Ceramic tile verses Porcelain

I have been asked to give a brief summary of the difference between Ceramic and Porcelain Tile. The simple answer is price, composition, and durability. Ceramic tile averages about $2-$4 per square foot and is made of clay with a baked color finish placed on top of it. When it chips, the layers below show through. Because Ceramic Tile is not as durable as Porcelain, I do not recommend ceramic tile for floor surfaces.

Porcelain tile is $3-$5 per square foot and has color all of the way through the tile. When Porcelain chips, it does not tend to show like Ceramic Tile. Porcelain is a durable tile and withstands floor traffic well.


B & R Hardwood and Tile is located in Chanhassen Minnesota and serves the metro area. Kurt Kuhlmann is the owner of B & R Hardwood and Tile. He would love to hear from you. He can be reached at 612-644-8779 or on the web at www.brflooring.biz.




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Location:Twin Cities

Common mistakes made by tile contractors

There are many mistakes made by contractors that impact the quality and the durability of your tile project. Some common mistakes are:

• Improper subfloor preparation which can create serious problems with cracking and durability of your floor.

• Choosing the wrong tile for your space. Tile can be too large or small and can make your space look visually smaller. Certain types of tile are too slippery for floors and can cause slipping or falling.

It is very important to have your contractor involved with the selection process of your tile. By involving the contractor, you will avoid transition problems, get feedback on tile size and pattern issues and avoid trip charges that contractors will charge if they have to go back and forth to the tile shop.

• Tile setters that do not lay out the pattern before setting the tile, risk making serious mistakes during tile installation.

• Tile setters that use inexpensive tub cutters and cheap tools tend to end up with a final product that shows the rough cuts and inferior results.

B & R Hardwood and Tile avoids all of these mistakes by properly preparing surfaces, using the best equipment, and hiring professional tile setters to do the work. We also get involved with the tile selection process to ensure that the customer has help visualizing the final product. We layout the tile before tile is set and walk through each project with our certified tile setters to enhance communication and make sure expectations are met. We have a solid track record of serving the community for over 12 years.

Please contact Kurt at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at brflooring.biz

B&R Hardwood and Tile
8445 Powers Place
Chanhassen, MN 55317


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Location:Minneapolis

Things to look for when choosing a tile contractor

When evaluating a tile contractor you need to look at the following:

1.The contractors reputation- check out their references on Angie's List, Better Business Bureau, or other consumer agencies. Ask them to provide photos of recent work they have done and to provide names of past customers that would be willing to talk with you. Review their website for current information about their business. We have outstanding ratings with the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List. We keep our website up to date and you can find us on Facebook.

2. Ask the contractor how long they have been in business? Find out any trade associations that they are affiliated with like The National Tile Association. Find out if they follow trade associations recommended standards and guidelines. Is the contractor insured and bonded? Who are the contractors employees and what makes their work superior? Good project management is a key factor in providing high quality. B & R Hardwood and Tile has been working with quality providers for over 12 years. We have wonderful project management ,highly skilled laborers and certified tile setters.

3. Go with you instincts about their character. Are they clean, punctual, and do they communicate well? Are they in a hurry? Are they listening to what you want? Do they provide creative solutions and ideas? At B & R we listen to what our customers want keeping in mind their overall budget.

4. Does the contractor provide a detailed bid of what is included in the project? Can you tell what is included in the price and what is excluded? Are they willing to help you with tile selection? B & R works with the customer during the selection process to ensure all supplies are ordered, to help with design ideas, to assist with transition areas that the average consumer does not think of, and to avoid costly trip charges for forgotten items.

5. Does the contractor finish jobs in a timely fashion? Does the contractor run multiple jobs at the same time and if so, does the contractor have enough resources to complete quality work. B & R Hardwood and Tile prides itself on staying on schedule and managing projects to the smallest level of detail.

6. What kind of materials does the contractor use. Professional grade products are higher in quality and last longer than products purchased from local hardware stores. We use only the highest quality products for our customers.

7. Beware of "low cost " providers. Quality workmanship has fixed costs associated with it and low cost providers often have to cut quality to be the low cost provider. We will never be the lowest cost provider. We provide fair pricing for the customer and provide fair compensation to the individuals working on our projects.



Give Kurt a call for a bid at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at www.brflooring.biz


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Location:Twin Cities