Bathroom renovations can be expensive propositions. With such a huge spread in pricing on tile and plumbing fixtures, it's hard for many homeowners to know where to start. There are $200 faucets and there are $1,200 faucets. The same goes for tile; it can range from 90 cents to 450 dollars a square foot. And the overall price range of a bathroom remodel can vary just as greatly. If you're on a budget and not the kind that includes $400-per-square-foot-tile here are a 7 features that elevate a basic bathroom to the next level without spending a fortune.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Mosaic Bathroom Tile. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
I know it seems like a pretty simple thing.
You want to tile a bathroom floor so you go down to your local big-box store and pick up what you need.
What could go wrong? Well, sometimes more than you think.
Below are 5 tips for purchasing tile from Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, Floor & Decor, and the like.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Two different tile dye lots were installed in a showerThe biggest issue with big box store tile purchases is shading and sizing differences.
This is great if the tile is supposed to have shade variations and not a solid tone.
However, thats not what Im talking about here. Im talking about variations from batch to batch.
Do you know whats not fun? Realizing that the next box of tile doesnt match the tile you just installed.
Always check to make sure the batch numbers matchSometimes you cant even notice the difference until you stand back and look. Nobody wants a different colored line or block of tiles in the middle of their floor.
On every box of tile, there is a dye-lot number which is sometimes called a batch or shade number.
Different batches of tile will have different numbers. Batches can be different in both size and color from run to run.
Consequently, youll need to check your boxes of tile to make sure that the numbers are all identical.
I dont have any concrete proof of this but my hunch is that the big box stores get the seconds to sell in their stores.
Therefore, it seems like I see greater numbers of mismatched sizes, chips, and factory flaws than tile that is purchased straight from the distributor. Again, I cant prove this but I think this is the case.
I also see an inordinate amount of sizing differences between the tiles sold in these stores.
Furthermore, tiles can vary by 1/8th inch or more from one to the next. This makes controlling the size of the grout joint very difficult.
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Dont purchase from different stores.
With as much tile as Home Depot and Lowes stock, the batches will likely vary from store to store.
That is to say, if you purchase all from one store then you are reducing the odds that you will be getting different dye lots.
If one store doesnt have as much as you need then go to another store and buy everything in one purchase.
Buy new unopened cartons.
One of the great things about big box stores is that they typically have great return policies. You can return your extras rather than throw them away or store large quantities of them.
One of the bad things about big box stores is that you may purchase someones returned tiles.
Do you think people return the good tiles or the bad tiles?
The person before you may be returning different batches of tile. Ive seen cut, broken, and completely different tiles in boxes that have been returned.
Buy too much.
As was mentioned above, the return policies are great. So, purchasing too much tile lets you be choosey with what you install.
You can pick through the flawed tile and return what you dont use. Furthermore, I recommend getting 20-50% extra when buying through a big box store.
Read this to know how to calculate square feet for tile.
Why You Should NOT Buy a Newly Remodeled Home
Always check the different components.
If all of your tile is one size then this wont be an issue.
However, if you are installing more than one size or shape of tile then youll need to make sure the different sizes match -even if its from the same line.
Make sure that your 12×12s and 6×6s match. Take out a piece of bullnose trim and compare it to the rest.
I cant tell you how many times Ive found them to be starkly different.
The natural stone tile on the right has sharper edges and would be installed with tighter grout joints than the tile on the left. This makes it more difficult to install and would command a higher installation price.Know what you are purchasing.
Different kinds of tile can be easier or more difficult to install. This can lead to unexpectedly higher prices if you are hiring the project out or more headaches if you are doing it yourself.
Tiles that tend to rate higher on the difficulty scale include:
Tiles that are simpler to install include:
Big box stores have great prices, great return policies, and are very convenient to shop. So, if you can find tile there then you can be sure that you are buying it at a great value.
As a result, this means no more regretting your tile purchases now that you know these 5 tips.
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