Walking into a tile shop can feel like you are stepping into either a design wonderland or a wonderland of confusion. Tile selection for any renovation can feel overwhelming. When you first start to look at the hundreds of options available, it can even start to feel overwhelming.
A tile store that lacks organization and detail can lead to costly mistakes and delays in your project. Understanding these ten tips can save you money and time. These ten points can make the difference between a tile shop that has your best interests in mind and tile shops that can help you with selection and installation.
1. Knowledgeable and Helpful Staff
Competent tile stores will have trained employees who hopefully engage visitors as soon as they pass through their entrance and ask the consumers some valuable pre-qualifying questions to gauge where the tile will be used, the time frame of the project, and how much of a performance workhorse the tile needs to be. They should be able to articulate the questions and guide the consumer to materials that are actually appropriate to the application of the tile and not simply the most expensive they have.
2. Wide Selection Across Multiple Price Points
One of the most performance tiles will have different options that can be categorized by price (without condescending to the consumers) and quality. Customers should be able to find a variety of collections for different price points, and be able to find diverse materials like porcelain, ceramic, glass, and natural stone like different budget options; as well as a variety of tile collections ranging from budget ceramic tile to high end.
3. Physical Samples You Can Take Home
Best tile stores will not only offer you samples but also encourage you to take them home for free or for a small fee that is refundable. Tiles will look wildly different under your home lighting rather than in a showroom, which is why tile stores want you to take home samples. You should be able to take home as many samples as you like, with no hassle, so that you can compare different options in the actual space that they will get installed in. You should also be able to see how the tiles interact with the decor that you already have.
4. Clear Product Information and Labels
For each product, logical and perceivable information need to exist, like, for example, a clear PE rating, water absorption rate for wet application, class range or grade, and in a record whether the product is in stock or needs to be ordered in a special order. A quality tile store will have basic technical information where you can see it, as they understand the type of information that is going to be helpful for you in your buying decision, and that you can make informed choices. Staff need to be straight with the lead times and be sure to offer new options besides the ones you have selected if the first few are not available right away.
5. Inspiring Showroom Displays
The best displays go beyond standard wall samples and instead feature tiles installed in complete room contexts like mini bathrooms and kitchen back splashes, and sections of flooring that show pattern layouts. These displays should incorporate matching design elements, like grout and trim colors, so you can see how they all work together. Quality stores spend a lot of money to create these displays because they realize that most homeowners have a hard time imagining what a single sample will look like when it covers an entire surface.
6. Transparent Pricing and No Hidden Fees
A reputable tile store should include all costs on a given price sheet, including: pricing by square foot, costs associated with delivery, minimum order requirements, and restocking fees. Transparent tile stores should give you a quote with all of the costs outlined, enabling you to compare their price with other suppliers to avoid price surprise at the time of purchase.
7. In-Stock Inventory or Reliable Ordering
Good tile stores have high inventory levels of popular tiles and have good systems for ordering tiles that are specialty. Ask them what their typical stock levels are and how much of it is special order. Good stores have it written down for you and they have other suggestions prepped in case your desired tile is on back order to help you move the project forward.
8. Professional Installation Referrals
A tile store’s referral relationships with professional installers shows the tile store’s devotion to tile project success. When the store’s relationships with professional installers are tile projects specific, like one professional that works with elaborate tile mosaic designs versus one that specializes and works efficiently with large format tile floor installations, it is more beneficial for the customer. Once the tile projects succeed, professional installers customarily continue referral business with the tile store. For tile projects where the customer was referred to one of the professional installers, good tile stores continue to assist the customer for installation and tile project problems and readily work as a conduit for the customer and professional installers.
9. Flexible Return and Exchange Policies
When tile projects are in progress, changes more often than not are a part of the process. When starting a tile project, returning tile to the store is a point of concern every customer has. When you assess a tile store, look for tile stores which make it easy to return unopened boxes of tiles and don’t have excessive restocking fees. Next is where extra floor tile, wall tile, or decorative tile changes need to occur. The best tile stores get that it is not in high order, and they work well with people.
10. Additional Services and Support
Quality tiles stores will offer added service, such as free design assistance, computerized design layout services, and advice and recommendations on installation products, such as grout, adhesives, sealers, and other installation tiles. Quality stores will also help you calculate the amount of grout and sealers you will need for the tile layout you choose so you do not end up ordering too much or too little of the product. These stores will also help you calculate the amount of tiles you will need to purchase on a layout provided. For instance, Otto Tiles provides design consultation and helps customers calculate exact material quantities, ensuring projects stay on budget and on schedule.
Conclusion
There are ten differences leading to tile renovation projects that are adored and those that lead to frustration and regret. A tile store that covers most, if not, all of these factors demonstrates genuine customer success and not just customer successes. Please take time to evaluate stores and ask questions before a purchase. Go with your gut. If a store feels off, and a staff member is pushy or rude, don’t let that make your purchase. You deserve a tile store to support you every step of the process from daunting store visits to final project installation, and even beyond to final project touches.
