Find the answers to your home improvement questions.
A successful tile installation depends largely on the type substrate the tile is adhered to. Whether it’s a wall, floor, or countertop tile installation, using the right substrate is crucial for preventing cracks and breaks in the tile and grout. Backer board is the best substrate for tile. Plywood and . . . Read more
So you’ve found the perfect tile to remodel your home, and you’re ready for the final installation. Before you purchase tile for your home, it’s a good idea to learn more about PEI tile ratings and how they impact you. The PEI, or Porcelain Enamel Institute has established a rating . . . Read more
Hardwood flooring brings a timeless sophistication to a home, but it is costly, hard to maintain, and shows wear easily. Wood look porcelain tile provides the look you love about luxury hardwood with a host of additional benefits. The durability, ease of cleaning, and range of styles have made wood . . . Read more
Wood look tiles provide the durability of ceramic tile and the elegance of hardwoods in one durable and fashionable package. Their many benefits make them a sought-after flooring solution for virtually any room in the home. They come in a standard 4-inch by 32-inch length in keeping with the look . . . Read more
When it’s time to replace a ceramic tile floor, the first order of business is to remove the old tile. This can be a piece of cake, or it can quickly become a headache, depending on a few factors over which you have no control. Either way, this helpful tutorial . . . Read more
It’s hard to beat the beauty and durability of ceramic tile when it comes to flooring. Ceramic tiles are very strong, but when they’re installed on a surface that isn’t sturdy and rigid, you’ll end up with cracked grout joints and broken tiles, ruining the look and water resistance of the . . . Read more
Choosing the best flooring for your kitchen can be an overwhelming decision. Ceramic tile is a popular product for kitchen flooring because of the many benefits it brings to both the design and the functionality of the room. This oven-baked clay material that dates back thousands of years and features . . . Read more
If you haven’t purchased porcelain or ceramic tiles before, differentiating between these two materials can be tricky. They have similar qualities and look the same. To make matters even more confusing, porcelain is technically a type of ceramic. So how much of a distinction is there, really, besides the price? . . . Read more
For more information on choosing, installing, and taking care of your ceramic and porcelain tile, Build Direct has put together a number of blog posts that will help you achieve your design and installation goals. Start with the history of ceramic and porcelain tile, and find out why it has . . . Read more
Ceramic: A fired clay material. Click here to learn more about the development of ceramic on our blog. Double-fired or Bicottura tiles: Double-fired or Bicottura tiles are glazed ceramic tiles produced by a procedure that breaks the firing process in two phases. An initial firing of the shaped raw materials produces . . . Read more