What You'll Need to Install Tile: Thinset Grout Plastic Spacers Tile Cutter Tile Nippers Notched Trowel Grout Float Grout Sponge Eye protection Clean, Soft Rags Empty Buckets Level Work Gloves Tape Measure Straight Edge Knee Pads Drill-mount Mixer Margin Trowel Wet Tile Saw Cement Backer Board Floor Leveler Thinset Bond Additive Grout Sealer Rod Saw

Ceramic Tile
If you have never considered ceramic tiles before, you will be amazed at the variety of colors, patterns, sizes, shapes, and textures available for you to choose from at most Sutherlands locations.

With the sophisticated manufacturing processes being used today, ceramic tiles have become easy to maintain, much more affordable, and can compliment any interior design. The backside of a ceramic tile is cast with many different corrugations designed to provide the proper bonding of the tile to the setting bed.

Recommended Applications:
Ceramic floor tiles are recommended in any high traffic area such as kitchens, bathrooms and door entry ways.

Buying Tips:
1) Buy all your material at once! Tile lots are often a one-time purchase, and we cannot always guarantee we’ll be able to get the same pattern again.

2) Dye lots also change and may not match from shipment to shipment.

3) Ceramic is a man-made product and is generally homogeneous in construction. In other words, each and every tile has the identical composition and therefore has predictable qualities.

4) Ceramic tiles are generally non to slightly porous with a very low absorbency.

5) Ceramic tile should not be installed on wood surfaces. In those circumstances, it can be installed over cement backer board or a bed of cement and lath.

6) Buy approximately 10-20% more for waste.

Cleaning & Maintenance:
Once installed, tile is very durable and easy to clean. Grout should be initially sealed and maintained with a sealer to keep dirt from penetrating and staining.

Stone Tiles
Much different than ceramic tile, stone tile is a product of nature and can differ in composition from tile to tile, and therefore has unpredictable qualities. The backside of a stone tile has no corrugation and is generally saw-cut or smoothed.

	Solid Granite Granite has become very fashionable as a flooring choice, as well as countertops and shower walls. Today, you'll find a variety of designer colors (actual stone colors) to choose from. One big advantage of this type of flooring is that many scratches can be polished or buffed out of it, whereas glazed ceramic cannot. Granite becomes slippery when wet, so careful consideration must be used in wet locations, such as bathrooms. Granite tile is in-stock at many Sutherlands locations.
	Solid Marble Imported in from around the world, quarried natural marble has the elegance and beauty of faraway places. The surface of marble tile is hard and colorful. The look of marble tile is elegant and formal. Since this is a natural product taken from the earth, there is very little control in veining and color variation. It's wise to install out of several different boxes at a time for an even look. Marble also becomes slippery when wet, so careful consideration must be used in wet locations, such as bathrooms. Marble tile is in-stock at many Sutherlands locations.
	Solid Travertine Travertine "Limestone" and "Travertine Marble" are the same stone. They are characterized by winding, irregular holes in the surface, with the flats finished to varying degrees of smoothness and reflectivity. It's appearance, similar to marble is very grand. Travertine's surface also becomes slippery when wet, so careful consideration must be used in wet locations, such as bathrooms. Travertine tile is in-stock at many Sutherlands locations.
	Slate Tiles Slate tile floors radiate a subtle, natural beauty. A beautiful choice in rustic settings, slate is stain resistant and relatively easy to install. Slate tile flooring does, however, scuff in heavy traffic areas, and slate tile floors do need waxing to keep it looking good. Recommended for both interior and exterior floor. Slate is available as "gauged"(even thickness) or "UN-gauged" (random thickness). Slate tiles are in-stock at many Sutherlands locations.

Please feel free to write to your local store for pricing and/or stock information on any product we carry. Selection varies. Always check first before assuming items listed above are available at your local store.

Also See our Vendor Link Resource Page