  A backsplash can be neutral and used to enhance an exhisting design or it can be used to stand out and be the focus of the room.  Unsure where to begin when planning your backsplash update?  Talk to a design specialist at Plumbtile for some design tips and advice for your space.

Backsplash Ideas

Here are some great tile ideas by Busby-Gilbert tile to get you started:

Begin with a unique design on your backsplash, and finish off the beautiful design with a neutral ceiling tile.

Design can be found in neutral colors too.  Plumbtile offers a wide selection of tiles that come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Check out how this distinctive neutral tile brings character to this kitchen’s backsplash.

Make your kitchen really stand out with this matchless design.  An arched stoned tile is used to enhance this vibrant blue backsplash to give the area behind the range the look and feel of an Italian pizza kitchen.

The same tile from your backsplash can be used to cover your countertop as well.  Just be sure to break up the design with decorative tiles in the backsplash pattern.  Check out this beautiful tile  backsplash and counter top in green tones.

To begin piecing together your new beautiful backsplash, talk to a design specialist and Plumbtile.

Beautiful Glass and Mosaic Tile

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When you add beautiful glass and mosaic tile to any surface they enhance the design of the room they are in. Their intricate designs, patterns, and accents bring elegance and beauty to the overall design of the space. Plumbtile offers an array of sophisticated glass and mosiac products.

There are a variety of products available to match any style preference or budget. Whether you are looking for something classic or modern, you can find it in glass and mosaic tile. There are great options for flooring, counter tops, windows and more.

Check out some of these great options from Plumbtile!

Continue reading →

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