A. Some marbles are denser than others and CAN be used for this purpose. Granite and Quartzite are generally the better choices for an actively used “cooks kitchen”.

A. Quartzite is ideal for any countertop surface due to its strength and long-lasting composition. it is often recommended over marble for its inherent strength, beauty, and overall durability. Quartzite is a very hard metamorphic rock that originated as quartz sandstone. It is created through a process of high heating and pressurization.

A. We advise the use of Frosted Glass for this purpose. Looking for more glitz? Try bringing in some shiny glass accents into the room as well as using glass tile or deco tile for a wall border.

A. Absolutely, you can. The Terra Tile design team concurs that large tile visually enlarges a room by creating a “carpet effect” – where fewer grout lines cut up the space. Conversely, if you go smaller — mosaics, for example — you create texture and offer the eye a design element to focus on.

A. Think about your personal likes. What is the style or styles that you find yourself bookmarking online for a second and third look, or pinning to your Pinterest board. What designers have you been following on Instagram or your favorite designer’s blog? What colors would you prefer to see in your room? Find one thing you love and build off of that item.

Call Terra Tile & Marble for a personal consult with one of our Design Team members. They have great taste and years of experience and product knowledge with which to guide you.

A. Cabinets first – always! As the most expensive and largest aspect of the renovation – this will dictate all other decisions.

Countertops are next. Depending on material selected, they can become the true focal point of the room. Terra Tile offers a vast array of options in custom countertop fabrication. Our warehouse is conveniently located just down the road in Millwood, NY.

Third is the flooring. Experience a vast array of samples installed in our showroom. You’ll be surprised how grout adds needed safety and grip to glazed and polished stone tiles. Browse traditional and modern options as well as hot new wood-look tiles that offer ease of maintenance where pets and children are concerned.

The final enhancement to the kitchen is the backsplash tile. De-stress and enjoy this process when you work with the in-house designers at Terra Tile & Marble.

A. Short answer – Every home is different. Heavy wear dictates sealing more often. A home with two dogs, three kids and lots of activity may require sealing floors ever 2 or 3 years. A foyer in a two adult household, and an entrance used only for guests may go years without needing to be resealed. In a stone shower, sealing needs are also affected by your water’s mineral content. Hard water would necessitate frequent re-sealing. Same with the cleaners you use. Use a pH balanced non-acidic cleaner like Aquamix Concentrated Cleaner. Use of the wrong product(s) can literally “strip” the sealer from the stone.

A. Believe it or not – stone and tile surfaces are the same temperature as everything else in the room at any given moment. The reason they appear to feel cooler than other surfaces is due to their density. Due to of the warmth of our bodies, we are actually heating up an item when we touch it. Stone and tile (dense surfaces) take longer to heat up when touched by human skin thus making it feel cool. Surfaces like wood, vinyl, and carpet (which are less dense) heat up quickly, therefore making them feel warmer.

When fall and winter bring their cooler temperatures  – that cooler-feeling floor isn’t always as appreciated! Fortunately, Terra Tile & Marble offers the latest in radiant heat flooring products that can warm up a tile floor and make it more comfortable to walk upon on a chilly day.

Check out our Schluter radiant heating floor systems here:
LINK to Schluter

A. That’s not always the case.

There are two common types of porcelain tile: 1) “through-body” and 2) “Glazed”. Both types are solid dense porcelain “ceramic” tiles. Both tiles are made from compressed clay and baked in a kiln at high temperatures.

Porcelain tile in general is freeze/thaw stable and suitable for exterior use. It is very durable for both heavy duty commercial and residential use.  Porcelain tile is chip resistant and moisture resistant. That’s where the similarity ends.

Through-body porcelain tile refers to porcelains where the composition of the tile goes all the way through the tile. There are many manufacturing techniques for finishing these tiles, however they are typically considered unglazed. The surface may be polished, honed or textured.

Glazed porcelain tile refers to porcelain tile where the surface of the tile is “glazed”. It may be a color coat, clear coat or both. These types have excellent durability, but not as durable as the through-body porcelain for heavy commercial floor applications. The composition of these tiles may be a white body, color matched or combination of techniques. Terra Tile offers a large selection of styles in both categories.

A. Not at all! Marble, granite and limestone are all natural materials, quarried from the earth. They may be fabricated into tiles or slabs in factories – but they are totally natural. Stones are comprised of different minerals that formed together millions of years ago. Veining, holes and fissures have all occurred naturally in their formation. These characteristics found in natural tiles are highly sought after and are simply part of their unique beauty of nature. Enjoy them!

A. Not necessarily. Porcelain is a type of ceramic with a very dense and hard body. It is an essential choice for commercial or heavily trafficked floors and usually “a superior choice” for residential kitchen use. However, you will not find a difference in performance between porcelain and regular ceramic in residential bathroom use. You may needlessly be limiting your design choices if you only select from porcelain.