The quality of the source material is the difference. Rectified tiles are more likely to be easier to install. The time you save on LABOUR is HUGE with a quality tile. Go ahead and purchase a box of each tile (one from F&D and the other from the tile shop). Make sure you can return the boxes. This is a 'quality control' concept not a 'test it' project.

Open each box. Count the tiles in it. Inspect BOTH boxes for damage, chips, etc. That's called transport damage. That is ADDED onto the 5% cutting waste most QUALITY products require. The big box stores (Yes....F&D = big box company) often have more waste...

You will write down your observations on a piece of paper for each. Use % to find out which tile has more or less quality control.

Then you will check the thickness for each tile...at both ends and in the middle. How CONSITANT is the thickness through EACH tile as well as compared to ALL OTHER tiles in the box. Write down your findings for all three measurements for each tile.

Now you will check the edges. How deep is the bevel? How well applied is the pattern? How far over the edge does the colouring work? If the grout is a snick low, will there be issues with colour/pattern/edge?

Now stand up TWO tiles from the same box. Have them facing each other....belly to belly. Now measure how much BOWING you have. Pick a single tile as your 'measure' and then compare each to that tile. Measure and record your observations for BOTH products.

Which manufacturer has MORE CONSISTENCY? Consistency = customer satisfaction. Consistency = Easy installation = FASTER installation = CHEAPER cost of labour.

Ah...yes. Labour. Tiling isn't expensive because the TILES are expensive. Tiling is expensive because the LABOUR is expensive. In my neck of the woods (2nd most expensive City in the World = 2nd only to Hong Kong) the cost of labour = $12-$15/sf for labour. The tiles and materials are EXTRA.

But start at the beginning. Buy a box of product you are interested in from the two retailers you are hoping to work with. Do your due diligence and figure out WHY the TILE STORE (ahem...the people who KNOW AND CARE about tiles) are 3x more expensive than a Canadian Owned/Operated Online supplier.

Or better yet, consult your professional tile installer. Get the samples in his/her hands for recommendations. There are many "rants" in the professional tile groups about F&D tile. Some refuse to install it. We don't install anything without inspecting and approving the selection first as the tile must meet our standards for a professional outcome. That being said, some of the most experienced and skilled installers can make adjustments that accommodate for some of the tile deficiencies with perhaps a "more" acceptable result. They also are not likely charging by the sq. ft., but by the hour = $. And if they reject a certain amount of the tiles, then.... Also, if they reject the unacceptable or broken tiles in the box, and there is a delay while more tile is purchased (which may or may not be of the same lot and therefore a potential for different shade, etc)., expect to pay for the schedule interruption as well. Your professional installer is who you should b talking to. Good luck with your project.

Thank you so much for your feedback these are things I definitely did not think about! I think your idea about buying one box of each is great! I’m afraid my lack of experience might make it hard for for me to distinguish or point out these differences but I think it’s a good start! Thank you!!

As I’ve been tile shopping I’m seeing the same tile offerings at a higher end shop as the F&D. just assumed they were the sam manufacturer. So F&D doesn’t carry the name brands, it’s knock offs?

2nds or purpose made lower-quality products. Not guaranteed to match between the boxes (ie. You might not get a delivery with all the same batch/lot numbers).

It looks beautiful! I’m tempted to maybe do 2 bathrooms from F&D one from the tile store ...thanks for sharing the pictures. Did you have any mismatch or damages tile issues when you got the tiles from F&D

Why not do ONE bathroom -- the one you care about least -- with the less expensive tile, then decide whether you're satisfied with the result?

For what it's worth, we used moderately priced tile from Lowes for our hall bath remodel, and we were very happy. If any broken tiles were in our boxes, I was unaware of it. A decade later, the tile is still in perfect condition.

The tile pro who redid all my bathrooms made the cheap Daltile subway from Home Depot look like a million bucks. He gave advice and had veto power on any tile I considered.

I redid 5 bathrooms. I took a “high/low” approach. Simple subway tile from HD in the kids/guest bathrooms and a more expensive tile I had fallen in love with in my bathroom.

What really matters most is the experience and skill of the tile professional. A bad tile dude can take an expensive tile and ruin your whole project. A great tile pro can do wonders with the cheapest simplest tile so long as he or she has inspected and approves of your choice. It’s pretty fast and easy to install 3x6 subway tile in a running bond or stacked pattern. The labor/time will be minimized so you will save money there because of time saved. I took the “high/low” approach to that as well because my bathroom took longer because of the tile choices and pattern I wanted.

As my Dad always said: buy the best you can afford. I had Italian porcelain wood look tile (Energie Ker) installed in my hallway and both bathrooms. I even got them on sale. The tiler loved the tile, said it was very high quality and cut smoothly. He used Tec grout, his favorite. I researched both tile and grouts too. I am very happy with those floors.

And by the way, Lowe’s and Home Depot sell tile from major manufacturers such as Emser, Daltile, etc. They just don’t carry it all in the store. You have to order online, have it shipped to the store and pick it up. I did this for lots of projects. At the store you open the box and if you don’t like it, return it immediately without ever taking the box home. We got most of the tile for our 5 bathrooms this way. If you have Amex reward points you can ease your cash flow by getting HD gift cards and using them to buy all your tile. There were 2 tiles I wanted that HD did not carry online, so I bought those elsewhere. But using the Amex points HD gift cards was a good strategy for us to ease cash flow.

AN , those were done by pro of high calibre. He handled it all so waste was not outside of usual.

#lindalana 5b Chicago I love your crystal pulls. Can you share where you purchased?

Go the homedepot route! What looks are you after?

Thanks everyone! I think you are 100% right about choosing a good pro instead of the quality tile!
As far as design I’m so thorn! It’s such a hard decision I feel like all bathroom look the same so trying to pick something unique

First floor - white tiles with white grout with light floors and blue vanity and gold faucet

Kids bath: will be cheapest, big white tiles with dark floor

Master: I’m thinking big white marble looking porcelain tiles on wall and floor

Beautiful! These tiles should be easy to find at homedepot. Where you do have the possibility to also return the overages if full boxes left over

Ideas- easy looks with white tiles and black accents, maybe wood

For kids I just did a fun bathroom recently- also with blue and very simple/basic/ inexpensive tiles and fixtures most of them homedepot

Uhh I like the ideas!! So here what I have picked so far tell me your thoughts
Master: marble rectangular tiles with glossy wood look tiles full picture in previous post

Kids: subway tiles with dark gray hex

Main floor bathroom: torn between two options! I had the damask pattern picked out and discovered the ocean looking one as I was walking out :-/ last one

These are options for the Main floor bathroom.
I have a blue vanity with gold faucet and mirror etc

Now here’s the bummer I wanted porcelain tiles as they are more durable and better ... these are all ceramic...

I like all except the damask. That will date too fast...A sidenote to function: keep the decorative tiles with gold outside the shower or any spots with too much water:)

I am sure you can find porcelain tiles with those looks:)

Which ones are the ceramics

I’m not going with the tiles with gold as they were on the pricey side.
So the stand up shower is in the back and the damask or the blueish tile would go on the back wall (that also has a window) and the sides of the shower would be just white.

The damask and the 3d triangle tile are ceramic so that’s why I’m leaning towards this bluish tile. Not sure if I should go matte or glossy

I ordered tile samples via South Cypress online. Can't say enough good things about them, and my tilers were impressed with the quality. Yes, because of shipping, I has to pay for the samples, but, hey, instant trivets! (Colors never look the same on line as in person.)

I did get some of the wall tiles via Home Depot (Datile). But all the floor tiles came from South Cypress. Decent pricing available. No, I don't work for them....

EDIT Those huge tiles I am thinking is best to order locally... shipping would be a hassle.

How much were the tiles? I shall def check them out!

The blue tiles are gorgeous!! I think you have a winner. Make sure your installer is on board as these large tiles need experienced installers and a large tile cutting(aka ppl who have done this before). I personally like the matte look but the glossy is more popular atm at least amongst my clients. I don't believe there is much difference in terms of performance, though the matte is easier to maintain as not all spots and grease show...

Ordering tiles online can be tricky. If possible get them locally to avoid any misshaps