Tile and stone flooring options adds value to your home because of its durability, beauty, and versatility.

One advantage to tile flooring is the variety of types including wall tiles and floor tiles. It is an ideal flooring choice for bathrooms and kitchens because it is impervious to moisture and is able to cover the entire room with fluent design and grace.  Accent Tiles can give a touch of flare to a tile or stone installation giving the entire room the feel you’re looking for be it rustic or contemporary.

Tile and stone floors are becoming more popular for other rooms of the home as well, including living and dining rooms, often due to long lifetime in high traffic areas. A high quality tile or stone floor will last a lifetime while maintaining its luster for years. Often, people will use area rugs to enhance the tile’s color, add a degree of softness to the room and bring a room to life.

Marble and Other Natural Stone

The most common residential uses of marble are for window sills, fireplaces hearths, decorative foyers and bathroom floors. Other bathroom applications include wall covering, backsplashes, tub decks and showers.

Some marble tiles are processed for a finished look known as tumbled marble. The process actually involves tumbling the tiles with sand inside a large drum. After a period of time, the corners of the tiles become rounded and the edges slightly chipped, resulting in a well-worn, antiqued appearance.

The popularity of tumbled marble has increased dramatically in recent times. This is especially true regarding its use for bathroom countertops and backsplashes. With such a wide variety of shapes, colors, sizes and designs, tumbled marble can be used exclusively or to accent other types of tile. The number of stylish touches that can be created with its sculptured trim, mosaic borders or decorative medallions is virtually limitless.

There are several different types of natural stone used in residential and commercial applications. Their uses vary widely and include flooring, countertops, wall covering, fireplaces and exterior facades. It is common for people to refer to any polished stone finish as “marble.” However, there is a strong possibility that they are looking at a different type of stone since marble is not suitable for certain applications.

For example, since marble is not the hardest natural stone, it would not do well as a floor covering in extremely high traffic areas. Though under typical residential and light commercial applications, it would hold up fine. The one application that marble is not well suited for is kitchen countertops. This is because marble’s composition deteriorates when exposed to acidic foods.

Other types of natural stone include granite, travertine, limestone, slate and sandstone. Of this group, granite is by far the most versatile. Because of its density it is not absorbent and thus highly resistive to bacteria and stains. This makes it ideally suited for kitchen countertops. Granite’s density and strength also make it suitable for exterior applications.

Travertine is a very popular natural stone that is used in residential and commercial applications. Residentially, travertine’s most common uses include interior and exterior wall and flooring covering. Commercially, it has been used in several major building constructions. Two of the world’s most recognizable structures constructed mostly of travertine are the modern Getty Center in Los Angeles and the ancient Coliseum in Rome.

Limestone is most often used in building construction since it is relatively softer and thus easier to work with. It is also one of the more abundant natural stones. Some of its uses include countertops, wall tiles and flooring. However, because it is softer than some of the other stones, limestone would not perform well as a floor covering in very high traffic areas.

Slate is a durable stone that forms naturally in layers. Because of this, it is capable of being split into thin sheets. Among its most common uses are floor tiles, countertops and roofing tiles.

Sandstone is a popular stone used for fireplace facades, chimneys, retaining walls and walkway stones.

Ceramic Tile

Tile is easy to maintain, environmentally-friendly and its beauty lasts for generations. Tile makes a statement. Its natural beauty enhances your home inside and out. It never needs buffing, waxing or finishing. Tile will not mildew, burn or fade. Moisture won't affect it. It will never shrink, expand or delaminate.

Tile adds richness and value to your home, yet it's very cost-effective when you consider the long-term cost. Tile can go just about anywhere! It's not just for floors, anymore. We're talking countertops, walls, family rooms, bedrooms. It's up to you, and your imagination. There are so many styles, colors and textures to choose from allowing you to put a personal touch on any room in your home.  It is durable and easy to clean.

Custom HouseWorks installed price runs from approximately $7.00 per square foot and upwards depending on the type and source of the tile.  Custom HouseWork's showroom has over 1,500 tile selections on display that are manufactured in the United States, along with imports from Italy, Spain, Canada and Mexico. 

Ceramic Tile Floor Care and Maintenance

When it comes to floor cleaning, ceramic tile is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain. All you need are basic cleaning tools, a little common household cleaner, and water. The only way it could be easier would be if someone else did the cleaning for you!

Many manufacturers recommend using an all-purpose cleaner, like Mr. Clean, Spic ‘n Span, or Lysol, for example. One of the owners of www.fastfloors.com has gotten excellent results on surfaces and grout with Colgate’s Fabuloso®. Be advised, though, that cleaners containing acids or ammonia and should not be used on some surfaces. Another consideration when choosing a tile cleaning product is that the cleaner should also be compatible with grout. Of course, it is always best to check your flooring manufacturer’s recommendations.


For light cleaning of ceramic tile, follow these typical steps:

• Remove loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner or a broom
• Mix a small amount of cleaner with warm water
       (Note: follow the cleaner manufacturer’s instructions for the proper ratio of cleaner to water.)
• Using a cotton mop, sponge, or other soft apparatus, clean the floor, then thoroughly rinse with clean water, and allow to dry,

Rinsing is very important, since dried detergent not only dulls the finish, but can trap abrasive dirt particles. Also, if your tile has a polished finish, you should dry it with a soft towel to prevent water spots.

For heavily soiled floors, let the cleaning mixture soak into the dirt for 5-10 minutes before mopping or scrubbing. Clean small areas at a time and do not let the cleaning solution dry on the tile. Be sure to rinse the area thoroughly before cleaning another. More difficult dirt and stains may require scrubbing with a nylon pad or brush.

To reduce the likelihood of stains and heavy soil buildup, follow these simple steps:

• Clean up spills immediately
• Place dirt-catching mats at every room entrance
• Routinely sweep and mop

Using the suggestions above and by following your flooring manufacturer’s recommendations, you’ll keep that shine on your new tile…for a long time.