Our Services

Shower Tile Supply and Installations

Tiled showers are one of our specialties. When it comes to installing tile in your shower one of the most important aspects of the shower is never even seen. The work done before the tile installation needs to be precise and effective to ensure any water that makes it past the tile and grout goes down the drain and not into your walls and subfloor. This can cause major damage to your home! Most people and sadly even some contractors believe that tile and grout are waterproof, however, that is not the case. If steps are skipped during the preparation of the shower and waterproofing, you could find yourself with a leaking shower.

Unfortunately, many of our clients call us after they start to notice excessive mildew growing on their grout joints or see damage to the sheetrock or baseboard directly next to their new shower. This is often the result of a shower not properly prepared for tile installation. Unfortunately, if you can see water damage from a leaking shower, in most cases the only fix is a complete remodel. It can sometimes take years for a leaky shower to show itself on the surface, meanwhile, the damage is taking place inside the walls.

There are multiple acceptable and TCNA (Tile Council of N. America) approved ways to prepare a shower for tile installation. We are familiar with all of them and depending on your tile choice, location, and budget we will always use one of the approved and time tested methods for shower tile installation and waterproofing. Many of the materials manufacturers offer great warranties when using their complete product line and we are happy to help you register for the warranty.

Building a shower is like making a cake. You cannot skip steps and expect it to be beautiful and delicious. Some people can make a tasty cake but the presentation is poor, on the other hand, some might make their cake look good on the outside, but the taste leaves a lot to be desired! Just like it takes a real professional to bake both a good looking and delicious cake, it also takes a real professional to build a functional and beautiful tiled shower.

When considering a large investment like a tiled shower, we urge you to take your time when choosing both the tile itself and the contractor you will hire. Take into consideration these 5 points.

Does the contractor specialize in shower tile installation?
What materials are being used for the waterproofing of the substrate?
Will a Flood Test be performed on the shower pan?
Does the manufacturer of the installation products offer a warranty?
Does the contractor offer a warranty on the workmanship?

Tile and Stone Installations

We understand that when it comes to flooring options, you have a lot to choose from. If you are looking for an option that is permanent, clean, and green you should be seriously considering porcelain tile.

There are many options when choosing the perfect tile for your flooring needs and not all are equal. We recommend shopping with a locally owned tile distributor. They are more likely to take the time to understand what you need and are more than happy to point you in the right direction. We offer consultation for all your tile projects.

What Type of Tile for Your Floor?

We Recommend Porcelain Tile

If you are looking for longevity and durability with the least amount of maintenance, you should be shopping for a porcelain tile. Porcelain is by far the most durable tile on the market, but beware not all porcelain is created equal! Below is some information on the properties of porcelain tile to assist you in your shopping.

Porcelain tiles are typically made with "porcelain" clays that have specific properties. Typically, these tiles are dense and by definition, they have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Non-porcelain tiles have water absorption greater than 0.5%.

There are both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles. It is important to know the difference, as the glazed variety is usually a little easier to clean. Typically, glazed porcelain tiles have filled in microscopic holes that could be present in the unglazed tile. On the other hand, unglazed porcelains may have better slip resistance.

Tile Classifications

Tile is classified into 4 categories: Non-Vitreous, Semi-Vitreous, Vitreous, and Impervious. The water absorption determines the best area of use for each tile.

Shade Variation

The Ceramic Tile Distributors of America has come up with a shade guide that applies to ceramic and porcelain tile. The Scale is V1-V4.
Shade variation is inherent in all tile products, including man-made tiles such as porcelain, glass and ceramic. Shade and texture will vary significantly from piece to piece within production runs. V1 shade variation has little or no change from piece to piece where a V4 will have a large variety of color and/or texture differences.

Dye Lots

Ceramic tile is a natural material with a natural composition which becomes resistant when fired at very high temperatures. This process, however, can cause slight differences in the shades of color of a tile between one batch and the next. Therefore, tiles are grouped before packaging according to their “dye lots” or shade and their caliber. The “dye lot” (or shade of that batch of material) is then indicated on the label of every box. This is why when placing your order for tile, it is very important to order enough tile to not only complete the job but also to have extra for any repairs that may need to occur sometime down the line. Five to twenty percent extra tile should be ordered depending on the specified pattern.

Exterior Tile

We are happy to discuss installing exterior tile.

The benefits of having tile outdoors are many. You can add a lot of design and personality to your home with mosaic tile, handmade tile, glass or wood-look porcelain tile for example. You can blur the line between the interior of your home and the space outside.

The design and application possibilities for exterior tile are almost as endless as installing tile indoors. Tile pavers can be installed on grass, sand, or gravel for a unique look and practical application, and do not require grout. Handmade tile can add flair and personality as can mosaics and glass tile. Porcelain can imitate natural stone and marble, providing a timeless look on the exterior of your home while ensuring durability for generations to come with minimal maintenance.

Because tile is made from natural materials, many tiles perform well outside. Added technologies like inkjet printing and slip-resistant surfaces make tile even more accessible for outdoor applications. That being said, not all tiles are made for exterior use and extra considerations need to be made when shopping for the right tile. We always recommend shopping at a locally owned tile distributor vs big box. You will have access to people who are more invested in your success when it comes to choosing the correct quality tile. As always we are happy to consult with you on your tile choices.

Extra care and attention to details is a necessity for exterior tile installations. Extra expansion joints are needed due to rapid expansion from heating up quickly in the sun and cooling off rapidly from the exposed night and winter elements. Proper drainage needs to be considered, especially in areas where temperatures drop below freezing.

Fireplace Surrounds

A fireplace can be the centre piece of your home. Whether large or small, it is a statement piece no matter the size. It’s a place where family and guests can huddle around and spend a lot of time, so having a beautiful tile surround that matches your home and style is a “must have”. We can help you whether you know exactly what you want or need a design and build team to build something special for you. We work with many professionals who specialize in custom fireplace surrounds. Contact us and if you’re ready to get started

In-Floor Heat

TILE & GROUT DEEP CLEANING

We also offer Tile and grout deep cleaning and renewal through our sister site www.TileRenew.ca

"We Make Tile Look New Again"