Hi guys,
What do you think of a 1963 home with tile throughout and no other floor surfaces? I plan on using a very contemporary tile..24x24, 12x24 or I just found a tile at 12 x48". It has a courtyard bordered by glass windows (replacing with 9-10 foot glass sliders) in the kitchen, living room and hallway which will be tiled with the same tile. I think it would look nice to have a flowing surface throughout the house, as I can see from the kitchen, through the courtyard, through the living room and into the front yard. I live in AZ and it would be nice to combine indoors with outdoors in the fall/winter, open up the sliders and sit outside, barbecue, etc.
Alternatively, I can mix wood with tile, but the floating stairs are oak and the fireplace hearth is bordered by walnut. I dont want oak floors and I dont know if it would be hard to find another wood that might work. It s a 2-floor and I dont know if it would be too much tile? It would make my life easier to just pick out one surface. Thanks for any advice!
Interesting post...
only because we are in the midst of having 24"x24" porcelain tiles installed in the main living areas of our home. Entry/living/family/dining/sunroom, all of which are connected spaces in our MCM ranch built in '57. Walnut built in shelving/kitchen cabinets/paneling really look great with this flooring. It's about 1300 sq/ft in total.
Sooooo, I guess I'm saying I'm a "fan".
tile
Dudah, what color tile are you using? Do you have any pics?
tchp, even though it's a two floor, it is actually concrete floors upstairs and downstairs. There is currently engineered oak floors but it needs to be refinished and it cant be sanded down anymore. It was already in bad shape when I moved in. I put a microtopping overlay in the kitchen and baths, but the contractor messed it up - there are patches that he missed and he didnt clean it before sealing it - there is hair and bird seed sealed in the floor (he refunded my money). I want an off-white tile that will brighten the place up.
Here are pics of how it looks now:
http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o87/jeschbacher/counters/
The pic is some 12x48" (or 12x 24, 24x24) that I just found for a decent price yesterday.
We bought this...
tile and it sounds like something you may be interested in as well. I'm normally not a "gloss" guy, but this stuff is pretty phenomenal. We purchased the "Carrara" color. Best part was we got a trade discount that dropped it from $9 sq/ft to $3!! Big help when you're going 1300 sq/ft.
I'll get some pics for you later. Somehow I got to some cycling pics in your photostream, and I'm riding after work or I would take some shots for you tonight. They are supposed to be completed grout and all by Friday. Two week project and most of our furniture has been living in the garage...be prepared!!
http://americanolean.com/series.cfm?series=138
Although advances in material...
Although advances in materials and installation techniques make it possible to use engineered hardwood flooring over concrete, I think that tile would more suitable for that kind of surface. They just naturally go together. Even when you can resolve the moisture problems that can occur from putting wood flooring onto concrete, it is something that strikes me as being unnatural. If I were in your situation I would tend to want to only use tile, and no wood. Maybe I am being a bit too traditional, but I have never been comfortable putting wood on concrete, and feel that tiling on a wood sub-floor is best suited for small spaces like bathrooms and kitchens.
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dudah, I will take a look at that tile. It sounds like you got a great deal! I dont know if it will go with the travertine fireplace and hearth though, but it is worth looking at. I wish I could go cycling after work, but the heat here makes it impossible. I look forward to the pics of your finished house! It will look lovely!
Tchp, you hit the nail on the head, as I put engineered wood upstairs and it was installed incorrectly. THey didnt float it or level the floor, even though I specifically told them too. Now the floor pops everywhere. It was done by a distant nonblood step-relative who I kicked out before he finished. Rather than finish the botched job, I think I will take the loss, tear it out and tile in its place. I think you are right in that tile is the safer choice.
ok rockybird, here are some pics...
now, OF COURSE, they didn't get finished today like they ASSURED us they would, but there is enough done that we can start MOVING BACK IN! So, I wanted to get some shots before we moved all the furniture back in. We are on a concrete slab which was, surprisingly, pretty level so they didn't have to do "much" leveling. We're pretty pumped, now on to the area rug dilemma. Let me know if you have any questions about the tile.
interesting question Woof...
in just these few days, I have noticed socked feet are a little to slippery, some shoes are too loud (sleeping baby in the house), so most fo the time it is Barefooted for me. ALTHOUGH, the feet get a little dusty which is a little annoying. Doesn't feel as nice underfoot as carpet with a plush pad, but looks much better and the carpet was a little trashed to begin with. We are keeping carpet back in the bedroom "wing" though.
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