Fine Italian Tile is Well Within Your Financial Reach

Italian tile can lend richness and beauty to your home; plus, upgrading to tile won't break your budget. Beautiful, economical tile adds splendor without the hefty price tag of other luxury add-ons.

Nothing says luxury quite like fine Italian tile. The rich look and feel of exquisite Italian craftsmanship in a foyer or entryway lends unsurpassed grace and beauty to any home or business environment.

The Italians have long enjoyed a reputation as fine artisans and craftsmen - particularly in the realm of tile and stonework. Choosing Italian tile when you renovate your home says you appreciate fine quality and workmanship.

Envision your kitchen or bath expertly renovated with the finest Italian tile. Imagine the fine luster, the rich gleam of marble or ceramic as sunlight glints off the floor tiles the lustrous marble basin or the handcrafted countertops.

Now envision your entryway lined with Italian tile. Think how lovely a marble threshold would look, greeting guests as they enter your home the exquisite marble floor even an elegant marble-topped table to complete the look. Fabulous!

Italian tile is as durable as it is beautiful. And it's easy to keep looking great! Regular sweeping and the occasional pass with a damp mop is all it takes to keep your Italian tile floor looking fabulous year after year.

But don't let the expensive look fool you. Italian tile is one of the most-affordable luxury upgrades you can make to your home. It adds significantly to the value of your home and looks like you spent a fortune. And, if you're building a new home, Italian tile is one of the best choices you can make to add superior value and appeal on a budget.

You can renovate your kitchen, bath and entryway using fine Italian tile - and add style, luxury and beauty - for a fraction of what you'd expect to pay. Plus, Italian tile will lend a new level of charm and character to your home, as no other add-on can.

And there's no better place to get your fine, imported Italian tile than Standard Tile. Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1920, the company has expanded to become the tri-state area's premier provider of imported tile products for home and business. With seven modern retail showrooms throughout New Jersey, plus one strictly wholesale location, Standard Tile is your source for exceptional marble, ceramic and porcelain tile.

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July 16 2008 | Home Improvement | No Comments »

Should You Choose Timber Flooring Or Bamboo Flooring?

Timber flooring has been around for a long time, in the form of solid wood or veneered (floating timber) floors. It's the first choice for people who want their homes to include the warm look of wood, or who just don't like carpet. There haven't been a lot of other options.

However, timber now has competition. Bamboo flooring is a comparable, but durable and environmentally friendly floor alternative. Against the popular floating form of timber floors, it performs favorably.

Floating timber floors are one of the most popular types of floor. Made up of a thin layer of wood laminated over a less expensive material, they're cheaper than solid hardwood. Bamboo floors, by comparison, can be made of solid bamboo. That'll give you more durability over time, but cost less than solid timber. Bamboo is also much harder to damage than most woods.

A bamboo floor, unlike floating timber, is fixed permanently to the surface on which it sits. That makes it a lot more stable than timber. There's less movement or opening of the joints between the individual pieces.

You also won't have to deal with the hollow sound that many timber floors make when you walk on them, or the easy scratching. Bamboo flooring is solid sounding, easy to clean, and resistant to scratches and dings.

The fact that the individual pieces of flooring don't move or shift also makes refinishing bamboo easier. There's a much better surface to work with than solid timber, and veneered wood floors can't be refinished at all!

A veneered wood floor that's damaged must be replaced, while a comparable bamboo one could be resurfaced. That means you could get up to another decade out of your floor.

If you've got environmental concerns about the materials you put in your house, you'll probably prefer bamboo. While both of them are renewable resources from natural sources, it takes a lot longer to replace timber forests. While veneered timber flooring uses less valuable hardwood in its manufacture, it relies on wood waste and softwoods to provide support for the veneer. Composites used in this material may use toxic glues, as well.

Bamboo, on the other hand, recovers rapidly from being harvested. A single bamboo grove can be harvested once every five years. Look for products with non toxic glues and water based surface coatings, and you'll be able to be certain that there's less damage from flooring manufacture, too.

You may find that bamboo looks a lot different than ordinary timber. While the appearance of this grass is appealing to many, it might not work out well if you really love the feel and look of hardwood. For many people, however, the lack of environmental damage and durability of bamboo makes the appearance change worthwhile.

You can find bamboo flooring in just about any finish or color - it'll go with any decorating scheme. Finding flooring that works well in your home is simple in most cases.

Anyone who's curious about how bamboo flooring holds up when compared to hardwood should take a look online. It's easy to see the whole range of available products and find out more about this great type of floor. It could be right for your home.

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July 13 2008 | Home Improvement | No Comments »