Tile is a "blind"
item - just like diamonds, you can’t tell quality by looking at it!
Work with a retailer who knows tile, shows it well it his store, has
many samples to select from and represents different brands so you can
mix and match and therefore get more value for your money.
You must
take samples home or to the job site. The retail store is not the place
to make your selection. You need to have a number of different sizes,
colors and textures to select from in order to make a good decision.
Just as you wouldn’t want your eyes to be tested with only one lens,
you need to see a variety of tiles in the setting where they will be
installed to determine your best choice. Often the first choice in our
shop is the third choice when you get it home! We recommend two trips.
In the first visit 5-6 tiles should be check out that are truly different
from each other so that a valid"better-worse" situation is
created at the job site. On the second trip another 4-5 samples should
be selected based on the tiles that looked the best in the first visit.
Much like eating an elephant, a slow methodical approach is best!
Watch out for "do-it-yourself" stores where their only goal is to sell as much tile as quickly as possible or where the only person to help you is the plumbing department guy who was the paint guy yesterday!
Cheap price can mean cheap quality. There truly is "no free lunch"!
A poorly designed layout with the wrong quality and size of tile can
quickly result in paying too much and getting less than you would if
you were dealing with a retailer who knows tile and its application.
You want to deal
with someone who is interested in your continued use of tile for this
and many future projects. Someone who is interested in your experience
and how it reflects on his relationship with you and your friends and
neighbors for many years to come.
