Locally Owned & Family Operated

Free Estimates | Financing Available

Search
941-822-8596 Lakewood Ranch | 941-342-1877 Sarasota | 941-837-2167 Venice
Specializing in Quality – Serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties
Fairfax FloorsProductsTile

Tile

tile flooringPorcelain and Ceramic Tile offers beauty and versatility for looks from elegant to modern. With numerous applications, textures and designs, your style options are limitless.

Get inspired! Use our room visualizer (icon on bottom right) to see today’s innovative flooring products in your home.

tile home flooring

porceline floor tiles

Ceramic Tile features a durable glaze which carries the color and pattern. It is used for both wall and floor applications and is suitable for light to moderate traffic. Ceramic tile is softer and more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tile.

Porcelain Tile is composed of fine porcelain clays and most carry the color and pattern throughout the tile making it extremely impervious to wear. It is structurally denser, less porous, much harder and less prone to moisture and stain absorption than ceramic tile. Porcelain tile is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Porcelain and Ceramic Tile come in:

  • A wide array of textures, colors, and finishes that can make any room stand out with either simple or intricate designs.
  • Natural stone, decorative glass, and mosaic tile applications are also available.
  • Artistic craftsmanship and the finest quality materials are what you’re looking for in a premium porcelain or ceramic tile.

We offer Dustless Tile Removal services. This process controls the mess and leaves your home dust free with a clean, smooth surface ready for your new flooring installation.

Come visit our Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, or Venice showroom to find an option to fit your lifestyle or call today to schedule your free flooring estimate and shop at home!

Glazzio tile flooring

Tesoro tile flooring

Warehouse Flooring Sale

Hurry in Today and Save!

Learn More

Call Today for Your Free Estimate!

Call Sarasota | Call Lakewood Ranch | Call Venice

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ceramic, or non-porcelain tiles, are generally made from red or white clay fired in a kiln. They are almost always finished with a durable glaze which carries the color and pattern. These tiles are used in both wall tile and floor tile applications and are softer and easier to cut than porcelain. They usually carry a PEI 0 to 3 rating. Tile is rated/classed by PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) for hardness and durability. Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are usually suitable for very light to moderate traffic and generally have a relatively high water absorption rating making them less frost resistant and are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles. Porcelain tile is a tile that is generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain tiles making them frost resistant or frost-proof. Glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and more wear and damage resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tiles, making them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic. Full body porcelain tiles carry the color and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile making them virtually impervious to wear and are suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic commercial or industrial applications.
To be used outdoors, it’s recommend the tile must be frost proof and unglazed for floor use. Make sure the absorption rate is 0.5% or less.
Glazed tiles are coated with a liquid glass, which is then baked into the surface of the clay. The glaze provides an unlimited array of colors and designs as well as protects the tile from staining. The unglazed tiles are pretty much the same as the glazed tile, except that their surface is not coated. Full-body porcelain tiles do not show wear because their color extends throughout the tile, making them ideal for commercial applications.
A glazed tile is already stain proof, so there is no purpose to putting on a sealer. You may put a penetrating sealer on your unglazed tile or your grout joints. The penetrating sealer is an invisible, stain resistant shield that is absorbed into the surface.
PEI ratings/classes range from 0 to 5. A PEI 2 tile has been designed for areas where very low traffic and soiling is anticipated. In most cases, the aesthetic detailing of these tiles is of prime consideration. You will often find high gloss levels, vibrant colorations and metallic elements in this group of tile. Conversely, a PEI 5 tile has been designed for abusive extra heavy foot traffic. The technical aspects such as surface abrasion resistance will be considered and must be achieved first before aesthetic effects are incorporated.
Wall tile only and should not be used on floors.
Very low foot traffic; bare or stocking feet only. Master bath, spa bathroom.
Slipper or soft-soled shoes. Second level bathrooms, bedrooms.
Any residential area, with the possible exception of some entries and kitchens if extremely heavy or abrasive traffic is anticipated.
High foot traffic areas where abrasive or outside dirt could be tracked. Residential entry, kitchen, balcony, and countertop.
Tile suggested for residential, commercial and institutional floors subjected to heavy traffic.

Maintenance

  • Keeping ceramic, porcelain tile & grout free of dust and dry, sandy soil will minimize scratches, wear patterns and grout soiling that can develop from everyday use and traffic.
  • Sweep, dust or vacuum surfaces regularly to remove loose soil and dust. Sand, dirt and grit may scratch your tile or build-up on your grout joint leading to discoloration. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help minimize the potential damage from these particles.
  • Damp mop your tile floor with a diluted solution of neutral cleaner. Try to stay off the floor until it is completely dry, as wet tile floors may be slippery.