That New Tile Smell…

We recently updated and expanded our showroom. The response from our customers has been nothing short of astounding.

We are now completing our first expansion of 2015. We have built out a portion of our existing warehouse (adjoining our showroom) and installing a contractor order desk.

Check out these photos of the new space. The tile on the floor is our new XXXL size 24″ x 48″ CRETA concrete-look porcelain. CRETA is available in 4 grey-toned colors in both Matte or Semi-Polished finishes.

You really have to come in and see this floor for yourself to really appreciate the depth and realism of CRETA porcelain tile.

Plans are now underway further expand our showroom into the former order desk/offices to accommodate new products.

Stop by soon to see our newest additions!

 

New Addition to the Villagio Showroom

New Addition to the Villagio Showroom

New Addition to the Villagio Showroom

 

To Infinity and Beyond!

When INFINITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC recently upgraded their new location in the Scottsdale Airpark, Jarrad Pavkov and Kelly Miller selected VILLAGIO as the exclusive supplier of porcelain tile for their office/showroom.

Although their offices are not complete, here is a sneak peak of the tiles supplied by VILLAGIO that truly reflect the INFINITY style they present to their new home and remodel customers.

 SPEAKEASY SIDECAR

SPEAKEASY SIDECAR, a “best of 2014″ award winner, made in the USA. Featuring a timeworn, barnwood appearance with the durability of Porcelain. Available in five colors and 3 sizes: 6″x36″, 8″x36″ and 12″ x 36”.

VERTERE

VERTERE Silver 12×24,

Made in Italy. A matte finish porcelain available in five colors in 12″x24″ and 2″x2″ mosaic. In addition three of the colors also available in 16″x32″.

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AVEZZIO Grey polished 24″x24″.

A polished porcelain 24″ x 24″ available in Light Grey and Grey.

VERONA

VERONA Honed Vein Cut, 12×24.

Available in a myriad of sizes and three colors, this super-premium travertine has a three-hone finish and resin-filled holes which results in a travertine with a silky finish that is easy to keep clean.

 

 

 

 

 

The Top 10 Reasons to Use Porcelain Wood Planks

Wood Look Porcelain Tile Planks | They’ve been around for years but have recently exploded in popularity.

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History:
In years past, tile planks resembled laminate that resembled wood, i.e. a copy of a copy. In a word, they looked really, really fake (they couldn’t even qualify as ‘faux’) and they were expensive. Not a typical marketing angle (sure it looks fake, but it’s overpriced as well).

Enter Manufacturing Technology:
In the same way technology allowed smart phones to outsmart flip phones, modern manufacturing methods create porcelain woods that are far more authentic than their predecessors. The new technology allowed manufacturers to make porcelain woods with no compromise in appearance. Once installed, many porcelain woods can fool even the most experienced wood flooring installers.

The beauty of a today’s porcelain woods cannot be put into words:

  • Rich wood grains.
  • Various lengths and widths.
  • Scraped, weathered & smooth.
  • Vintage, transitional & contemporary.
  • Inexpensive, mid range and high end.

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Here’s the Top 10 Reasons to Use Porcelain Woods:

  1. Surface Damage Resistant. No scratching, denting, scrapes, tears or splinters (ouch!)
  2. Pets. Dogs can’t scratch it. Pet accidents are easily cleaned. Tile can’t be stained or discolored.
  3. No Waxes, Sealers or Finishing. Glazed tile requires only sweeping and mopping… period.
  4. Permanent Finish. Throw away your brushes & sandpaper. Glazed tile looks the same for a lifetime. No refinishing-ever!
  5. Termite Proof. Porcelain tile is a lot of things, but it’s not tasty to termites.
  6. It’s not Kindling. Porcelain tile is fire proof (up to about 2,000°), AND tile doesn’t feed a fire.
  7. Water/Flood Damage. What happens to tile when a pipe bursts? Usually nothing at all.
  8. Hydrostatic Pressure (ground water through your slab to your flooring). No problem for porcelain.
  9. Natural Beauty. Many tiles have a high recycled content. Trees are only used for pallets.
  10. Price. You’ll find porcelain tile planks in all price ranges and they are comparable to wood floors.

Forest_AmazonPorcelain Woods. Beautiful in form, and virtually indestructible in function. A wide variety of colors, lengths and formats available. A price that is cost competitive to real wood.

At Villagio we love tile materials and designing with all colors and textures of tile.  We specialize in unique tile materials from the best manufacturers.  Come for a visit and explore our showroom – we guarantee you’ll be inspired!

Why Tile Triumphs

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Whether you are a homeowner purchasing a brand new home or remodeling an existing home, the process of choosing flooring materials can be overwhelming.  Options seem endless, which makes the process both fun and challenging at the same time.  It may be helpful to know why tile materials are usually the best choice when considering new flooring.  Below is a summary of the most common flooring products and how they compare to porcelain tile.

Tile Versus Carpet:  The advantage of carpet is the sense of warmth and sound absorption it brings to a room.  Carpet can have several disadvantages, none of which are concerns with tile installations.

  • Allergens.  Some people are sensitive to the dust carpet can collect and/or the fiber the carpet is fabricated from.
  • Cleanings are typically required every 1 to 1 1/2 years to maintain the manufacturer’s warranty. Carpet cleanings can be costly depending on the square yardage installed.
  • Carpet can be stain resistant, but it isn’t stain proof.  Depending on the spill, it could be a permanent stain.
  • If the carpet is not continuous filament, it will fuzz and shed over time.
  • All carpet will mat down over time as the fibers become compressed from foot traffic.

Tile Versus Hardwood:  With the advent of wood look tiles, many consumers are now selecting wood look tiles instead of hardwood flooring.  The advantage of hardwood flooring is the natural variation in each plank of wood.  Disadvantages include the following.

  • Hardwood flooring will dent and scratch, which may mean it is not a viable option for active households that have pets and/or children.
  • Hardwood flooring is not ideal in locations that have a potential for termites.
  • Hardwood flooring can expand when subjected to water or moisture.
  • Hardwood flooring may require periodic refinishing depending on traffic and furniture usage.
  • Laminate wood flooring is more scratch resistant than hardwood flooring, but scratching can still occur.  Additionally, because laminate wood is installed using a floating installation it is typically more noisy than tile or hardwood floors.  Expansion from moisture is also still a possibility.

Wood look tiles have a variety of lengths and widths. Often, the same series will be available in multiple widths that can be mixed together to simulate a natural hardwood floor.  Available styles include everything from rustic and textured planks to contemporary and smooth finishes that are easy to maintain.

Tile Versus Vinyl:  Sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles (resilient flooring) come in a variety of colors and patterns, although there is typically less variety than what is available in porcelain tiles.  An advantage of vinyl flooring is the softness which can be helpful for individuals with difficulty standing for long periods of time.  Disadvantages include the following.

  • One disadvantage of vinyl materials is their durability level.  Vinyl can scratch and tear.  Care is required when moving appliances, chairs and other furniture, etc.
  • Vinyl does not perform well when installed over concrete control joints – it can tear along these locations.  Tile, when used in conjunction with a flexible membrane and a proper installation, will allow for flexibility over a concrete control joint and when installed over a concrete crack.

When comparing tile to other common flooring materials, it’s clear that tile is a wonderful choice due to its affordability, durability, and variety.

At Villagio we love tile materials and designing with all colors and textures of tile.  We specialize in unique tile materials from the best manufacturers.  Come for a visit and explore our showroom – we guarantee you’ll be inspired!

Natural Stone and Porcelain - Tile and Stone by Villagio

Natural Stone and the Reemergence of Porcelain Tile

What are the differences between stone and tile, and which one should I choose? In my many years of working in the tile and stone industry, this is a question I have heard frequently. Most tile on the market today is glazed porcelain tile, which is a durable type of ceramic tile. Stone, on the other hand, is natural and is generally limestone, travertine, or marble. While both tile and stone have pros and cons, the answer truly lies in what you as a customer need for your home or business space.

Many people hear “porcelain tile” and immediately assume that it is fragile or delicate. In fact, porcelain tile is very different from a porcelain doll or vase. Porcelain tile is significantly more durable than other types of ceramic tile on the market. Glazed porcelain tile consists of a clay body with an overglaze. The clay body is a sturdy base for the tile, which is then covered by the overglaze. The overglaze is a glass-like coating that goes over the clay body and is fired at around 2000 degrees. Because the glass-like glaze is fired on, it does not have to be resealed and the glaze will stay for the life of the tile. The only maintenance needed is basic housekeeping—sweeping and mopping—to keep the tile clean.

Natural stone is just that—completely unaltered. Glazing is a man-made process, so a glazed stone would, by definition, no longer be natural stone. However, in order to preserve the stone, it must be protected by a sealer after installation. Each stone requires a specific sealer based on its density or texture. Limestone, travertine, and marble all consist of the same basic ingredient and therefore generally require the same sealer. Because sealer for natural stone is not fired on, it does not have the same lifetime durability as porcelain tile, so the stone must be resealed approximately every five years maintain its quality.

Glazed porcelain tile consists of two portions—the clay body and the overglaze—which means that the clay body is generally a different color than the overglaze. Though its durability means it is difficult to chip a glazed tile, a chip or crack would usually reveal a secondary color underneath. Because stone is natural, a chip or crack made in stone will show that the color goes all the way through—there is no other color or material underneath.

More and more today, tile is being made to look like natural stone, to the point where a single tile placed next to a piece of travertine could look almost identical. However, the tile is still manmade, meaning eventually the pattern will repeat. An inexpensive stone-look tile could repeat the pattern every tile. Meanwhile, a more expensive tile could have such a wide degree of variation that you may never see the pattern repeat. However, at some point with every manmade tile the pattern will repeat. With natural stone, a repeat pattern is not possible because it is completely one-of-a-kind.

The technology of creating manmade tile has advanced greatly in the last few years. Porcelain tile, which was usually only used in less expensive homes, is now being used in high-end homes. Homeowners no longer feel like they are compromising the overall look and quality when choosing porcelain tile over natural stone. Today we actually sell more porcelain tile than natural stone, whereas a few years ago we sold far more natural stone than tile.

As price goes, both tile and stone have a wide range depending on quality. Floor tile starts out much less expensive than stone, and stone will go much higher in price than tile. There is a wide middle ground where the cost of tile and stone overlap. However, stone costs far more to install. It requires a more difficult installation and must then be sealed. This means that even if you buy stone at the same price as tile, it will end up costing more.

If you want something completely natural in your home, then you will never be happy with porcelain tile. Stone is truly natural; all we have done is cut it into conveniently sized squares for installation in your home. However, if you aren’t concerned with having a completely natural stone, porcelain tile has greater durability, easier maintenance, and can be far more practical. With all of the benefits of both tile and stone, it truly comes down to a decision on your part based on your budget and the needs of your home or business space.