THE TILESMITH WAY
Not all tile contractors have experience working with the plethora of materials available on the market today. We have a broad array of experiences and are continuously working to refine our methods and attend to every detail regardless of the material.
Too often a great design with beautiful tile selections can be tainted by a few, seemingly insignificant, details that fall just short of bringing an installation to the next level. Take a look at a few of the options we consistently receive positive feedback on to bring out the best in your next tile installation!
Tile Edge
Metal edge trims are a great option in many circumstances, but only when it adds to or compliments the greater design aesthetic. Unfortunately, we often see these trims introduced as the “only” option when considering how to finish a tile edge or termination. We consider this a lazy way to end or terminate a tile installation where edge protection is unnecessary.
Once introduced as a viable option, most folks greatly prefer the look of a polished glass edge to terminate the installation.
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Unlike most wall tile in the past, many of today’s tile lines don’t offer matching bullnose and trims. For folks looking for a modern touch, this can present a challenge when they prefer not to introduce another material or shape into their installation. Here you can see one method we have developed called a “miter cap”.
The outside edge of the tile is mitered and fitted with a thin cap piece similar to the way a carpenter would finish the outside edge of wood trim. This is one of our most popular options
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Transitions
Here we have an example of a standard threshold from a tiled surface to another. Looking closely, you can see there is a sharp ¼” edge on either side of the wood. At first glance, it may appear to be subtle but isn’t as clean and unobtrusive as it could be.
Small details make a big difference. Most clients opt for us to fashion a zero lip wedge style threshold that bumps clean against the tiled edge with a gradual transition to the adjacent floor. This greatly adds to a sense of uninterrupted flow from one room to another.
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Natural Stone Edging
When finishing a natural stone edge or outside corner there are many options to choose from depending on the design aesthetic you are going for.
Here we opted to fabricate a rounded bullnose profile to the edge of the travertine tiles themselves as opposed to metal or vertical stone pieces. This option keeps your eye from being distracted by additional elements and enhances the beauty of the stone and installation.
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Here we fabricated a 45-degree chamfered edge on this marble mosaic as opposed to using a metal or vertical stone trim piece. This option keeps your eye from being distracted by additional elements and enhances the beauty of the stone and installation.
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Grain Variation
Many of the more popular porcelain and stone tiles available feature heavy shade and graining variation, which adds greatly to their appeal. When installing these types of tiles through inside and outside corners, and in showers especially, we pay particular attention to layout and flow from one wall to the next. We like to imagine a three-walled shower as a single continuous sheet of tile that is folded into the space allowing each tile to flow right through the inside corners. With a little planning, this method adds tremendously to the cohesiveness of an installation.
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Metal Integration
We love mixing metal with tile when it adds to the greater design aesthetic of an installation. The craftsmanship employed when installing elements like metal edge protection should not be overlooked.
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Shower Benches
Tiled shower bench popularity has waxed and waned over the years, but they are still a common feature that we love designing with clients. We thoroughly enjoy making tiled niches and benches eye-catching features, but often great design means an element blends into the background. In this example, we opted to miter the vertical outside corners of this travertine bench for a clean undistracted look while maximizing the surface area of the seat in a small space. This decision allowed the bordered shower floor to take precedence and the outcome speaks for itself.
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Glass
Glass oh glass – It’s clear, it chips easily, and is entirely unforgiving. Some might say it is a complete pain in the glass! With the use of specialty glass cutting blades and refined methods, we have found many ways to eliminate all glass’ potential shortcomings. Here you can see how we not only wrapped the inside corner to maintain the distance of 6” from one grout joint to the next through the corner but also finished the cuts as clean as possible.
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Shower Niches
Think outside the box when considering niche design! No need to stick to the standard box you may be familiar with. This is your opportunity to add a permanent and beautiful unique feature to your shower.
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The standard picture framed niche border using bullnose is outdated and a relic of the past. Let your modern design shine by mitering outside corners for an uninterrupted, sharp look.
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Shower Curbs
Consider using a solid surface shower curb for a slick and easy to clean surface. We partner with several granite and quartz fabricators in the area. Many times we can match a new vanity top to pull the design of it and the shower together. Using solid surface slabs is also popular as niche shelves.
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