Well, I'll tell you what we did. You may find it a bit boring, but we had a budget and didn't want to spend a fortune on tile. I'd rather spend a fortune on a nice sofa. LOL With that said, we acquired our guest bathroom tile from HD online for $7 something a sq. ft. if I remember correctly. Or maybe a little more. It was unglazed porcelain so we had to put a couple of coats of sealer on it to keep it from absorbing stains and dirt. Here is a photo. This tile comes on a 12 x 12 mesh sheet.

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For the master we went to Lowe's for the walls, flooring in shower and around bath tub. It is a porcelain tile. For flooring we found another larger tile porcelain at a local flooring store for $3.86 sq. ft. The most expensive tile was the tile chair rail that went around the tub. It was about $12 a ft.it was natural stone.

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Not grouted in this photo

Grouted, but not wiped clean yet

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Not fully grouted yet

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For the kitchen we put the same tile that we have on the walls in the master, down on the floor, in a different size and color. For the backsplash we used the same mosaic as the shower floor. I apologize but do not have a real good photo of the kitchen/laundry and pantry floor. It's just like the bath wall tile in a little different hue.

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Close up of backsplash. We bought the accent tiles from an out of town company.

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Foyer - We used shiny porcelain that we paid $3.99 sq. ft for from a local tile store. We were going to put marble but then I saw this on the showroom floor and actually liked it better than the marble. Can you imagine my DH's surprise to that. LOL To me it was much prettier and then when I found out it was more durable, that was all I needed to hear. Hving it be so inexpensive was icing on the cake.

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I'm sure you're yawning after looking at all my boring beige, beige, beige. I went with the decision to do all this inexpensive beige tile from Lowe's after I saw someone else's beautiful bathroom featured on this forum whose tile was the inexpensive variety from Lowe's and I thought, why spend a fortune on tile if you can get less expensive that looks really nice.

We're real happy with our choices and think they all look fabulous. Oh, I forgot, the marble around the fireplace was found on a special truck load sale at Home Depot for $5 a sq. foot. Let's see if I can find a photo. This was the only photo I had of a close up of the marble. It's very shiny but you can't see that in this photo.

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So I hope I've helped in some way. Good luck in your search for the perfect tile for you.

I apologize for some of these photo's. I haven't been to the house to take updated photo's. Still have building materials strewn about while DH finishes the outside fence, etc. One day I'll actually move in. LOL

I think brutuses gave you the best example( and beautiful too); it all depends on your budget, style, etc. However, I know some of the natural and travertine are harder to take care of and require more upkeep. I think the porcelain is probably the most durable and has a huge variety of colors and styles. If you visit tile stores you will be able to "acquaint" yourself with all the different types. Good Luck!

We bought large quantities (300+ sq ft per pallet) of Travertine and Slate. Then we supplemented those 12x12s with edges and decorative mosaics from a local shop and some online retailers. Most online retailers will send samples quickly.

what generally works out to be the best approach for buying tile - is it local or online? Cheaper to buy local.

is there a difference in quality - or does the matter.? Yes, and that will be reflected in the price.

What is in the selection process? Does your builder deal with a tile supply company? If so, they might offer design services. There is more to it than just the color - the pattern can make a huge difference in the look of the floor or wall you tile.

The big box stores have some nice material and may be the cheapest place to buy, but you get no design help. We used a local tile supply company with a tile designer. The product cost more but we felt it was well worth it.

Having an idea of room paint color was important before we met with the tile designer. The designer came up with recommended selections within out budget parameters and also drew some patterns. She also estimated the total amount of product needed. BTW - patterns cost more to install but create a much nicer look than square grid. You can take a fairly inexpensive tile and make it look high end by using a nice pattern.

Also - beware of the cost on those decorative inserts. They look great but add up quickly. We used them, but sparingly, to get a nice look and keep the cost down.

The cost for install should not be overlooked. There is underlayment installation, mud pans for showers, liners or anti crack membranes, and then the tile install itself. You have to be very careful when selecting products too since some are more costly to install than others.

It will be very easy for you to completly blow you flooring budget in the tile area. So before you fall in love with that natutal limestone, make sure you know the total cost for the floor.

When you get around to install - make sure that the proper liners and underlayment are used. For shower/wet areas you want the Schluter Kerde waterproof liner and drains and for other floors the Schluter Ditra system. Check out the Bathroom forum as well as the John Bridges web site for info on these products.

Also - go to the Daltile website for some very helpful info on tile colors and types including some nice tile patterns (see link below).

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile Patterns

doogan, did you get the information? You need to come back and say thanks, I received it, something. So we know our efforts were not in vain. LOL

Brutuses,
I'm not sure if Doogan got the info but I sure appreciate it. We are at the same point. Your choices are beautiful.

Bdpeck, do you have any pictures? I'd be really interested in seeing them too.

bto, thanks, at least I know all my time posting the photo's wasn't a waste. LOL

Ceramic v. porcelain v. solid body porcelain v. stone:

Ceramic tile has a reddish back and a glazed surface. It can be broken or chipped, but other than that it will last as long or longer than the structure of the house itself. Unlimited color choices. Downside: if the glaze is chipped, the red clay body will show. More likely to happen in the kitchen than the bath. Cut edges will also slow a thin line of the body color, can be an issue if you are trying to create a complex pattern that will require cuts in the field tile.

Porcelain: beige to white back, glazed face. Fired at a higher temperature than ceramic, so it's stronger. Downside: If the glaze is chipped, the body color will show [Not a big deal if the glaze color and body color are very similar]. Costs more.

Solid body porcelain: body color matches face, may have a glazed surface. The advantage is that cuts in the tile are nearly invisible and chips won't show. With the right underlay, you can drive a tank accross it without leaving a mark. Downside: less variation in color than glazed tiles, fewer color choices, higher price.

Stone: natural, beautiful. Cost depends on the stone, likely lower than a solid body porcelain. Downside: requires a more rigid floor [believe it or not, ceramic and porcelain actually have a little flex], usually need to be sealed. Matte finishes won't show chips or scratches, but highly polished can. Nevertheless, a polished stone floor can last for generations.

In wet areas, consider traction: Highly polilished ceramic offers the poorest footing, cleft face stone the greatest. In general, stone is more porous and therefore gives better grip than tile with a similar level of gloss. Tile usually is rated for wet and dry traction, the number is called 'Coefficient of friction', or 'CoF', higher is better, if you can't find it, ask the tile store to track it down. Many salsemen are un-aware of the existence of these numbers, and you may have to make a fuss.

Tile also often has wear ratings, a measurement of how much traffic it can bear. Completely different than COF. Class 1 is for walls only, class 5 will can be used on the floor in a shopping mall or parking garage. Your retailer can usually be trusted to guide you in this regard.

I second the reccomendation to ask for Schluter underlays: very cutting edge, will help your floors/showers last longer. Installers well versed with Schluter are likely to be committed professionals, not 'how hard could it be?' handymen. It's not the only way to lay tile, and if they can make a convincing case against itin your particular case, fine. Just make sure they know what they are talking about. It does cost more, but is tottally worth it, IMO.

Since tile will last so very long, I think it's wise to choose it first, and choose something that can be paired with a wide range of other colors and styles since it will be around long after your furniture has bit the dust and today's 'trendy' colors are passe.

brutuses

thanks for posting such detailed photos - I did get them. I just have not had a chance to sit down to continue my research and reply. My builder and I are really putting every spare minute into getting our house into move-in condition by may 15th - I still have alot to do

Thanks for all the input -

You are welcome. Don't forget to post photo's for us to see when you're finished.

hi everyone - Sheetrock was completed yesterday, Tapers will be done saturday. My builder is looking for a myraid of stuff at this point - tile being top of the list. We have pretty much picked out styles - however i have a few specific questions - that are probabally answered in detail already - but am trying to get my head around where i need to buy tile asap.

Is buying tile from lowes/Home depot a smart move or should i stick with tile stores. is it an apples to apples product - or is the quality at a different level?

What online retailer have you guys used successfully?

I am finding tileshop.com as the one frequently coming up in searches - any feedback on these or others?

Thanks to everyone who posted earlier - the pictures were great - and oruboris - your tutorial was excellent

thanks!

bump.....

any comments expecially on the lowes/home depot Vs tile stores questions?

thanks all

In regards to subways which we used alot of..We found that Lowes and depot stocked Daltile and American Olean and it appears to be the same thing as we could have ordered from the tile store. The pricing was better through the box stores for us, especially if you have one of their 10% off coupons.

Bear in mind that it never hurts to haggle a little, especially with a local business. A dealer here had reduced the price of a discontinued Daltile color that was perfect for my bathroom. I offered to buy out all the rest of their stock (enough to tile the floor and the walls halfway up, plus a little over 10%) if they reduced the price to $1/tile for 18x18 ceramic tiles, and they took me up on it. I never checked online to see what the tile went for elswewhere, but I doubt it was any cheaper than that.


--------------- Trilby