"Fashions fade, but style is eternal." - Yves Saint Laurent

You know what else is eternal? Tile. So let's make it "stylish", why don't we?







Thursday, June 28, 2012

Life Cycle Costing


One of the tools we use in the tile industry is the TCNA (Tile Council of North America) handbook, previously known as the TCA.  They have recently added a “Life Cycle Cost” table for flooring, which is a wonderful tool when comparing flooring options!

What is Life Cycle Costing or LCC?  Life Cycle Costing is a methodology used to evaluate the economic performance of investments in construction & building systems.  LCC is a calculation where consideration is given only to the relevant costs, which are directly or indirectly affected by the material options being considered.  Product evaluation is given in which all costs arising from owning, operating, maintaining, and disposing of a product are considered important to the decision.  The time intervals at which the various costs arise during the selected life period must also be taken into account.  Before the various cost items can be put together, those that arise every year, and those that arise at certain time intervals during the service life must be converted into present values.

Check out the Life Cycle Costing website (http://www.uniformat.com/index.php/what-is-life-cycle-costing), which is specific to the construction industry.  Their objective is to support the application of LCC based on the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM).  The definition of LCC used in the TCNA study was the initial cost to install; which includes labor, materials, normal contractor’s overhead & profit, plus periodic maintenance costs to preserve & maintain the appearance of the product, and the final costs to remove the floor covering at the end of its useful life.  It was assumed that there is no salvage value to any of the products at the end of their useful life, and there are disposal fees associated with the removal of the floor covering.  The LCC analyzes these considerations when looking at interior finishes and the determination of how long a material is expected to last in the proposed environment.

From our perspective in the tile industry, typically tile is considered a “permanent” finish, with the expectation that it will last 30 years or longer.  This is nice from an environmental standpoint to think that our material will not end up in a landfill 5-10years after install.  The other point with hard-surface flooring is the maintenance is quite minimal, without requiring costly equipment or VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) in the up-keep of the material.

With more conversations regarding “Green” and sustainable materials, the idea of LCC is important in regards to the energy required for delivery, installation, and maintenance of a material.  Energy analysis should be done at the conceptual phase, which dovetails with the basic philosophy of how a LEED project is documented & implemented.  Another aspect of LEED requirements is the indoor air quality during installation & maintenance, which also is taken into consideration in the LCC calculations.

Following is the Life Cycle Costs for flooring from the TCA handbook:

Floor Finish
Install Cost
LCC
Expected Life
Cost/Year
Quarry Tile
$6.83
$16.13
50
$.32
Glazed Ceramic
$7.00
$16.30
50
$.33
Glazed Porcelain
$8.34
$17.64
50
$.35
Mosaic Tile
$8.20
$17.50
50
$.35
Unglazed Porcelain
$8.30
$17.60
50
$.35
Natural Hardwood
$9.31
$20.80
50
$.42
Travertine – Turkish
$12.50
$21.80
50
$.44
Marble
$21.00
$30.30
50
$.61
Laminate
$8.84
$17.77
25
$.71
Man-Made Hardwood
$9.58
$18.51
25
$.74
Port. Cement Terrazzo
$14.88
$24.27
30
$.81
Stained Concrete
$12.40
$24.60
25
$.98
Carpet
$3.22
$6.50
6
$1.08
Resin Terrazzo
$8.50
$16.53
15
$1.10
Sheet Vinyl
$6.90
$13.90
10
$1.39
Poured Epoxy
$8.18
$15.18
10
$1.52
VCT
$3.91
$18.35
10
$1.83


All costs are calculated per square foot of material.

This should be valuable information when looking at options to best suit your clients needs for their flooring material considerations, and to have the data to back up your information.

Additional information: www.tileusa.com

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Everything is coming up daisies! (And orchids, and daffodils, and pansies, and...)

Hello my fellow fans of fashion & flooring!

It is official; summer is just around the corner as we have passed the unofficial starting line of Memorial Day!  And I could not be happier to celebrate this fact while updating my blog from the comfort of my Adirondack chair in the backyard, sipping on some ice tea & gazing at blooms in my garden that I have so far managed not to kill!  Although badly in need of a good solid weeding, what better setting to blog about the current burst of florals in today's fashion trends, both clothing & tile alike?  I can't think of a better one! :)

So I am happy to start off today's long overdue blog talking about just that!  And according to the New York Fashion Week for Spring/Summer of 2012, I am not the only person to be excited about this.  If you think about it, it's no secret that women love flowers, however.  Thus it shouldn't come as a surprise that we love to decorate our clothes with them!

This year's florals will make their appearance in the form of flower-power overload, with bold in your face patterns worn from head to toe, but in the form of classically simple silhouettes.  Also, don't be surprised if you see a combination of geometrical colorblocking and blooms.  The strange juxtaposition of graphic prints & bold geometry give the delicately feminine floral a new fierceness that equates to something like street cred!

Check out some of these amazing new looks from some of the top designers:

Blumarine 
DKNY 
Peter Pilotto 
Peter Som

But let's not forget about Fashion's cousin, Interior Design!  And of course, my absolute favorite accessory to Interior Design; finishes!  Particularly tile finishes!

Done in bold & graphic patterns, florals done in tile installations can make us rethink what it means to create an edgy & modern space.  Especially when used in conjunction with bold colors and statement installations.
Atlas Concorde, Gioia
Atlas Concorde, Magnifique
Atlas Concorde, Magnifique

When done with a subtle color pallette they can bring us to an updated sense of femininity, while keeping in tact the comfort & nostalgia of patterns we recognize from the past.
Atlas Concorde, Ambition 
Atlas Concorde, Radiance 
Caesar Ceramiche, Glam

Or as a beautiful & classic background around which to develop a design.
Oceanside Glass, Cherry Blossom Deco 
Artistic Tile, Chateau Collection

All in all, it may be cliche, but April showers really did bring May flowers for Spring/Summer of 2012!

If you'd like to learn more about the floral trend in fashion, here are some websites that you may find helpful!
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/top-spring-2012-trends-new-york



Friday, April 6, 2012

Today's Hot Tile Topic! Rectangular Tile Considerations...

Hello everyone!  So today I want to talk about something that I am continually being asked about; rectangular tile, and the installation practices that it involves!  Luckily, RBC put out a flyer on this earlier last year.  But considering how many inquiries I've had on the topic lately it seems like an appropriate time to review it. :)

Please read on below for the information found in RBC's flyer from last year:


Casa Dolce Casa, Velvet, Ecru done in a 33% offset

With the popular trend of rectangular tiles comes a need to review the factors that may affect installation.  Rectangular tiles can present unique challenges, specifically regarding lippage, when running bond patterns are used.

As defined by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard A108.20, Section 4.3.7; "Lippage refers to differences in elevation between edges of adjacent tile modules." ANSI A137.1 defines acceptable edge warpage in terms of a percentage of the tile's edge length, and also sets a maximum warpage amount in millimeters that cannot be exceeded, regardless of tile size.  This maximum value serves as a "cap", so that allowable warpage does not exceed a reasonable amount, even for the largest tiles.  Because allowable warpage is the lesser of the allowable percentage or maximum cap, the allowable warpage for a smaller tile is generally limited by the percentage criteria and is well below the maximum cap.  For example, a 6" rectified porcelain tile's maximum allowalbe warpage, based on the allowable edge warpage percentage criteria, is 0.6mm, while a 24" calibrated tile's maximum allowable warpage "caps out" at 1.3mm, or nearly 1/16".  Therefore, patterns and grout joint accommodations that work well with smaller tiles would not work with larger tiles exhibiting the maximum allowable warpage.  Such tiles that are just barely within ANSI tolderances are not generally recommended for offset patterns and can be highly problematic when installed with a 50% offset and a narrow grout joint.

When offset or modular patterns are desired, strong considereation should be given to the amount of offset.  For large tiles exhibiting the maximum allowable warpage, 50% offsets can exhibit lippage.  To address this on a practical basis, some manufacturers recommend against any patterns with offsets in excess of 33%.  If the tile being used has any edge larger than 18 inches they often suggest offsets of only 25%.  When considering large tiles and offsets greater than 33%, consumers are encouraged to consult with their contractor for specific recommendations.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Tangerine! Tile that is...?

There is no way that tile was going to be left out of the 2012 color of the year trend!  Check out these amazing tangerine tile choices that RBC Tile & Stone carries!

An absolutely AMAZING shower installation done with Oceanside Glass from floor to ceiling.  What an impact this color has when used in such a copious amount!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this tile from Atlas Concorde.  The series is called Intensity, and guess what the color name is? "Love" of course! :)

What an energetic and warm installation this monochromatic color palette done in inexpensive 4x4 wall tiles from USCT makes!

When used in conjunction with other bright, fun colors, tangerine can make for a very whimsical & young installation.  Just like this kids room done with the Rainbow collection from Roca tile group.

Now have fun creating your own bright, and fierce designs using this intense color of the year!





Tuesday, January 17, 2012

THE Color for 2012 is...drumroll please...


HELLO TANGERINE TANGO!!!

Pantone has released the news that color 17-1463 Tango Tangerine will be the color for 2012!  (http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/category.aspx?ca=88)

And I am so glad that they did!  I don't know about anyone else out there, but as soon as December 26th rolls around every year, I am done with winter & ready for spring!  Tangerine Tango, the gorgeously optimistic red-orange hue, is so warmly vibrant & energetic you can't help but think of warm summer sunsets & carefree days enjoying the sunshine.  Not to mention, (dare I bring this up???), but considering that we are in year four of a recession that was suppose to only last for 18 months, it's nice to see a fierce color take the spotlight!

Last year's color, Honeysuckle, a boldly bright pink, conjured up feelings of vitality & health, and the idea of being to tackle everyday struggles with vigor.  It was a nice big warm & fuzzy for a world still reeling from the change in our economy, but finding a way to adapt to the changes.

Pantone Color of the Year 2011: Honeysuckle










http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20821&ca=4

But this year's color, Tangering Tango, not only makes us feel the confidence to take on the day's challenges, but the ferociousness to attack them with the energy boost we've been missing.  For instance, imagine the confidence you would feel walking down the street wearing these pumps from Steve Madden below!

 
Or this KILLER dress from Diane Von Furstenberg!



So what does this mean for interior design?  Just like fashion, it can be an entire statement, or just the accessories!  And who doesn't just LOVE to accessorize!?

But stay tuned for the next post, because per usual, it's all in the color pairings! And the TILE choices of course! :-)



Thursday, January 5, 2012

What have I gotten myself into?

So, as a career tile sales rep, former interior designer, and lover of all things fashion & interior design related, particularly tile, I am hoping to reconcile all three of my loves into this blog.  Of course there will be plenty of shameless self-promotion, by showcasing some of the wonderful, beautiful, and fashionable tiles that my employer, RBC Tile & Stone, promotes!  (Such as the BEAUTIFUL image above, from the stunningly amazing manufacturer Artistic Stone, done for Elle Decor)

But my main goal with this blog is to help get people inspired, and the design juices flowing!  After doing some poking around & research, it is amazing to me how interrelated color & fashion trends are with interior design & architecture, and how easy it is to find inspiration in all of them!  Fashion can so often influence the shaping of an interior space, architecture the lines of a new fashion trend, and with all of the design opportunity the world of tile has, it can easily create spaces that reflect any sort of fashion imagineable! So here is my spot to put down all of those inspiring ideas, and my attempt, although I'm sure it may be feeble at times, to organize them.

Therefore, fans of spatial design, fashion and particularly tile, stay tuned!  My intent is for this blog to serve you as another (hopefully helpful!) resource in your creative endeavors. :)