Tips for how to select floor and wall tiles

Author: Amanda Fasciani

Title: Tile & Stone Specialist

Tel: 905-856-7979

Date: June 18, 2012

It’s no secret that most of us lead very busy lives. We work hard and long hours, to feed and shelter our family and children, attend to daily chores and commitments inside and outside the home and the reward at the end of the day, is to take comfort in our home to share the time with family and friends. All of us have a room in our homes that we escape to, for example a private bathroom where one can escape to by taking a hot bath and leisurely reading a book. Or maybe enjoy cooking and entertaining for family and friends in the kitchen of their dreams. All and all, our house is our home.

When it comes to renovating a home, whether it be applying a new coat of paint, adding a new piece of furniture, or recreating a whole space, we strive for the best, the most economical and beautiful product, all within a prescribed budget. In this regard, it is paramount to choose the ideal flooring style and wall applications to fit one’s lifestyle and stay on budget. Repeating this process again within a short time period is not an option because of cost consideration, time involved and a chaotic clean up process thereafter. That’s why I wanted to talk specifically about choosing the right flooring and wall applications for your lifestyle and budget, simply because these are not things one wants to change on a frequent bases due to the work, cost and mess involved. It’s important to select flooring and wall applications that you can grow with and build your home around for the next ten to fifteen years.

There is a great selection of tile products in the market today that one can choose when renovating or building a new home. For example: Ceramic, Porcelain, Natural Stone (marble, granite, limestone, slate, etc.), glass and tile mosaics and the list goes on and on. Today, this particular industry is experiencing a renaissance, offering a wide selection of products and improved pricing. Consequently the average consumer is overwhelmed by product choice and requires expert guidance.

To simplify the process, there are a few important considerations to focus on:

1) Where is the floor or wall tile being used in the home?

- In a high traffic area? (i.e, kitchen or laundry room) or

- In a low traffic area? (i.e bathroom)

2) What kind of look or style preference is desirable?

• Classic which is - shiny, matt, light neutral colours (ivory, beige, cream and gold)
• Traditional, which has more ornate patterns that evoke an old world charm

• Contemporary, which is modern, sleek, straight and simple lines.
• Transitional which combines contemporary and traditional

3) What floor and wall tile best suits your lifestyle?

4) What is the budget for the entire job including materials and labour?

Having resolved the above issues, there are other matters to be considered.

A) If the floor tile is to be used in a high traffic area, porcelain tile is the best option. It’s durable, stain and scratch resistant, with minimal maintenance required. Depending on the pattern and colour selected for the porcelain tile, the homeowner could settle on any one of the following choice: contemporary, classic or traditional and a few other styles in between.

B) In a low traffic environment, e.g. a bathroom, I strongly recommend the selection of natural stone - travertine, marble or limestone. Natural Stone is a thing of beauty, something that is created by mother nature. Installing natural stone liberally in a home enhances its value not to mention the high praise from family and friends when they visit the home and notice the magnificent look. Use natural stone as a backsplash or perhaps in a formal dining area. Natural stone is not conducive to high traffic areas of the house because the stones are porous and thus easily absorb moisture which in turn requires high maintenance, ultimately to cost. (Keep an eye out for my next blog on the pros and cons of Natural Stone vs.Vs. Porcelain tiles)

C) To reiterate the right kind of floor tile for the home would depend on family circumstance. A family with adult children but without pets would find natural stone flooring ideal. The floor gives a home a million dollar look with minimal maintenance problem. However for a family with young children and their pets, using porcelain tile would be the best option. It stands up to abuse and heavy traffic and yet maintain its great appearance after a quick clean up.

D) Naturally, budget is a major consideration. I always suggest to my clients to start looking in magazines, surf the web of your favorite designers and get a feel for what look and tile product you tend to lean towards. Once they have an idea of colour scheme, material and lay out of their new room, they come in to see me and we go through all of our options, we can work within the budget and make your dream bathroom possible and even magazine worthy!

Thanks for reading! More to come!


Canaroma Bath & Tile
7979 Weston Road, Vaughan, ON, Canada
905-856-7979, http://www.canaroma.com

Our new Tile & Stone Specialist: Amanda Fasciani

Amanda Fasciani: Tile & Stone Specialist

As a graduate from the Psychology and Sociology Bachelor of Arts program at York University and with seven + years experience in the home décor, wall and floor coverings and plumbing industry, I have realized my passion for the design build field. With both my education and experience I am able to deliver a beautiful product and feel that my customer service is exceptional. My interests lie within all aspects of home design and construction, with customer satisfaction as the ultimate goal. I love being part of making peoples houses their homes, its one of those jobs that is very rewarding at the end of the day.

I work as a design consultant and sales rep in the tile and stone division at Canaroma Bath & Tile. When our clients come to visit us, whether its a new house or an older home that they are improving, I like to inform them on practical product choices that best suit their life styles and living space and at the same time creating a beautiful, elegant and sophisticated look while focusing on increasing the value of their home.

Through my experience, I have learned this is an area where I excel. I have continued to showcase my design and managing strengths for the past few years. I have not only managed a home décor centre, but I've managed residential renovation projects including, hiring and scheduling trades and working close with clients to ensure their visions comes to life.

I am looking forward to new challenges and gaining more experience in this field to expand my knowledge and expertise. Canaroma Bath and Tile has a wide range of variety and unbelievable product!  Our new and up coming stone division is going to blow peoples minds! Their natural stone line from Porcelanosa, a company out of Spain, is out of this world and takes quality control and production to a whole new level!  I'm very ecstatic and excited to be part of the team. 


Canaroma Bath & Tile
7979 Weston Road, Vaughan, ON, Canada
905-856-7979, http://www.canaroma.com 

THE AMAZING BENEFITS OF PORCELAIN HARDWOOD FLOORS

Author: Vanessa Piacentini

Title: Interior Decorator / Tile Coordinator

Tel: 905-856-7979 x29

Date: June 6, 2012

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Porcelain hardwood combines the appearance of natural hardwood with the benefits of porcelain tile without the problem of water absorption, needless maintenance and is resistant against abrasion, stains, scratches and insects. No shade variation because of the sun rays, no expanding because of the temperature and no fire hazard.

It is surprising that the "trend" seen in magazines, trade shows, showrooms etc. shows natural hardwood in kitchens and while the look is stunning and attractive; in reality it is not practical for kitchen settings.

Here are a few scenarios to consider when thinking of Natural Engineered Hardwood for the kitchen:

• Assume your dishwasher breaks down one day causing a small flood in the kitchen. Guess what? Your hardwood will be damaged by the water and will have to be removed whereas the Porcelain hardwood will remain undamaged.
• You are preparing a meal and you accidentally drop a knife, a fork, a plate or a utensil on the pristine floor, you now have visible dents.
• If you have small children imagine all the things they will throw or drop on that floor and how many dents will that create?
• Each time you move the chair to sit and get up, the movement causes scratches on the hardwood floor. 
• Also a pet with paws or claws does make unsightly marks and at times scratch marks.

Thus it is important for every owner to understand that there is no scratch-proof, moisture-proof or water-proof hardwood floor in the market today. A newly installed hardwood floor could look like it’s 10 year old after a month or so having gone through all these adversities.

For a wise investment in a great looking floor, I suggest using porcelain hardwood. This would ensure an outstanding appearance every time with minimal maintenance.

Canaroma Bath & Tile
7979 Weston Road, Vaughan, ON, Canada
905-856-7979, http://www.canaroma.com

Q & A Series 3: Kitchen Renovations

Canaroma Bath & Tile Q & A series.
Interview with Shari Andreucci, Design & Sales Rep.

Q: What are customers asking first for foremost when undergoing a kitchen renovation?

Shari: Primarily they select four areas of the following kitchen products.
- kitchen sinks


- kitchen faucets

- backsplash tiles


- kitchen floor tiles


Q: What are the prevailing trends in kitchen sinks and faucets?

Shari: The most popular is the modern stainless steel sinks. The choice is either a 90 degree corner or a slight curved radius. Another popular kitchen sink is a Trough sink, which is a larger sink to accommodate larger pots and pans. As a matter of fact I have one in my kitchen and I find it extremely versatile for most of my cooking needs.

The older style double bowl sinks are a thing of the past; heavy and ineffective and devoid of customer demand.

I find that our customers have made a huge investment in their newly renovated  kitchen and they expect their kitchen products to be of the same calibre in quality, durability and style. Especially when it comes to kitchen sinks and faucets. They are partial to faucets with exceptional quality and durability due to the high frequency of use.
 

Q: What kind of role does the commercial kitchen faucet play in the scheme of popularity?

Shari: It does not seem as common as the  goose neck faucet with an integrated pull out application. Understandably, this product has become our biggest seller. The brands are: Hansgrohe, Grohe, and KWC. I have installed a goose neck faucet with an integrated pull out in my kitchen and it is very versatile, I could not go back to Not having a pullout.

Q: Do you offer suggestions and recommendations for a kitchen sink as well as assist in coordinating style and design?


Shari: Most certainly. I offer practical solution to our customers, for an example, when selecting a modern sink I would suggest a modern streamline kitchen faucet to complement and a soap dispenser as an added touch.

Q: What kind of assistance do you provide a customer for kitchen backsplash and floors?

Shari: For starters, a customer could browse through our  gallery of tiles featuring a fantastic selection of ceramic and porcelain tiles in many textures, colors and patterns. The quality of the tiles, manufactured in Italy, North America and Spain are by far the best quality and design you can find.

I have decorated and selected all the products for my own kitchen renovation. See pics below.

Q: Can we discuss your own kitchen renovation?

 

Shari: Absolutely. My old kitchen was small and since we have a large family and love to entertain, I decided to expand and renovate my kitchen. I love an open kitchen concept which meant I had to remove the wall separating the kitchen and dining room. Now I have a great kitchen which is 33' L x 18' W, great for parties and that large Italian family.
 

Q: There are so many brands of kitchen faucets and sinks to choose from, what did you select for your own kitchen?

Shari: I choose a Franke Orca trough single sink in stainless steel, a Hansgrohe streamline high arc pull out faucet, a single stainless steel island sink with a prep. faucet. For the kitchen backsplash I went with a 2x4 porcelain tile that has a similar tone to my kitchen cabinets that are chocolate brown in colour, Shaker style.

Q: What makes you special from your competitors for us to be confident with your service?
 
Shari: With my 15yrs of experience in bathroom and kitchen coordination and product knowledge,  I'm in a unique position to offer my expertise in all aspects of kitchen and bathroom renovation. I'm able to discuss and recommend products, color coordination, design etc. for any budget allocation in order to meet my customer's needs.





Canaroma Bath & Tile
7979 Weston Road, Vaughan, ON, Canada
905-856-7979, http://www.canaroma.com

Q & A Series 4: Bathroom Trends

Canaroma Bath & Tile Q & A series.

Interview with Gino

 Giordano:

 Senior

 Design

 &

 Sales

 Rep.

Q: What is the most popular finish when it comes to bathroom faucets?

GINO: Chrome finish has always rank consistently high and by far had been most popular. However, in recent years, brushed nickel has taken over the number one spot in bathroom finishes, relegating chrome to a close second. In today’s bathroom market trend, bath designs incorporating ultra modern approach has brought  chrome back in popularity.

Q. When contemplating bathtub style and finish what is the market’s preference?

GINO: In years past, the corner tub, followed by the drop-in was the ideal choice.  The preference today is the freestanding modern tubs in acrylic. Durability, affordability and easy maintenance have propelled acrylic bathtubs to dominate the market. 
The reason why acrylic is the most popular tub material is because 90% of the bathtubs manufactured are made of acrylic. However, a few manufacturers such as Victoria Albert and WetStyle carry solid surface tubs made from limestone and resin.

In a traditional styled bathroom, a traditional slipper freestanding tub with a ball and claw feet would be a perfect choice in such a setting.

Q: What kind of shape is the most commonly sought after design when it comes to modern freestanding tubs?

GINO: For comfort and practicality, the rectangular shaped bathtub is the most sensible solution when it comes to freestanding tubs. We offer a great selection of rectangular bathtubs and contemporary floor mounted bath fillers to match.

Q: Tell us a bit about the toilet trends right now?

GINO: Many toilet manufacturers have noticed a large and growing segment of baby
boomers who are in need of a reconfigured toilet more suitable for their aging bodies. New toilet style and height have to be slightly higher to allowing getting up easier. Thus,
the height from floor to seat previously at 15 1/2" is now raised to 17-18".

Q. Are there any significant differences between Toto and American Standard Porcher?

GINO: Both toilet brands are rated high quality toilets. Toto was the first toilet manufacturer to perfect the 6 liter flush, whereas the other toilet companies still had 13-liter capacity. To comply to stringent water conservation advocated by most jurisdictions  most toilets companies today including Toto and American Standard – Porcher have 4.8 litres for their toilets. The 2 main differences with the two toilet companies is that American standard/porcher have the higher flush gram rating at 1000, whereas Toto's is 400-800. The second significant consideration is American Standard lower pricing.

Q: What are the new shower systems in the market today?

GINO: The key to success in this market is employing thermostatic valves. The reason is simple.This device allows for a pre-set temperature at a desired level which makes water usage comfortable. Thermostat control supplemented by pressure balance valves ensure a consistent flow of water even when multiple equipment are being used simultaneously, e.g. dishwasher, washing machine, toilet being flushed and a running shower. There is no discernible drop in water pressure or interruption to the flow for the entire process.

Q. Are there new and exciting tangible trends in bathroom vanities?

GINO: Again, it's the modern clean lines that people are after. Whether it's a new construction or bath renovation, customers are looking for the contemporary designer look in bath vanities.

Q: Should your customers worry about select a wood vanity for their bathroom, fearing that the wood would warp and not last?

GINO: Purchasing from the leaders of the industry like Vanico,Artelinea, Novello, Laufen, Duravit and Wetstyle is one way to avoid future headache. We are proud to carry the wood vanity by these manufacturers as they ensure the highest industry standards of pre-treating and kiln drying the wood for the exception quality bath vanities.

Q: What do you consider an important factor when helping customers?

GINO: My first priority is the total satisfaction of my customers. With my 25 years of experience, knowledge and hands on approach, I’m confident I am well positioned to meet the objective.


Canaroma Bath & Tile
7979 Weston Road, Vaughan, ON, Canada
905-856-7979, http://www.canaroma.com

Q & A Series 2: Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles for the Home

Canaroma Bath & Tile Q & A series.

Interview with Vanessa Piacentini: Interior Decorator / Tile Coordinator




Q: What are the reasons to use ceramic wall tiles in the home?

Vanessa: Our Canaroma tiles in select series are designed to allow different colored grout to be applied to create optional color variations and mood. When the ceramic mosaic wall tile is completely grouted on the wall, it looks like an entire continuous piece of wall covering.

Q. What textured imitation porcelain stone tiles can be used for shower enclosures, waterfall background features and other wet areas without being concerned about treating the tiles?

Vanessa:  We have 3 beautiful wall tiles in earthtone colors in 2"x2" on a 18x35 format and we will be introducing about 10 more new wall tile colors in the new year.

Q: Why is the Carrera Blanco such a top seller when it comes to porcelain and ceramic tiles for residential, retail, restaurants and commercial application?

Vanessa: It's made to look like the classic Bianco Carrera marble. Customers love the look because the colors and the organic veining patterns are consistent. The Bianco Carrera ceramic and porcelain is always white with warm gray tones, whereas in the natural marble one may find some slabs with a blue gray tinge within, thus creating inconsistency The 12"x35" tile size is also similar to the natural marble stone slab and is rectified.

Our new 2"x2" glazed ceramic tile in a 12x35 format with the Carrera pattern is a great design complement and it gives the space a touch of glamour, an added punch.

Q: If a customer doesn't want to deal with any removal of the existing floor tiles and wants a simple and easy installation, is there a floor tile that is suitable?

Vanessa: Yes, it's our cliker tile system. cli-ker is an innovative and exclusive dry tile-laying system which allows the tiles to be swiftly and cleanly laid, with no cement, nor grout to the joints and more importantly no waste rubble.  Applying this system eliminates the need for additional or unnecessary extra work and mitigate the generation of waste during the tile-laying process, consequently reducing tile-laying costs and making it easy to refurbish floors in a way that guarantees comfort and functionality.

Q: What are the advantages for using porcelain hardwood floor tiles instead of natural hardwood floor planks?

Vanessa: Porcelain hardwood floor tiles are virtually chip resistant, whereas the natural wood floor would dent, and get discolored as it easily absorbs spills. The bacteria from the moisture would result in defacing a superb surface.
 
Since porcelain hardwood floor tiles are made of non-organic materials and the absorption rate is less than 0.03% there is no concern for mold or bacteria buildup.

Natural wood floors show dust more easily and require more maintenance, whereas porcelain hardwood floor tiles are easy wiped clean for a worry free maintenance.

Porcelain hardwood floor application is recommended to be widely used in every living area of the house, including the foyer, living room, dining room or against a wall going up the stairs. The Porcelain hardwood collection of rectified porcelain tiles replicate the look and feel of new or distressed hardwood and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Planks can be used in indoor and outdoor applications.

Q: What kind of floor tiles do you recommend for the dining and living room?

Vanessa: The type of porcelain hardwood floor tiles in these areas  should be superior to the other parts of the home with attractive furnishings and accessories. A homeowner should consider using tiles that are made to look like nature stone such as marble, onyx, travertine, Sisile, hardwood, etc. We carry all these products in our tile department and more.

Q: What about the use of large format tiles for a kitchen backsplash instead of the usual mosaics tiles or subway style tiles?

Vanessa: Absolutely. The larger tiles such as a 13x40 and 12x35 make a great alternative which would require less grout, making it less messy, and easier to clean. There are so many different options to choose depending on what compliments the overall finishes of your kitchen. When coming to our bath & tile showroom, key things to remember when choosing a backsplash please bring in a sample of your countertop and finish of the cabinetry.

Q: Is this a new trend for kitchen backsplashes?

Vanessa: No, it's a Canaroma Bath & Tile trend.





Canaroma Bath & Tile
7979 Weston Road, Vaughan, ON, Canada
905-856-7979, http://www.canaroma.com

Q & A Series 1: Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles for commercial and retail applications.

Canaroma Bath & Tile Q & A series. Interview with Andrew Piacentini, Bath & Tile Expert Q1: What is the best floor tile to use in office, restaurant or commercial spaces? Andrew: Through body porcelain is basically the only choice. Reason being is that through body porcelain tiles have the colour finish that is shown on the top manufactured and formed all the way through the tile. Even in extreme applications, these tiles tend not to show wear as the porcelain is harder than granite and concrete. Q2: How is the maintenance for the polished porcelain floor tiles and about slippage?  Andrew: Unlike natural stone where you need to polish, buff and seal the floor tile often, porcelain tiles require no treatment or sealing as they have an extremely high scratch resistance. As for slip resistance of porcelain tiles, porcelain tiles have an extremely low (0.04) water absorption, they are usually frost resistant. Through body porcelain polished tiles have the ability to be a lot more slip resistant due to the polished finish that is provided to them.  Through-colour porcelain tiles have a semi-polished finish to be more slip-resistant because they are unable to have the full polished finish like through-body porcelain has. Q3: For exterior floor and wall tiles, which brands would you recommend from your porcelain and ceramic tile collections? Andrew: I would not recommend any ceramic tile for exterior applications as they are not made for extreme temperatures. Our complete Iris porcelain tile collection would be perfect as exterior floor and wall tiles for office buildings, retail stores, condo exteriors to name a few. The most important thing to remember is to select a through body porcelain that is matte for the floors and either matte or polished finish tiles for the walls. Q4: Is there a commercial tile that can be used for interior and exterior walls and floors that don’t require any removal or demolition? Andrew: Yes, that product would be our 3mm porcelain tile from Italy. Our thin porcelain tiles with fiberglass backing can be simply cut to obtain different shapes and formats. Just lay it on your existing tile with adhesive, no demolition of your old tiles required. Some of the amazing benefits of this thin tile product is: it’s high flexural strength, frost resistance, hygienic surface qualities, it’s eco-friendly and recyclable, as well as its elimination of demolition costs, just to name a few. Canaroma Bath & Tile 7979 Weston Road, Vaughan, ON, Canada 905-856-7979, http://www.canaroma.com