HOME DECORATING : Color, Durability Give Tile Its New Style

"When used appropriately, tile can be a relatively inexpensive way to add style and flair to a home; when used without regard to its durability, it can become a remodeling nightmare. Problems that can develop include cracking when a tile is not strong enough to take the pounding of a high traffic area and the wearing away of the finish or glaze when it is used in conditions it wasn't designed to weather."

"Although the color of tile is what captures the imagination, the question of how it will be used is one consumers should answer before they fall in love with a particular style, tile merchants say. Most tile is still imported from Spain and Italy, and some comes from Mexico. Manufacturers in this country and abroad are responding to consumers' desire for a wider range of size, finish and color."

"Within a two-mile radius of State College Boulevard, between Ball Road and Katella Avenue, are nearly 50 stores filled with tile and all its accessories. Dubbed the Tile Mile, the area has attracted attention nationwide for its selection and competitive prices. Most of the tile distributed in the Western United States is shipped first to the Tile Mile."

Tile has expanded beyond traditional kitchen and bathroom applications into family rooms, hallways, and patios throughout Southern California homes. While tile's aesthetic appeal attracts consumers, durability considerations are critical before purchase. Problems arise when tile lacks sufficient strength for high-traffic areas or when finishes wear in unsuitable conditions. Most tile is imported from Spain, Italy, and Mexico, with manufacturers expanding offerings in size, finish, and color. Faux finishes now replicate expensive marble and granite appearances. Orange County's Anaheim hosts the Tile Mile, a two-mile concentration of nearly 50 tile outlets between Ball Road and Katella Avenue, representing the largest tile retail concentration in the West. Economic changes during the 1980s transformed the area from single-manufacturer distributors to multi-line retailers, lowering prices and expanding services.

Read at Los Angeles Times