Tile & Stone Flooring
For more than 20 years, we've helped Southeast Texans' home transformation dreams come to life through offering comprehensive design and consultation services, alongside a diverse range of flooring and home interior solutions.
Discover natural beauty and elegance
Tile & Stone Flooring
For flooring that's creative, practical, and charming, our tile selection is unbeatable. Choose from a wide array of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes to find the perfect fit for your space. Elevate your design with glass trim, hand-painted accents, or colored grout to take your tile to new heights. With a long-standing reputation as one of the most durable flooring materials, tile is perfect for high-traffic or moisture-prone areas, resisting stains and scratches while being easy to clean. The result is a floor that's both stunning and functional.
Installation
Tile installation can be messy and complicated. So, when it comes to your professional tile installation, trust the experts at the Flooring Design Center! Our professional technicians are efficient, thorough, and dedicated to your satisfaction. Learn more about the process below!
Tile & Stone Care
Good news…tile is easy to care for! However, it does require some preventative maintenance and upkeep to keep it looking its best! Read on to learn more about proper cleaning techniques and stain removal.
Tile & Stone Flooring Options
Ceramic and porcelain are both formed with extreme pressure and intense heat. Non-porcelain ceramic tile is made of a combination of white, red, and brown clay that is occasionally mixed with other minerals. While porcelain is similar, it also contains a type of crystal known as feldspar. When heated and pressurized, feldspar becomes glass-like, giving porcelain its shine and extreme durability. Natural stone is commonly used in both flooring and countertops due to its beauty and durability. Common stone types include granite, marble, limestone, travertine, onyx, slate, and sandstone. Each will have its own cleaning and care requirements, and some are more porous than others. Research each type before choosing one for your home!
Ceramic wall tiles are normally less durable than tile designed specifically for flooring. Most wall tile is glazed with a semi-gloss or matte surface. The glazed surface has a very low slip resistance and becomes slippery when wet. Therefore, glazed wall tile is much more suited for wall or countertop applications rather than floors.
Glazed ceramic tile is comprised of two basic elements: clay and water. Various clays are mined, ground, and blended to a fine powder. Then, they are pressed together. The tile is then dried to reduce moisture content. Next, the surface of the tile is coated with a colored glaze (similar to glass). The glaze is then permanently fused to the surface of the tile by firing it in kilns at approximately 2,000 degrees fahrenheit.
Porcelain tile is made from a blend of fine-grain clays and other minerals to produce a very dense product that is highly resistant to moisture, staining, and wear. Because of these features, porcelain tile will withstand years of heavy foot traffic in both interior and exterior applications while maintaining its color and beauty.
The densest of all tile types, ColorBody™ porcelain tile has a through-color body and is defined by its <0.5% water absorption. These tiles can withstand heavy foot traffic and are suitable for both indoor or outdoor applications.
Most tiles are rated for hardness or scratch resistance using the MOHS Test and rating system. The MOHS test rates tile from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Ceramic tile with a value of 5 or more is suitable for most residential floor tile applications. Tile with a value of 7 or higher is normally acceptable for most commercial applications or heavy traffic areas.
To help select suitable tiles for specific applications, tiles are rated with the P.E.I. (Porcelain Enamel Institute) scale. The tiles are evaluated for wear resistance on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
- PEI 1: Light Traffic – recommended for residential bathrooms or other areas with light traffic where shoes are not frequently used.
- PEI 2: Medium Traffic – recommended for residential interiors except entryways, kitchens, stairs, or any area where tiles may come into contact with gravel or sand.
- PEI 3: Medium-heavy Traffic – recommended for all residential interiors and light commercial applications. Not recommended for commercial entryways.
- PEI 4: Heavy Traffic – suitable for all residential interiors and most commercial applications, including shopping malls and public areas.
- PEI 5: Heavy-plus Traffic – all residential and commercial areas where heavy-duty wearability is needed.
Before your installation
Tile & Stone Installation
You want a problem-free installation. To help ensure one, here are a few things to do before our installers arrive. First, make sure you know who’s removing your existing flooring. If you wish, the installer will do it. If not, you should make arrangements to have it removed. Next, know who’s moving the furniture. Decide in advance if you want to take on the responsibility or if you want the installer to handle it. Either way, be sure to remove all fragile items from the room. Measure door clearances before you have your tile installed. If the new flooring is thicker than your existing flooring, door bottoms may rub. Plan in advance to have someone shave or saw the correct amount off the bottom of each door so it does not drag. If you’re planning to paint, wallpaper, or do any other remodeling in the room, it’s best to do it before your tile is installed. Keep extra paint to touch up any post-installation nicks.
During Your Installation
- Subfloor: Tile must be installed over a subfloor that’s structurally sound, rigid, level, smooth, and clean. Sometimes, a cement backer board must be laid first. Preparing the subfloor is the most critical step in achieving a good installation—and your professional installer will know how to do it.
- Installation:First, the installer will determine tile layout. Then, using chalk lines as a guide, your installer will spread thin-set mortar in small areas and will place the tiles in it. Spacers are used between tiles so that they are evenly placed. After the mortar sets, grout is applied—sometimes, the next day.
- Cleaning and curing: The installer will carefully clean the tiles, ridding them of all grout. After the installation is complete, stay off of your flooring for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the room’s expected traffic. It’s a good idea to check with us directly to find out if there are other actions we recommend before installation. Just call a member of our friendly sales staff.
Care & Maintenance
Routine Care
Start by investing in doormats and encourage guests to remove shoes before walking across your flooring. You may also consider using furniture protectors and area rugs to further protect your tile from scratches and normal wear from heavy traffic. For regular care. be sure to vacuum and mop your tile. Use hard-surface cleaning products as needed, too, but first make sure that they are manufacturer-approved and will not dull your tile’s surface.
Spills & Stains
For common household spills and messes like water, wine, and pet accidents, immediately wipe away or mop clean. Tile and stone flooring surfaces can get very slippery when wet, so it’s important to keep your tile and stone flooring as dry as possible. Avoid products that contain acids, vinegars, chlorine and ammonia, as these cleaning chemicals can actually damage or discolor the grout or surfaces of your tile and stone flooring.
Ready to start your home transformation Journey?
Schedule an Initial Appointment Today
We’ll break down your needs, helping you choose the right products for your space. Whether it’s selecting flooring, countertops, or backsplashes, we’ll ensure your choices enhance the aesthetics and functionality of your area.
Personalized Attention
We proudly prioritize each client’s needs and provide dedicated service.
Proven Expertise
Our skilled team has years of experience in flooring design and installation.
Financing Options
Take advantage of our up-to-12-month financing, same as cash (upon approval)
