If you're not comfortable with the price, go to someone else. Any business - recyclers or no - can only charge what someone is willing to pay.

Thanks I would have never figured that out on my own? I am asking if anybody with experience with them feels they are worth it or not. I will assume that is not you?

Well, it seems pretty clear that it's not YOU! what do you expect somebody to know after a while -- whether their taste has changed? whether the expense was still haunting them? either you love the tile, or you like it but don't think it's worth the cost. figure out which and move on.

i paid $65 sq ft for some mosaic tile that matched my bathroom tile. but i didnt need much so it was ok. then the contractor ordered too much... but he managed to use it all up.

i try not to think about how much my shower floor and accent stripe cost... but i like how it looks.

Why people want to respond to a post without addressing the asked information is baffling to me. To clarify what I am asking is if anyone with real world experience with Fireclay can tell me WHAT makes a simple 3" hexagon ceramic tile worth upwards of $60 a SQFT. Usually when you get into that territory there is labor cost that warrants the additional cost of the tile. There are plenty of hexagon tile that cost way under $10 or even $5 SQFT.

When you look at water jet or textured tile you can see the amount of work that give into the tile. To me this is not readily apparent in a Fireclay tile. I am not going to pay fro creative advertising.

The price itself is not in question what is in question is if the cost if justified with the quality or some special characteristic in the tile. I have some samples of another line of theirs and I did not see the above and ordered other tile. We have a project that looked perfect for the hex tile but like everything cost is a concern even if you are building $20million dollar house or a $10,000 remodel.

Anybody have real world experience? Or does anybody also feel their pricing is questionable.

Thanks

I used Fireclay Hawaiian blue ceramic tile for my kitchen backsplash when we remodeled. The tile is beautiful. It makes me happy every single day and I never think about the cost anymore. They will send you 5 free samples—it's critical that you see the tile in person, as the colors are unique.

Ok I in no way am looking to bash a small USA basedCo and see this getting off track.

I do however have to respond to some of your statements. You are not making a colored hexagon tile to order. I am not requesting a special shape or color tile made with a mix of colors. I am choosing from your standard colors and your standard patterns. This is the problem I have. I can clearly see the cost associated with your hand painted tile line as you truly are stopping production to make a one off tile that most likely will be a one order deal.

As far as the amount ordered you do post on your sight substantial discounts for bulk orders so one would have to ask why not just make that amount of certain colors and sizes and charge that pricing? It sounds alluring in a sales pitch that you are making the tile specifically for me but in reality it is just a stock color and stock size that you might have thousands already made? This isn't pizza it doesn't matter if they are made today or three weeks ago. Why not mfg in larger quantities and pass the savings along? It is basically telling me it is a $20 tile but we are going to charge you $65 if you order a small order of the exact product?

In the end I think you have a great product but you have to distinguish between your handmade to order pieces and your stock choices that you choose not to make in larger quantities. One would even have to ask why not especially since you said above that the set up time are the same and the fact that you offer the exact tiles daily?

You have to agree that $65 for a sq ft of 3" ceramic tile in 1 color is pricey by anybodies standards. The question I was posing was trying to find out if others felt the same or if there was something I was missing in the tiles design or quality. That was never answered.

Doing business in the USA is very expensive and I applaud you for doing what you are doing but as a consumer I do have the right to question pricing and quality. Love the look of your products and wish they were available in a more cost effective pricing keeping the quality as is.

No argument here and hope my posting isn't taken wrong it was a question I am sure many people ask everyday that see your products. I will allow you your reply and it will go unchallenged by me as again it was a question not a bash of Fireclay.

Hi wannabath. You bring up a great point, and trust me I do not for a second think your comment is a critique about US manufacturing. This pricing question comes up all the time so you are not alone.

While you are right that the size and color are standard, they are not "stock." We have over 100 colors of tile in over 30 sizes, meaning there are over 3,000 tile SKUs, not counting trim like bullnose or glazed edges for each of these. We do not stock anything. While these are standard to our lines, we still make them all to order, so creating a new order, whether it is 15 SF or 100 SF, still has the same set-up time. It's actually far more time consuming for a handmade tile company to glaze a 15 SF order than many times a water jet mosaic, which might be 100% machine made (not always the case but sometimes it is, just like ceramic tile). The product cost considers everything from labor (we pay our workers fair living wages plus benefits) to material cost to glaze cost to packing materials and of course a profit on top so we can continue to do business.

You are asking great questions, and the other factor to consider is installation. Whether a product is $10/SF or $50/SF, many times installation is the same, yet it is the material and product that is there forever. So, invest in what counts and in what you will love. If you do that, I know you will be happy!

Best of luck, and really these are awesome questions that come up all the time. Thank you for starting the conversation!

We often use Fireclay products, and more often than not, it's just for small accents like you've mentioned, because let's face it, a lot of budgets don't allow for such a luxury! Even when only able to use a small amount for accent, we find it a worthwhile excercise as their tiles all have such a great warmth to them and can make a space that uses mostly inexpensive tile (for budget reasons) really shine and become unique. Hope that helps; best of luck making a decision for this portion of your project!

I adore Fireclay tiles! I ordered quite a few samples for my own kitchen remodel and the customer service is phenomenal! My kitchen is still in the planning stages so I haven't purchased anything yet but it's a quality product and you can't beat their service.

If you can find the same look with same level of service for cheaper then go for it. But you have to be comfortable paying the cost. Everyone has their own feelings about what things are worth to them.

I searched for months for a simple blue subway tile available from my local retailers. Nada- they only wanted to sell "neutrals". So I went online. Of all the online suppliers, Fireclay was the most responsive of those who had something I might have wanted. They quickly sent out samples; I worked with a single person who made a point of knowing what I was trying to do and worked up a few different renderings for me. The service was exemplary. And the tiles are gorgeous. They make me happy every day.

That said, they were not cheap and it took me a while to come to the conclusion that I'd rather have exactly what I want than have "sorta ok" at a low price.

You say you don't want to start a conversation about US manufacturing-but that is one of the biggest factors in price. Also using recycled materials is often more expensive due to the process. So yes, they are expensive due to the intensive labor. BUT this is truly what high end custom costs, regardless of materials or brand.

I, too, wanted simple blue subway tile, similar to what we had seen in Granada. No one seemed to make it.

Fireclay sent samples to me and my kitchen designer. He said their prices were similar to any better tile.

I went with Indigo for my whole backsplash, including behind the vent hood.

Don't even remember what it cost, but love the tile.

I am getting ready to order for a kitchen remodel. I love the individuality of the product I find here. The company takes pride in what they do, it's a US based company and I am sure I will love the outcome. I guess you need to find what you love and if it's in your budget to go outside the big box, this seems like a place I want to do business with. KUDOS from Kansas!

I think I know what this person is asking. I am in the same situation. I love the look of hand-glazed ceramic tile, and I love the colors that Fireclay offers. I am after something with good variation and some crazing/crackling look. However, I feel that paying $28/square foot for the Fireclay subway tile I want is absolutely ridiculous, and yes I can afford it. It does not feel right to me paying that much for ANY ceramic tile, and they do come more pricey. Look at Motawi tile!

It's just ceramic tile, after all, and most ceramic tile is made in China these days and available at Home Depot for $2/sqft. I personally don't care if its hand made by a local business, and I don't care where it comes from, I just want the special look of hand glazed tile. I have found something close to what I want at Home Depot for around $7/square foot, but it only comes in drab gray and brown earth tones, nothing bright and fun. So if anybody has a source for hand-glazed subway tile that is not $28/foot please let us know. I think that is really what the original poster was asking? I find the tangential opinions on life funny... but not helpful!

Fireclay is in San Francisco, California. This is a very expensive place to live so I assume the price of the product reflects that? I just don't really feel like paying for somebody to live in California. I feel like paying what I deem is a fair price for tile. If it is made in China, so be it! Although if people are actually paying this much for tile, time for me to buy a kiln! lol!

I did find some very nice looking "crackle finish" tile at Home Depot last weekend that has a hand glazed ceramic look to it. It is $7.63 per square foot. Is it handmade? I am guessing not, but it has the variable look I want so I don't care. If anybody sources this hand glazed look in different colors, let me know. I am looking for a blue or green type and I am not too keen on paying Fireclay prices for it! I will buy a kiln before I do that!! lol

Sam, you aren't paying for san francisco. You are paying for hand made, depth of color, quality. As a professional interior designer, my advice is: go for whatever you find beautiful and within your budget. If you want pretty product from China-it is cheap because they are paid less that $1 an hour and it is mass produced. So are the clothes I buy for my daughter at target. Why? Because I am not willing to pay more than that for that type of item. No shame, no apologies. My point is fireclay is priced right for what it is. So is tile from China. Whatever is right for you, do it. Buy it. Enjoy it. Your options will be a bit more limited in color choices, but if you find the shade you want-do it! It is ok!

latifolia, this is late to this discussion and a little off topic, but do you have photos of your indigo Fireclay backsplash to share? I'm currently gazing at samples of that color and thinking very seriously about it.

Gorgeous! Thanks!

I would not recommend Fireclay Tile. Though their website promises hand-crafted quality and attention to detail, the reality may be very different for you, as it was for me. Much of the tile arrived broken due to poor packing, and they also sent me the wrong color tile. The difference is a really white tile compared to a less glazed greyish tile. At first I thought it was due to variations in the handmade tile, but when the replacements for the broken tile arrived, and we continued the border, we realized it was a totally different color. We had our installer come back and try to remove it, but it was impossible to remove them without cracking all the tile around them, so we are stuck with it. No budget left to redo the whole thing.

When they realized they had sent me the wrong color, the company did reimburse me for the tile, but left me waiting over 2 months for them to send me the color they were supposed to send me in the first place. And after all that, I'm left looking at mismatched tile in my new kitchen, and it really is a shame. The excuse was that the tile, supposedly hand-made for every project, was mislabeled. The box said the correct color but the tiles inside were the wrong color. How does that happen when items are hand-made to order? I was also given the excuse was that they have a lot of new employees. I can see why that could be relevant but not sure why their new employees are now my problem.

Customer Service is beyond great, but attention to detail given to the actual order in production is highly lacking, leaving the troops in customer service to pick up the pieces.

I have their Ogee as my kitchen backsplash and then up my 10 foot ceilings. It was the most expensive thing in my entire kitchen. I just ordered samples for my bathroom the fog subway tile and I don’t think I’m going to do it. It will be the most expensive part of my guest bathroom too. HAVE YOUR CONTRACTOR ORDER IT. THEY GET BETTER PRICING. I only neeed 164 sq ft and it’s $24 per. Don’t think I’m going to do it.

several of you mentioned a Fireclay graveyard, where i assume you purchase surplus tiles. what city do you live in where this exists?

I think that used to be in San Jose and it closed when they moved their showroom north to San Francisco.

Sam K you think all that's important in a tile is the way it looks? Well for a lot of people, it isn't. what about the fact that it's a b-corp (it's the only tile company that is)? They use ALOT of recycled materials. Fireclay is LEAD free which I'm guessing those tiles you're showing aren't. Made in the US in a sustainable factory. And even if you're going back to look, those tiles you chose don't look anything like the fireclay ones. Fireclay is known for having very unique colors, as well as finish. wannabath these are the reasons I justify Fireclay's price, and for me I'll pay it because I care about the health of both the occupants of a space (low voc tile including lead free) AND the health of the environment - plus the quality is excellent, and colors and finish are quite unique. And I think the reason they do not have a bunch of pre-made tile lying around is because this is a small company, and it's unclear when, or even if, that tile would ever be used. Plus, since they are newish, they are constantly evolving the color of their tiles to make better quality glaze and durability. So they make all tile upon order, hence the small-batch fee. BTW they had a "seconds sale" a year or so ago, so look out for those if you want to use fireclay in the future for a discounted price....people also sell some fireclay on places like craigslist and fb marketplace for a discounted price:)