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Stone-Look Porcelain Tiles

Stone-Look Porcelain Tiles

In the flooring world, porcelain tiles remain a great alternative to other options such as marble or granite. With its ability to mimic other materials while still being affordable, tile could be the touch that’s missing in your kitchen or bathroom. Most tiles are man-made materials that are both showy and durable. So, if you are considering a home renovation, you’re in the right place!

Why Consider Stone-Look Tiles?

Whatever your style preference may be, it most likely exists in the tile world. Available in a wide range of colors and patterns, tile has the power to create an atmosphere of elegance and simplicity all throughout your home. Unlike many stone materials, stone-look porcelain tile requires much less maintenance. Not to mention, they are highly resistant to wear and busy traffic, so consider it for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Also, you can’t go wrong with tile when it comes to satisfying your home furnishings. Simple yet sophisticated, tile will appeal to just about any area in your home.

Qualities of Stone-Look Porcelain Tiles

Most people like the idea of natural stone. But a majority of homeowners are drawn to the fact that some man-made tiles can resemble the same stone materials for an equally satisfying yet more affordable price. What sets tiles apart are their versatility, durability, and maintenance.

Versatility

When installing the tile of your choice, you can also determine its finish. Choose between a polished or matte surface to create a design that fits best in the overall room. Some stone materials that porcelain tiles can resemble include slate, travertine, granite, or marble. Both a smooth or rough surface will help to mimic the real stone appearance.

Durability

Porcelain tiles are the result of porcelain clay fired at a high temperature. What comes of that process is density that tolerates not only weather conditions, but areas in your home with heavy traffic. Porcelain is particularly worthy of outdoor patios, decks, or walkways. Areas in your home that pick up outdoor residue, such as the foyer or mudroom, also apply.

Maintenance

To begin with, tile’s low moisture absorbency allows for easy maintenance when it comes to wiping spills or other messy mishaps. Given their fantastic durability, it’s no wonder that porcelain tiles are so easy to maintain. Tile materials are typically scratch resistant, which eliminates the possibility of bacteria building up within the material. So, if the kitchen is your best friend, tile flooring or countertops will reduce the hassle of spills and cleanup.

Stone Tile Replicas

Porcelain Tile has the advantage of mimicking many different stone materials. If you are looking for elegance with better maintenance and a lower price, invest in porcelain stone-look tiles that resemble the look of the following materials:

  • Carrara Marble
  • Siena Marble
  • Green Marble
  • Ledgestone

Go Mobile Flooring is Prepared

The process of looking for the best way to design your home takes much thought. By choosing Go Mobile Flooring, you won’t need to do it all alone. In fact, we are committed to serving you whether that means answering your questions, helping you choose the right material, or installing it in your home. We have a mobile showroom consisting of all the materials you may consider. Give us a call today or contact us online to get started.

Flooring Transition Tips And Tricks

Flooring Transition Tips And Tricks

Chances are you’re not going to use the same type of flooring throughout your house. Even with an open floor plan, different rooms call for different aesthetics. And, some flooring types are not necessarily the best for all uses. Carpet in the kitchen probably isn’t the smartest idea. So, what’s the best way to transition from one flooring type to another? Below are a few ways to achieve a clean and unified look through your flooring transition.

Flooring Transition Tips And Tricks

Look for Obvious Start-Stop Points

There are often natural transition points throughout your house. An entryway or hallway offers a clean stop and start point for a flooring transition. So do the architectural lines of your house. Line up different flooring types with the edge of a wall or elevation changes. If your living room or kitchen has a step or two in between, this creates a natural start and stop point.

Make Transitions Part of the Design

With such beautiful and cost-effective flooring options available today, it’s easy to use different flooring types as part of your design. Even a darker or lighter shade of the same flooring or a different type of grain can be used as a purposeful design choice. Consider lining hallways with a different flooring type to create a unique look; or outline your entryway with tile that might hold up better under frequent foot traffic.

Use Transitions to Define Your Space

In a truly open floor plan, the above options may not be available. In that case, take the opportunity to use your flooring transitions to define your space. If your living room and dining room flow into each other, where would a natural stop and start point be? What about your kitchen or entryway? If you are not working with a contractor or interior designer, considering sketching out your options first, by looking at your floor plan as a series of geometric areas.

However you decide to treat flooring transitions in your home, Go Mobile Flooring can help. To find out how to bring our mobile showroom to your home, please contact us today. Serving Tampa Bay and the surrounding neighborhoods, we’re happy to bring our full selection of hardwood, laminate, tile, carpet and vinyl flooring to your doorstep.

Top Tips for Tile Maintenance

Top Tips for Tile Maintenance

Tile is one of the most versatile floor coverings you can choose for your home. The variety of colors and patterns, different options when laying and cutting the tile, and choosing a coordinating grout color, all make it easy to use tile as a true design element. However, one key to long-lasting tile is tile maintenance. While it’s not difficult to keep your tile neat and clean, there are a few tips you should always keep in mind so you’ll be able to enjoy your flooring for years to come.

Top Tips for Tile Maintenance

Top DO’s for Tile Maintenance

  1. Do use hot water with a mild detergent. Hot water prevents residue from forming on your tile, while a mild detergent will help to reduce the risk of a cloudy or dull finish.
  2. Do address spills quickly. Depending on the spill, it’s possible that simply wiping down your tile will address the issue. However, in the case of liquids or materials that could stain your tile floor, it’s a good idea to tackle those spills fast, using detergent and a warm cloth to wipe down the tile. Fast action on clean-up can also help to avoid grout stains.
  3. Do use more powerful cleaners when necessary. To maintain your tile floor, it might be necessary to employ a powerful cleaner, especially in high traffic areas. To avoid damage to your flooring, make sure the cleaner is expressly formulated for tile.

Top DO NOT’s for Tile Maintenance

  1. Do not use acidic or ammonia-based cleaners. These harsh chemicals have a better chance of not only damaging your tile, but discoloring the grout. That can create a very unseemly sight.
  2. Do not use abrasive brushes or scrubbers. Your tile is fairly durable, but these abrasive cleaning products can easily scratch the surface of your floor and leave behind a dull finish.
  3. Do not use acid or vinegar to clean your floor. These everyday household chemicals might be convenient, but they are not meant for tile maintenance. Harsh cleaners can easily discolor or erode grout; they also tend to leave a film on your floor’s surface. This can make everything dull and even encourage mold growth.

For more tips and tricks on tile maintenance, visit Go Mobile Flooring today. As your mobile flooring showroom serving the Tampa Bay area, we can provide expert advice on how best to manage your flooring investment.

flooring trends 2016

3 New Flooring Trends in 2016

Radio stations this time of year are playing the greatest hits from the past year. 2016 is upon us and instead of looking back we want to help you look forward to what is to come in flooring trends. Some flooring trends are timeless others are very modern, while others seem to be put a new spin an a traditional technique. Call us (813.605.1204) for a free consultation on any flooring trends you see below.

flooring trends 2016

Here are three flooring trends for 2016 we will be looking at:

  • Creative Flooring Combo Trends
  • Modern Angle Flooring Design Trends
  • Luxury and Stone Flooring Trends

Creative Combo Flooring Trends

The first image in the gallery below is a simple combo with concrete and wood. This organic look is simple yet still honors sustainable design. This combination is perfect for any style home but works best in a modern space.

Aparici double fired tiles and bathroom

Aparici moving tiles double fired show style and elegance. They are not for the faint of heart or those not willing to take a risk. The tiles are busy, but mixing them properly can be a talking piece for guests when entertaining. Bathrooms cannot benefit from mixed material as well as mixed color and seamless transitions. Aparici Waterford Castle Hotel bathroom is a fabulous example using black and white tiles on trend for 2016.

41zero42 adding character to a space

This Italian design combines two materials to exude style. Pay attention to the unique use of mixing piece colors. This is a great approach to helping add character to a large space.

Creative flooring combo gallery

Modern Angle Flooring Trends

Parquet floors have been making strides over the last decade. 2016 will bring floors composed of short trips, unique patterns, and inlays of diverse woods and materials to the forefront.

Tex Hex tiles in porcelain in matte and mixed-finish black and cream by Artistic Tile. These are great for smaller space as they will give an appearance of a larger space. Take note to lay them out in a diverse and random order for a truly unique look. Also, symmetrical large tile pieces can be angled to add a unique style to an otherwise boring space.

Perfect tile trends for 2016

Ceramica Sant’Agostino porcelain tiles can have a grain texture that can portray carpet while still having the durability of tile. To conclude our look at modern angle flooring trends we look at the featured image. Markmcclurestudio.com is an artist that has decided to bless us with angular design fit for 2016. Call us (813.605.1204) for a free consultation on any tile flooring trends.

Luxury and Stone Flooring Trends

The last, but certainly not least, flooring trends we will look at today is about the richest most elegant of styles. There are two stunning examples of luxury flooring and precious stone work that we’d like to share with you. Remember that Go Mobile Flooring has many options. We can always find alternatives to meet your budget, but gold has innate value, so keep this in mind as you explore trends below.

Sicis, the world is a mosaic

Sicis is more than just flooring. They are a design brand that has products ranging from doors to jewelry and watches to furniture… and everything in between. They are trailblazers of the mosaic and have built a company and a brand around that style. The images below show the Sicis gold collection. This consists of mosaic for walling decor to compliment tile flooring.

Lapicida the stone specialist

Lapicida is from English origin and in its origin is acclaimed stone cutter. They cut, prepare and maintain the finest stones in all of Europe. Lapicida has served royalty and are a brand of elegance and bravado. We have listed a video below to show more about this amazing company and brand.

Luxury and stone flooring gallery

Lapicida has beautiful work that can be seen here (feel free to rewind or watch the entire video if you are interested in the history of these fine craftsmen):

Best installers for modern floors in 2016

Go Mobile Flooring (AKA TampaFlooringCompany.com) would love to help you with your project. We have stunning tile, hardwood, laminate and many more options to make your home on trend for 2016 and many years to come. Remember that upgrading your floors is the best way to increase home value. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Call us (813.605.1204) for a free consultation.


 

Best Floors for Bathroom Remodel

Find the Right Flooring for Your Bathroom Remodel

Best Bathroom Floors

If you’re considering a bathroom remodel, take some time to consider the flooring that’s right for your room. A well-designed bathroom can add to the elegance and functionality of your home for both your family and guests – and any good design must start with a solid foundation.

Selecting your bathroom floors require more thought than many people assume. There are the normal questions of style and look that you want to address for any new floor in your home. For your bathroom remodel, you’ll want to add questions of functionality to that list. Will your new bathroom flooring hold up to water, heat, moisture and wear? There are also the less obvious questions like, how will the new bathroom floor feel to bare feet on a cold morning? Is there enough texture to avoid slips or falls? How long will my bathroom floor installation take? And are the costs within budget? Finally, you’ll want to ask yourself, will my new bathroom floor stand the test of time beautifully?

Your Bathroom Remodel

To complete your bathroom remodel, you want floors that provide you with the beauty, functionality, and longevity your home deserves in a style that is uniquely you. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide of the top bathroom flooring options available to homeowners like you – so you can make the best flooring decision for your home.

Ceramic Tile Floors

Ceramic tile floors are often the number one choice for most bathroom remodel projects – and for good reason. Available in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and designs, ceramic tile is affordable, versatile, durable, and can be textured to prevent slips. Ceramic tile is also waterproof, making it an ideal for bathrooms. Homeowners can choose from large square tiles to mosaic that come pre-set on mesh sheets for ease of installation.

Porcelain Tile Floors

Porcelain tiles are harder and stronger than ceramic tiles, and through-bodied porcelain tiles are the same color throughout, making chips or scratches difficult to notice. Also available in a wide variety of colors and styles, this tile’s stain and water resistance make it a great flooring choice for your bathroom remodel, and its porousness make it a good match for radiant in-floor heating.

Natural Stone Flooring

Another wonderful set of water resistant surfaces to consider for your bathroom floor are natural stone flooring options. Great for warmer climates, naturally cool surfaces like granite, slate, marble, and travertine are always a beautiful addition to your home. When selecting your stone, consider the smoothness of the surface and whether or not you may want to sandblast the stone in order to create a more textured floor. Also, while granite and slate are non-porous and low maintenance, stones like marble and travertine will require sealants and frequent cleaning to avoid staining.

Wood Floor Options

Wood flooring is last on our list for your bathroom remodel options because hardwood and water just don’t mix. However, if you have your heart set on wood, there are ways to have the bathroom floors you want, minus the potential water damage.

Hardwood

One option is that you can have the hardwood floors sealed and finished AFTER installation. While prefinished floors may provide a more pleasant flooring installation process, there will still be small cracks and grooves between the planks of wood where moisture can creep in. Hiring professionals to install unfinished wood and finish your bathroom floors after installation will ensure that everything is sealed and water tight, greatly diminishing the chances of water damage in your floors.

Engineered Wood

Another option you have for wood floors in your bathroom is engineered wood. With a water-resistant plywood base, these floors offer longevity for your bathroom floors as well as a real-wood surface that will give you a look that you love.

Faux Wood Tiles

Finally, the safest option for a completely water-safe but wood-look floor for your bathroom floors will take us full circle to our top bathroom flooring choices – faux wood tiles. Scratch-proof, water-proof, and low maintenance, faux wood tiles offer you all of the benefits of ceramic or porcelain tiles, plus the beauty and elegant look of hardwood.

Your bathroom floors do a lot of work for your home. As you remodel this room, it’s important to choose flooring that has both the look and feel you want, as well as the durability and functionality you need for this high-traffic room.

This post was written by Thais Sousa. Follow Thais on Google.

porcelain

Porcelain Versus Ceramic Tile

porcelain

Beautiful porcelain flooring for your home.

Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom with tile is a great way to revamp the feel of your home. Tile is a multipurpose material that can be used anywhere from backsplashes to decorative wall art to give your home a unique vibe and personal touch. Because of tile’s versatility, it may be a no-brainer to use tile in your home, but purchasing the right tile can be stressful. With any home remodeling project, it is important to research the materials before you purchase them.

When you begin looking at different tiles for your remodeling job, you will see the words porcelain and ceramic when referring to specific tiles. It may seem easy to get the two confused. In fact, some people may even refer to these materials interchangeably. But what is the different between porcelain and ceramic tile?

Both ceramic and porcelain are made from the same materials—clay, sand and water. The difference in the two materials is the heat and amount of time the clay is baked. When clay is baked at a higher temperature for a longer amount of time—as porcelain is—the resulting product contains less moisture and is therefore a more solid material.

Because porcelain is baked longer and becomes harder and denser than ceramic, it can be safely used inside as well as outdoors. Ceramic on the other hand should be used indoors only.

The availability in color differs between porcelain and ceramic as well. Ceramic tile is known for its red, clay color and may be glazed with any color. While porcelain is generally left white or grey. Because porcelain is not glazed, it does not have the increased risk of becoming chipped and revealing its internal coloring.

If you are still unsure whether you would like porcelain or ceramic tile in your home, don’t base your decision off of the price. While porcelain tends to be more expensive, it has higher resistance to chipping, staining, and everyday use. In fact, porcelain’s lifespan in your home may be double that of ceramics making the overall cost worth it.

This post was written by Thais Sousa. Follow Thais on Google.